Author: Elissa

It was late wake up today and we all appreciated the extra sleep. After the past few days of incredible physical exertion, hearing the bugle this morning at 9:30am felt amazing. We all needed the recharge.

At camp, we show our authentic self.  At school, it is much easier to put a “mask” on in order to fit in to be accepted. It is virtually impossible to wear a mask 16 hours a day every single day here. This is where the mask comes off and we find acceptance and appreciation of our true self.  The friends we make here, see the real us and accept of us for who we are. You see this every day here at Chen-A-Wanda. It is where we celebrate one another and lift each other up. This attitude was highlighted at this evening’s Camper Talent Show.

There were 22 acts that stood up on our stage tonight and performed in front of the whole camp. That is not an easy fete for anyone but this Chenny audience was overwhelmingly supportive giving standing ovations after each performance. Imagine being 8 years old and singing all by yourself as a packed house was singing along with you. That initial shaky voice very quickly grew stronger with each note. Looking out a the audience who was rocking out, clapping along and singing with you gives you something you can’t quite explain; a confidence that will be with you forever. To be present at these moments is seeing the best part of humanity. No matter if we sing off key or miss a step in our dance, it just doesn’t matter. You are a superstar up there and our camp family will let you know that you are amazing. A Junior girl walked off stage after her performance and summed it all up in one sentence, “I was so nervous when I started to sing, then halfway through my song, I felt like a real rock star at my own concert.” That says it all.

Chenny out

 

 

 

After two and half days of intense Olympic competition, Red Morocco prevailed as the winners. It was a battle to the very end and in true Chen-A-Wanda form, it all comes down to Sing. The heat was on high today and each team was out in full force ready to bring home the Gold.  There were games on every field and court and what was more impressive than watching teams win was the amazing support we give each other when one team looses.   We take the best quality of good competition and infuse it with an overwhelming sense of sportsmanship. We play to play and after each game, the main question is,” did we have fun?” There are no upset spectators, nobody who is disappointed when a shot is not made. Our Olympic games highlight what sport was intended to be and how magnificent just playing to play can be.

Three separate teams entered Shields Hall tonight all dressed in their team colors. They each had their moment to sing their teams Cheer, March and Alma Mater and show their works of art as they presented the banner and plaques. It was a emotional night as the words of each Alma Mater resonated with everyone in the room. Red Morocco so beautifully summed it up with their lyrics:

 

We’re now split into three

But still one family

And tonight

We will all re-unite

You and I return to being best friends

You and I

Will be together ‘till the end

You and I

Will never be alone

Because this place we all love

is all our second home

As the winning team was announced, there was a sea of red that exploded with excitement. Their hard work and determination was validated with the sweetness of getting the win. That only lasted for mere moments as those in red t-shirts were hugging their friends wearing blue and gold. Within minutes, the colors on our shirts didn’t separate us. We were back together as one camp family.

Shields Hall went crazy with excitement as we announced that tomorrow is a brunch morning with a 9:30am wakeup!! We all played hard these last few days and all are looking forward to some extra zzzz’s.

Olympics 2013 will go down in Chen-A-Wanda history as one to remember. We all participated in something spectacular and all went through it together. That is the magic of this place. This crazy shared experience is now forever etched in all our minds. It was just another amazing day here and it reminds us all why Life is Great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Chenny Out

 

Our Olympic games stands out as a true picture to why Chen-A-Wanda is truly a remarkable place. Victory is not defined by wins or losses. It is defined by our effort. If you can truthfully say, ‘I did the best I could, I gave everything I had,’ then you’re a winner. Today our campers gave it everything they had. Every camper put their heart and soul into each battle and gave it their all in every competition. The battles were fierce, they were fun and in the end it was the undeniable effort that made today such a standout day. We played hard, had fun and in the end supported one another. When you walk around camp, in the midst of hearing all the chants and cheers during all the games, you also heard “great job, amazing effort, proud of you.” There is something equally valuable to encouraging those around us that actually feels better than getting the win.

Being part of a community that comes together and supports one another regardless of the outcome is what makes Chen-A-Wanda Olympics so spectacular.  Tonight was the Apache Relay and everyone from our Freshmen campers to our Wanderers, play an integral part.  Each individual makes up the team and everyone counts.  No matter if you had to blow up a balloon until it popped, leaped frogged from the lake to arts & crafts or had to ride a bike to the finish line, the team depended on you. Tonight, Blue Thailand finished Apache by hitting that pole first as they rode on to Camp Rd. knowing that 1^st place was so close. Red Morocco ended the relay in 2^nd place with Gold Costa Rico just moments behind. The excitement to finish the race was amplified by each member of the team knowing they had a part in something bigger than themselves. It is the essence of belonging to a team and the importance that we all finished this race together.

It was time again to recognize our outstanding campers of the week. Congratulations to these stand out amazing campers. We are so proud of you and the qualities you posses that earned you camper of the week.

Freshman – Skylar Salk  & Braden Miller

Junior – Olivia Leviss & Mason Berlin

Middies – Kelsey Bloom & Jared Schwartz

Inters – Nikki Younger & Josh Klein

Collegiates – Lexi Lichten & Josh Polansky

Seniors – Julia Blee & Jeremy Schier

Supers – Amanda Model & Matthew Seganti

GC’s – Alexa Zysman & Jason Rossell

Wanderers – Hillary Schier & Ethan Gallant

When all is said and done, it’s not the shots that won the championship that we will remember, but the friendships we made along the way that will stay with us forever. All are sleeping peacefully as we rest our bodies for another amazing day of Olympics. Doesn’t get much better that this!!!

Chenny Out

 

It was another amazing day here at Chen-A-Wanda.   The sun was out, the heat was on and we were all enjoying this glorious day. The lake got a lot of love today as campers could not wait to jump in. The Zone was hoppin’ with crazy water balloon battles. It was a perfect day to get and stay wet.  The buzz around camp was all about Olympics and when it would break. As the entire camp was eating lunch, it was the perfect time for an Olympic fake out. All the Head Counselors entered The Lodge holding the torch with the Olympic fanfare playing loudly overhead. The place went wild with excitement chanting Olympics 2013!!!! Just as the entire camp thought this was it, the music switched and all of Head Staff started dancing to the Harlem Shake. Campers just need to wait a bit longer for Olympics 2013 to begin.

Even amidst the Olympic craze, we were able to get a ton of games in today. We played hard today and we couldn’t be more proud of the effort set forth from our athletes.

6^th Grade Girls Softball – CAW 15 vs. B’Nai Brith 5

9^th Grade Girls Basketball – CAW 27 vs. CAW 20

9^th Grade Girls Tennis – Tioga 5 vs. CAW 0

5^th Grade Boys LAX – CAW 12 vs. Tioga 0

7^th Grade Boys Basketball – Tioga 19 vs. CAW 17

8^th Grade Boys Baseball – CAW 8 vs. Lavi 3

The Circus show is a Chenny favorite and with over 150 campers auditioning for the big show, we are proud to announce those who will be in this years’ production. It takes hard work and a tremendous amount of dedication and we know this years Circus Show will be spectacular. We can’t wait to see you all fly!!!

Congratulations to our 2013 Circus Kids Cast: Daisy Zand, Bennet Goldstein, Jordana Leff, Skylar Bloom, Sarah Kaplansky, Hannah Pollack, Brooke Mohr, Melissa Borker, Sami Flyer, Olivia Hornick, Sami Miller, Samantha Broder, Jenna Seitler, Sofia Quadrino, Alexis Siegal, Ava Golden, Zoe Grabow, Noelle Breitweiser, Daisy Chaskin, Abby Baskind, Sydney Kesselman, Mackenzi Rubovitz, Jordan Leeds, Abby Nussbaum, Ally Heller, Sam Tell, Parker Moritz, Jaret Fensterstock, Daniel Geenfield, Michael Stulberger, Zach Fox, Emery Cohen & Max Rovner.

Well, our campers didn’t have to wait too long as late this afternoon when all were at their activity…. A familiar song played throughout camp. IT WAS OLYMPICS and we all knew what to do. Our Head Counselors started at The Lodge and passed the torch to one another followed by all of our camper’s trialing behind them. We all made it up to the soccer field and as we announced our Captains, the official Olympic rings were lit and the games officially have begun. Our camp is now split in three equal teams, RED MORRACO, BLUE THAILAND and GOLD COSTA RICA.

Just when we thought that camp could not possibly get any better, Olympics takes us to a whole new level. Tonight was a great night as we started our battle with Tugs of War. It was fierce, fun and full of friendly cheer. An absolute awesome evening!!!! Best news is we get to do this again tomorrow.

Chenny out

 

There is something quite special spending the 4^th of July at camp. It is a full day of celebrations. Everyone is dressed in Red, White & Blue, faces painted, tutus on and camp is decorated proudly displaying our American pride. Everyone felt the spirit of today. You couldn’t help but part of it, we all were. Seeing our youngest Freshman to our oldest Wanderer all dressed up and proudly showing their American pride is awe inspiring.

The spirit and energy today was following us all throughout the day as we had a giant dance party in The Lodge at lunch. Everyone was up on his or her seats singing and dancing. We didn’t want it stop. If you have ever been in a room singing at the top of your lungs and just letting loose by dancing as if no one in the world is watching you, you can understand how we didn’t want lunch to end today.

Games, Games and More Games!!!!!

3^rd / 4^th Grade Girls Basketball – Westmont 22 vs. CAW 17

5^th Grade Girls Tennis – Starlight 5 vs. CAW 0

7^th Grade Girls LAX – CAW 13 vs. Trails End 5

10^th / 11^th Grade Girls Tennis – Starlight 5 vs. CAW 0

10^th 11^th Grade Girls Basketball  – Nesher 40 vs. CAW 28

5^th Grade Boys Soccer – CAW 9 vs. Lohikan 0

7^th Grade Boys Tennis – Tyler Hill 4 vs. CAW 1

8^th Grade Boys Basketball – Starlight 40 vs. CAW 32

9^th Grade Boys Soccer – CAW 2 vs. Lohikan 1

It was an incredible day here at Chenny but we all knew that the night was the best part and it did not disappoint. The weather was ideal and we all enjoyed an incredible BBQ dinner, which we all ate outside as the sun shined down on each one of us. It was one of those nights that everyone was just in a great mood. There was this vibe here at camp that was happy and contagious. A perfect summer night with hamburgers, hotdogs, watermelon, ice pops and your friends and counselors right by your side. It was magical and we all knew it.

As dusk turned into night, we all headed up to the outdoor pavilion decked head to toe with glow sticks galore & flashing headbands.  We started the night with the biggest dance party to get us going and that it did. The countdown began and the first firework shot up in the air and was spectacular. I truly don’t know what is more impressive to watch; the sky light up with a rainbow of colorful fireworks or the look of amazement on your children’s faces as they watch with such anticipation for each firework to unveil above them.  They were just in amazement of what they were seeing and watching them enjoy it so, was a gift they gave to us. No matter if you are 7 or 77, 4^th of July fireworks amaze us but spending this day with your camp family makes today a summer standout. Hope you all had a great 4^th because we sure did.

Chenny out