Author: Elissa

Its hard to believe we are approaching the end of our second week here. Time goes by so quick and yet so much happens in a single day here that a day feels like a week. This experience of being here is different for everyone but you can see how meaningful it is to us all. That is why we keep coming back. We may not always remember every detail of every summer spent at Chenny but we can always recall how we feel when we’re here. That is the draw for why summer after summer we come back. The interesting and really cool full circle moments are when we watch campers become counselors and take care of kids here. We are so lucky to have amazing campers that have gone through our system and just can’t leave. They aren’t ready to say goodbye to their summer home so they transition into incredible counselors who share their heart and soul with campers here. When you grow up here, you have so much to give and they all give so much. They want to pass on their love for Chenny and they do with so much heart. Seeing so many incredible camper counselors we have this summer taking care of your children is just awe-inspiring. They know how their campers feel. They are keenly aware of how they can help make their campers summer spectacular. They lived it and now they want to pass it on. There was a camper who was having a moment and was on her porch tonight. By her side was her counselor that was sharing so many stories of when she was a camper and how she dealt with a friend who wasn’t being so nice to her. There was that moment, I was privileged to witness of how she was able to connect with her camper, validate what had happened and helped her move forward. That camper felt safe, listened to and was able to walk back into her bunk with a giggle and a clear head. These moments are everywhere at Chenny and I was lucky enough to be present tonight to see the magic first hand.

Girls Side Sports 

Freshmen Girls Soccer Tournament Team – CAW 3 vs. Westmont 5

Junior Girls Soccer Tournament Team – CAW 5 vs. Westmont 1

Inter Girs Basketball – CAW 29 vs. Morasha 26

Inter Girls LAX – CAW 10 vs. Wayne 10

Super Girls tennis – CAW 0 cs. Wayne 5

Boys Side Sports

Freshman/Junior Tournament Team – Freshman 2 vs. Juniors 5

Seniors Basketball – CAW 25 vs. Morasha 40

GC/CIT Tyler Hill BasketBall Tournament – CAW defeats NYJ and Weequahic to move onto Semis – CAW 40 vs. Timberlake 46 (the boys had the best day and played their hearts out).

The night belonged to Boys side with an amazing Boys Lip Sync at  Camp Chen-A-Wanda. We always hear from parents that their boy just won’t get up and dance and every year not a single boy opts out as they come together with their division, lip sync, dance and have an amazing time. From the cutest and most adorable Freshman through the CIT’s, these boys put on one heck of a show. The entire Shields Hall was mesmerized as they watched, clapped and sang along with the every boy who was on stage tonight.  It is the absolute best part of camp watching the support we give each other. We call it Chenny Pride but call it whatever you want, it is how we become family to one another. Tonight’s lower camp winners were the Inter Boys and our GC’s took the win for upper camp. To see boys let loose, dance in front a packed house with such confidence and joy is awe inspiring. It was a great night with so much camp spirit here, you could feel it in every corner at Chenny. It was pure electricity and everyone inside Shields Hal felt it.

We all enjoyed a late wakeup this morning and after yesterdays trip day, we loved the extra sleep. And then it was off to regular activities. The lake was full of happy campers and it was one of those days that just was perfection. Great weather, happy campers and really good vibes on camp today. Just another amazing day in paradise.

GIRLS SIDE SPORTS

Inter Girls Tennis – CAW 2 vs. Wayne 3

Collegiate Girls Soccer – CAW 2 vs. Wayne 7

Senior Girls Softball – CAW 8 vs. Starlight 7

BOYS SIDE SPORTS 

Chenny Tournament – Freshman vs. Junior Boys  Soccer – Freshman 3 vs Junior 11

Chenny Tournament – Middy vs. Inter Boys Basketball – Middy 17 vs. Inters 35

Middy Boys Soccer – CAW 0 vs. Wayne 3

Collegiate Boys Hockey – CAW 7 vs. Lavi 3

Super Boys Tennis – CAW 2 vs. Wayne 3

It was divisional night and everyone had a great time in their awesome activities. Freshman – Inters enjoying BINGO in the Lodge. Collegiate Girls loved making jewelry in Arts n Crafts. Collegiate & Senior Boys had a ball playing archery tag in Shields Hall. Senior and Super girls enjoyed a movie in the Chen-A-Plex.  Super & GC Boys loved their Ping Pong tournament in the Canteen and the CIT girls baked cookies in the Cookhouse and the CIT boys had some lip sync practice in the dance studio followed by a movie in their bunk. It was a fantastic night for all divisions.

It was our first official trip day of summer 2024. The campers were so excited for their trip as they all left camp in their Gold Chenny T-shirts. The heat was high so what better way than to spend our day at a waterpark. All our divisions had waterpark fun today -A perfect summer day keeping cool in the water with the friends & making memories that will last forever.

Freshmen, Juniors and Middies had an amazing day at Aquatopia. Inters & Collegiates  spent their day enjoying Camelbeach Waterpark and our Seniors, Supers and GC’s split their day with the morning at CamelBeach Waterpark and and afternoon at the outlets for a little shopping fun. The CIT’s had their first overnight trip at Hershey Park. Our first trip day was a huge success. It was all smiling and sleepy faces when the buses rolled back onto camp.

It was just an incredible day spent outside camp for all our kids who had fun and made memories today. Leaving camp is super cool but there is nothing like coming back home. Lights are out, kids are sleeping peacefully, everyone is exhausted and it was a GREAT day!

Kids are happy, Staff are happy – Life is Great at Camp CHEN-A-WANDA.

I walked down to the lake this morning and the saw group of Middy boys fishing on the dock. There were 10 of them and the sight caught my attention. These kids were all standing on the dock, each holding their fishing pole focused on catching a big one. No words were being spoken, it was peaceful and still. The kids were patient, focused and enjoying the moment. It’s exactly what we want for our kids and it was happening on our dock. The lake is rarely peaceful and quiet but this moment was and I was at the right place at the right time to catch these 10 boys fishing together on a beautiful day on a beautiful lake. Beautiful moments like these happen every day all day and I feel so grateful to witness your kids experiencing them.

A day full of sports and great sportsmanship.

Middy Girls Soccer – CAW 2 vs. Starlight 4

Collegiate Girls Basketball Mini Tournament – CAW advances to Championship – CAW 10 v s Lavi 21

Freshman/Junior Boys Soccer – CAW 3 vs. Starlight 5

Middy Boys Tennis – CAW3 vs. Starlight 2

There is so much kindness at Chenny and we love honoring campers and counselors who spread it all over camp. Congratulations to our week 2 Kind Campers & Kind Counselors. It costs absolutely nothing to be kind to others and the payoff is enormous. Kind People Rule!!

Girl Kind Campers – Rafi Kuperstein, Eden Cohen, Gabby Brodsky, Arin Gordon, Charli Houlis, Finley Rosenberg, Teddy Kaplan, Sydney Diamond, Maya Kushner, Madison Frankel, Ellie Berlin, Ashley Schwartz

Girl Kind Counselors – Charlie Trunks (Bunk D), Brooke Mann (Bunk E), Hannah Nissenbaum ( Bunk V), Sydney Geller (Bunk J), Annalise Clark (Bunk Y), Molly White (Bunk K)

Boy Kind Campers – Ethan Weiss, Jack Menkin, Devin Luhrs, Brandon Goldberg, Sid Havens, Chase Harz, Drew Fischer, Luca Heiferman, Lucas Sylvan, Grey Goldman, Spencer Simon

Boy Kind Counselor – Zack Morris (Bunk M), Ben Smelt (Bunk B), Daniel Wilson (Bunk F), Auston Bernstein (Bunk O), Ben Smelt (Bunk B)

Awards at the Amphitheater is a time we all come together and honor more amazing campers who have contributed to the incredible vibe that is happening on camp. The spirit, the good vibes, the positivity that is happening on camp right now is infectious and having such amazing kids and staff is the reason why.

Campers of the Week

Freshman –  Ivy Feldman & Jack Klareich

Juniors – Avery Weiner, Ellie Erbst & Max Cohen, Gabe Barasch

Middys – Siena Sussman, Madyson Zimmerman & Drew Reisfeld

Inters – Emmy Schwartz, Alexa Jurkiewicz & Ethan Thaler, Cooper Rosen

Collegiates – Charlie McClure & Garren Katzenberg

Seniors – Dylan Lefkowitz & Jonathan Hare

Supers – Lyla Goldstein & Max Goodman

GC’s – Zoe Lederman & Gavin Ryback

CIT’s are away on trip and we will announce the CIT of the week upon their return.

Hard to believe we are just shy of two weeks here at camp. We’ve got so much more to experience together and we just can’t wait. There are lots of exciting events and activities just around the corner. We’ve got Powder Puff and Boys Lip Sync this week and our CIT’s left early this morning for their overnight at Hershey Park.  There is so much happening and more to come for all our campers. But whats is making all of camp so happy and excited is that tomorrow is our first trip day of the summer. There is some pretty incredible trips happening and we cant wait for the kids to experience them all. Your kids have embraced this place and this place has embraced your kids. The community we have built is strong and we are so glad your kids are part of it.

We are proud to launch our very first newsletter, NEWSIES written by campers to our families at home. This new program is camper driven and available as an elective. We hope you enjoy it and we are looking forward to this program growing the coming weeks.