Author: Elissa

It was a sunny beautiful day here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda and your kids took full advantage of  it all. There wasn’t a field or court that wasn’t full of happy kids. Each activity area was just packed with smiling happy campers. From Gaga to Mini Golf to the lake and every other corner, camp was hoppin’ today. Not everyday can be a 10 but today was really close. It was one of those days where it just felt good. The weather was ideal and the day was just so much fun. Good vibes were all around and you could feel it.

The Collegiates and Seniors had their own special day as they left camp and headed for a day at the bowling alley. Good old-school fun, going bowling with your friends. It’s not the bus ride, It’s not the destination, It’s not the bowling that made today remarkable – It was being with friends and feeling free. They played arcade game and laughed with friends. They bowled and laughed with friends. They snacked and laughed with friends and the most important part is that they were with friends. It’s not where you go but who you are with that matters. These kids made memories today and had fun along the way.

But the night belonged to our mitzvah kids. It was a party in their honor. There was a montage and an amazing DJ. There was Kona-Ice and Churros. There was incredible music and so many fun gift give-aways. It was a perfect night as the kids partied hard. They was singing and dancing with everyone letting loose. With everything they missed, we were determined to give your mitzvah camper and every other camper here a night to remember. Right before we sent our youngest campers to bed, we all heard that familiar Olympic fanfare song and the place erupted and the kids went bananas. Shields Hall was electric. They could smell Olympics and it was breaking tonight. As the song played on the campers and staff got more excited. .Only to be disappointed  that they need to wait a little longer for Olympics to break. Tonight was a Fake Out!!Tonights vibe was incredible and just was the perfect ending to a spectacular day. The great news: We get to do it all again tomorrow.

When you become a Chenny camper, you get a First Friend or a Big and this connection pairs a new camper with a seasoned veteran who is in essence a first friend. We love this program so much and today showed all of us that were watching the Bigs and Littles, juust how important of a program this is for both new and returning campers. When you send your first time camper away to Chenny, your world gets bigger. You share connections and build bonds with an entire community who loves to share their love of this camp with the kids just starting out. Girls side met in Shields hall while the boys were at the Canteen hangout. Bigs and Littles sat together, got to know each other better and created a handshake together. Then in front of everyone, performed their special handshake that only belongs to them. As I looked around the Hall, all you could see were little kids creating bonds and friendships with our older kids and the older kids felt a sense of pride and purpose. They remember their first few weeks of camp too and now they are part of someones journey who is just starting theirs. It’s the connection that makes this place feel like a home. On Girls Side, you didn’t see a Big without her Little in her lap or holding her hand. Boys side were busy making the coolest hand shakes and more importantly, making connections. That is where the magic happens, when our circles get bigger and we bring more people into our lives. Today was just so incredible for every one of our Bigs and Littles. We are in the midst of creating this unique, fun loving, supportive community that is connected, spirited and built on trust. That is truly the secret sauce of this experience – the place is amazing but the people make it family.

We all get wet, wacky and wild with Powerhouse Studios for our evening activity. We did crazy silly races, got pied in the face and some got slimed by the giant booger blaster.  It was just over the top hilarity. Everyone had a ball with the rubber chicken toss and hobby horse races. What a fun night we all had. It was Road Rally for our GC’s and they took over camp. The spirit was alive tonight. There were campfires and S’mores everything campy. Just a great ending to an incredible day.

Our Supers and GC’s headed out to Leahy’s Fun Park where they spent the morning playing mini-golf, arcade games and go-karts. It was old school fun for our oldest kids they loved it. After a morning of fun and games, it was off to Sky Zone for some jumping around at a trampoline park. The kids had an absolute great day hanging with friends, playing arcade games and jumping around. There is just everything right when you have day spent like this. It’s not where you are but who you are with that makes all the difference.

Back at camp, it was Game Show Game Day and the campers spent their day playing games. We had Family Feud, Minute To Win It, Lets Make a Deal and so many other games they played. There were Zombie Road Rallies, Manhunt, Pictionary and our Game Night extravaganza ended with a Giant Game of Alphabet Hunt. It was a total day of play for every single camper.

Watching your kids thrive as they get so into every game, every match , every encounter that lets them just be kids. No worry or stress, just play. That is what I saw today as your kids just spent their day playing. It was joyful  and it was exactly what we all wanted so desperately for our kids. To play silly fun games, feel free and connected and laugh all day long. It was an absolute great day today. We are so so lucky!!!

Today was a great day. We were dodging the rain but got in every activity period. From Gaga to Wiffle ball and everything in between, our kids were playing, swimming and just so busy being active. And the rain doesn’t even kill the mood. Tonight after evening activity it was misting and then that turned into a drizzle  and that then turned into rain and our campers could care less. The little kids headed back to their bunks and older kids were outside singing in the rain. Jumping in puddles and having a ball. Your kids didn’t have a care in the world and a little rain couldn’t dampen their spirits. Nothing could. These are the nights that standout and are oh so memorable. Summer nights, friends by your side, getting wet in the rain and feeling free. This is exactly what all our kids needed and is exactly what all our kids are getting.

It’s that time again for Camper of The Week and there is just something so special when you are recognized for being AWESOME!! The following campers have proven that they are positive, kind and uplifting people who spread joy all around camp. We thank them for all they do to make camp so incredible.

Girls Side /   Boys Side

Rookies -Jolie Schissler / Ryder Diamond

Freshman – Charli McClure / Emmet Rosenberg

Juniors – Ella Goldberg / Jackson Glenn

Middies – Maya Kushner  / Mason Slater

Inters – Morgan Bassuk / Jake Marin

Collegiate – Callie Nadel / Josh Kaftol

Seniors – Taylor Gold / Sam Brief

Supers – Morgan Gary / Drew Schimmer

GC’s  – Ava Golden / Jack Einzig

I always find myself at the right place at the right time and at 7th activity period today, I happened to walk by our new gaming truck and stumbled upon a group of Super Girls all dancing and playing Just Dance together. What struck me was the pure joy this group of 7 girls had experienced together. They were laughing so hard and and smiling so big. It was so much fun to watch them – a group of 15 year old girls who decided to jump in, grab a remote and let loose in front of anyone who walked by. There is loss of inhibition here, there is a sense of acceptance here and that combination makes it so easy to let loose, be silly and not care if the entire camp is watching. It is pure joy getting to watch your kids experience these moments.  Total and complete comfort to be free. Doesn’t get much better than that.