Author: Elissa

To be a Camper of the Week is to be recognized at the highest level. Those who are honored are truly standout campers that are helpful, friendly, participates in all activities, have positive attitudes and are just awesome kids. To see the expression on the faces of the kids when their name is announced as this week Campers of the week is priceless. They deserve this honor and we are proud of each one of our outstanding campers. Congratulations to the following campers:

Freshman –    Lexi Plotnick  & Ryden Rubovitz

Juniors – Remy Friedberg & Anthony Scarcella

Middies – Abby Foodim & Noah Kepke

Inters – Hannah Nudelman & Matthew Steinbock

Collegiates – Febe Wasserman & Ben Gruberger

Seniors – Sami Talbot & Wyatt Jacobs

Supers – Alexa Starikov & Scott Steinberg

GC’s – Elana Kessler & Jordan Yagaloff

CIT’s – Alexa Haber & Ben Kimelman

In addition to Camper of the Week we love to honor our Kind Campers. There is truly nothing better than to see kids nominate their peers and highlight their kindness. To be kind is the ultimate and best quality to posses. There is truly nothing better than to see our kids being kind to one another. Success to us is watching kindness spread and it is spreading all over Camp Chen-A-Wanda. If your camper was selected as this weeks Kind Camper, kuddos to you and job well done – your children are truly kind kids. We hope your hearts are full knowing you have kind kids! These campers are spreading sunshine all over Camp Chen-A-Wanda: Marissa Holzman, Sofia Levy, Maya Porat, Alex Goldblatt, Billie Margulis, Lexi Greenblatt, Sylvia Millstein, Taylor Diamond, Owen Isaacson, Jonathan Hare, Asher Goldstein and Chase Schwartz.

Things Work Out Best For Those Who Make The Best Of How Things Work Out…By John Wooden

Middy Girls Tennis – CAW 1 vs. Island Lake 4

Middy Girls Soccer – CAW 2 vs. Westmont 4

Inter Girls Tennis – CAW 0 vs. Starlight 5

Inter Boys Basketball – CAW 41 @ Starlight 40

Collegiate Boys LAX – CAW 0 @ Wayne 18

Super/GC Boys Soccer Tourney @ Equinunk – CAW advanced to semi finals

There are so many moments here at Camp that blow my mind and remind me how very special this experience is. We built the Chenny Shack right out side my office and I often get to watch the kids as they make pizza or grill sitting at my desk. I have a front seat view to watch some pretty spectacular moments unfold right on front of me. As I was going through my emails, I couldn’t escape the delicious smell of fried rice that was being made right outside my office. I happily closed my computer and just sat and watched a group of Super boys stand around our hibachi cooktop, intently learning the techniques to make the perfect fried rice. I could not hear what they were saying but every single boy had a smile on their face. A few of them had their arms around one another and then with the music bumping in turned into a dance party. There was food, friends, music and these boys were rocking out having an absolute ball. After they cooked their own food, they all sat down together and munched on the best fried rice. The mood was contagious and everyone who passed the Shack was seeing what I was so intently tuned into – a group of 14year old boys cooking, spending time together and just loving it. When I see these moments, I have to stop and watch your children because I am in awe of their free spirit. I sat down at their table with them and enjoyed my own delicious bowl of fried rice, made especially for me by the Super Boys.

What You Do Speaks Louder Than What You Say……by Steph Curry

Middy Girls Softball – CAW 12 @ Wayne 0

Collegiate Girls Soccer – CAW 7 @ Wayne 1

Senior/Super Girls LAX – CAW 15 vs. Wayne 12

GIRLS DOMINATING & Having a Ball !!

Freshman/Junior Boys Basketball – CAW 26 @ Starlight 55

Middy Boys Hockey – CAW 10- @ Starlight 0

Inter Boys Baseball – CAW 1 vs. Wayne 10

Collegiate Boys Flag Football Tourney @ Trails End – CAW lost in Semi’s

Senior/Super Boys LAX – CAW 22 @ Starlight 15

Tonights evening activity was Round Robin where every division had their own event. Freshman girls had a ball making slime in Arts & Crafts. Freshman boys loved their Gaga tourney. Juniors girls watched Camp Rock. Junior boys had a home run derby at Wiffleball Stadium. All of the Middies played Quest in Shields Hall. Inters enjoyed watching Avengers in the Chen-A-Plex. Collegiates had a ball at their foam slip and slide party. Seniors rocked out in the canteen with a blacklight party. Supers had a Co-Ed Competition night that was over the top fun. GC’s went on a Mystery Hunt. CIT girls enjoyed a spa night in the bunk while the CIT boys had an arrow tag dodgeball tournament.

Lights are out, camp is quiet, kids are sleeping and we get to do this all over again tomorrow. Life is Great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Chenny out

It has been 10 days since we arrived here at Chenny and it feels like we have always been here. There is a comfort, a familiarity, a sense of home and it’s only been 10 days. Crazy how much happens in a day and times that by 10 and you get a bond between every single one of us here at CAW.  This summer has started out with so much positivity, so much incredible energy, tons of kindness and an overall vibe of complete happiness to be here. You can feel it and it is real is as real is. When you see kids skipping to breakfast, holding hands, feeling totally comfortable sitting on the shoulders of their counselors, laying in laps of their friends at line up, getting form one activity to the next from piggy back rides, you know the feeling is just pure comfort and a feeling of being home. And we all just got here only 10 days ago. It happens quick and it lasts all summer long. Living in nature and literally breathing in the beauty of where we are never gets old.

Never regret a day in your life. Good days give you happiness and bad days give you experience…… by Unknown

Collegiate Girls Tennis – CAW 4 @ Poyntelle 1

Collegiate Boys Softball  – CAW 16 @ Westmont 10

Are you ready for some football? Tonight’s Powder Puff game was epic. It was a fierce battle between our GC’s and CIT’s girls. GC’s were dressed head-to-toe in white and the CIT’s sported all black. They were playing for bragging rights and the stakes were high. Our girls were serious with faces painted and a determination to bring it tonight and of course the guys provided the spirit. They cheered on the girls and the watching crowd. This was our Super Bowl and the kids loved it. There were t-shirts, hats, tons of Chenny swag tossed out throughout the game. After each quarter, there was an impromptu dance party and of course everyone was getting in the groove. The entertainment was not just on the field, it was in the stands and every camper was part of the fun. Nights like these makes you smile from the inside out. You know it was an insane night as the entire camp was dancing down the hill back to their bunks after the game. Our CIT’s pulled out the “W” with a  13-0 victory but we were all the winners with an epic summer night!

Chenny out.

There is nothing quite like spending the 4^th of July here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda. It is the best place to celebrate our day of independence. Everyone got into the red, white and blue spirit. Faces were painted, flags were flying high, red, white and blue tutus were everywhere and the continuous chants of “USA” were at every turn. Pride for our country was at an all time high and everyone got into the spirit. Our international staff was in awe of how spirited camp was today and how deep our pride is for our country. There is nothing more Americana than the 4th of July and today was just spectacular. Spending the 4th with our camp family is a gift we are so grateful for.

Whether You Think You Can Or Think You Can’t, You’re Right… by Henry Ford

Middy Girls Basketball – CAW 16 vs. Lavi 26

Middy/Inter Girls LAX – CAW 4 @ Westmont 2

Super Girls Soccer – CAW 8 vs. Lavi 0

Freshman Boys Hockey – CAW 5 vs. Westmont 4

Collegiate Boys Soccer – CAW 4 @ Westmont 1

Super Boys Baseball – CAW 7 vs. Lavi 6 (game went into extra innings)

It was a great day for our Chenny athletes who played with determination, grit and  whole lot of integrity. The moment that took my breath away was watching the Super girls play their soccer game vs. Camp Lavi. We took a giant lead early on and the last 5 minutes of the game didn’t resemble a competition at all but a great opportunity to make new friends. Our girls and the girls from Lavi started introducing themselves to one another during the last five minutes of the game. They were having the absolute best time making new friends. Knowing that the game was almost over, the goalie of Lavi overheard one of our campers say she had never scored a goal to which this total stranger from another camp didn’t stop her shot and she scored. The goalie from Lavi could have easily stopped the shot but gave it to her and the Chenny girls went crazy as they cheered for their friend who was beaming with pride. This was certainly not a typical game with intense competition and fierceness but I witnessed something pretty cool between a group of total strangers having the best time and meeting new friends.  Chenny won the game but every girl on that field were winners. Both teams together walked down the hill chatting the whole way. This was way more than a game for our Super girls.

It was an incredible day here at Chenny but we all knew that the night was the best part and it did not disappoint. We all got cozy in our long and longs (that is camp lingo for long pants, long shirts). Then is was up to the amphitheater to watch our incredible firework show. We were decked out head to toe with glow sticks galore & flashing headbands.  As the night grew darker and the anticipation was intense, we all counted down from 10 to 1 and then in a flash, the night sky lit up above us with the most spectacular firework show. 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. There is something about watching a firework show that makes you feel young and reminds you that those summer nights are priceless. I know that each one of us sitting in the amphitheater, will always remember tonight. It wasn’t just an ordinary night but a feeling that made you part of something pretty special.  That perfect feeling of an ideal summer night. There is  no place on earth would we would rather be but right where we were, with one another.

Chenny Out

The sun was out in full force today and you could feel the excitement. Every area of camp was full of happy campers. From ATV’s to gaga and everything in between was full of campers who had smiles on their faces and a sense of appreciation to be outside all day long playing with their friends. We have been here for a week and everyone has settled into their routine. Waking up to bugles and heading into the Lodge for breakfast in our jammies is what we do and feels like we’ve been doing this together for a lot longer than 7 days. The day was as close to perfect as perfect can get. When we see our campers engaged, happy, connected and at ease, there is nothing that fills a parents heart more than that. We hope that the pictures and videos tell that story, that your children are engaged, happy, connected, at ease and feeling free.

Don’t Worry About Failures, Worry About The Chances You Will Miss When You Don’t Even Try… By Anonymous

The night belonged to our long-standing Chenny tradition, Sign & Song. This is where each bunk creates a plaque with every name of every camper and counselor living in that bunk which will be hung there for the rest of time. In every bunk there are plaques that date back decades and gives us a window to what it was like back then and it mirrors what will be for kids coming through Chenny now. Some things change and some stay the same and Sign & Song will always stay the exact same at Camp Chen-A-Wanda, that you can bank on. After plaque presentation, it was the Song portion of the night and this is where each bunk on girls side performs a dance. Each group got up on that stage and danced their hearts out. From our cutest and most adorable Freshman all the way through our beautifully talented CIT’s, they rocked the house and had a ball. As each Girls bunk danced with smiles on their faces, boys side stood on their seats with standing ovations. When one of us takes the stage, everyone at Chenny is there to back them up. This is why we call ourselves a family in every sense of the word, we are!!. Congratulations goes to tonights winners:

Lower Camp Boys Plaque Winner goes to Bunk H

Upper Camp Boys Plaque Winner goes to Bunk W

Lower Camp Girls Plaque Winner goes to Bunk F

Upper Camp Girls Plaque Winner goes to Bunk W

Lower Camp SONG goes to the ladies of Bunk I and Upper Camp SONG was awarded to the girls of Bunk W.

IT WAS A CIT SWEEP tonight and they deserved it. From their costumes, to their make-up to the most phenomenal dance we have ever seen here at Chenny. They were mesmerizing and so in unison. This group of incredible young women blew the roof off Shields Hall. The work and effort they put into their performance mirrors their dedication and loyalty to one another. It is a group that came together so beautifully and created a work of art. They are the best of the best and deserved the Win. All so different and all so vital to the beauty of this group. The tears were running down their faces as they came to the realization that tonight was the last Sign & Song of their camper career.  It was a night they will never forget. Our beautiful CIT’s dominated the stage tonight and shared their love of Chenny with us all.

Chenny out.