Author: Elissa

With the last day of Color War upon us, everyone was working hard, having fun and giving it every ounce of effort they had. It meant that much to all of us. Win or loose, each team put their heart on the line and played hard. Each field and court was full of Red and Gold spirit, chants and cheers. Everyone was giving it their all. To see groups of kids rally around one another in the true sprit of competition and do it in a way that is uplifting and encouraging is awe-inspiring. It’s the way it should always be and it exists here at camp.

The CITS’s gave their psych speech before breakfast and shared feelings on this being the last and final Color War day they will ever have as a camper. They spoke from the heart and spoke of no regrets and embrace every event because in a blink of an eye, it ends. This group amazing CIT’s have left their mark and today marks the beginning of their finale.

There is a long standing Color War event called the axe hunt. A wooden axe was hidden on day one and at the beginning of each lunch 2 CIT’s from each team are given a clue to where it is. They have a timed 15 minutes to look for the axe. To this point in the competition, it has yet to be found. If it was not found today, this would be the very first time it had not been located. There was intense pressure for both teams to find the axe. Some were convinced it was nowhere on this camp, but oh it was. Hidden somewhere they hadn’t yet looked and it was waiting for them to find it. This was the last race and the entire camp was waiting in the Lodge, just waiting for the runners to appear holding the axe. Today, the last day of the axe hunt.  There was a certain CIT girl that was running the hunt today and she was nervous and actually asked her Captain if they would swap her out and pick a faster runner. I saw her right before lunch and she was terrified she wouldn’t be able to keep up. Every doubt she had about herself rose to the top and her fears almost over took her courage. Regardless of her fears, she stayed in the race. This event was timed for 15 minutes and with just 3 minutes to go, still nobody found the axe. With only 60 seconds left, I saw that same CIT running down the hill with her teammates next to her and that girl was waving that axe high in the air. That girl was my daughter Maddy and she found it with only 1 minute to go. Her face was pure joy and she did something she really thought she couldn’t. She found her courage today when she committed to finding that axe. Nobody before her in the past 5 days could find that axe but she did. Her worry , doubt and fear was replaced by pure joy that translated into confidence and a belief in herself. It was a moment that Jon and I will never forget and she certainly won’t either. A lesson she lived to never doubt herself and believe that what you feel is impossible may just be within your reach. She whispered in my ear, “I did it Mom, I found the axe.” and I whispered back, “You didn’t just find the axe Maddy, you found something way bigger.” We couldn’t have been more proud, not that she found the axe but that she never gave up.

Tonight was a silent meal and never was The Lodge so quiet. It was oddly silent as this is the place where we dance and sing but tonight in Color War tradition, we ate silently.  The campers wanted more than anything to talk but knew that every word spoken would loose points for their team. Try and visualize The Lodge full of campers and counselors that just don’t speak. It was a sight to see.

As both teams entered into Shields Hall dressed as characters from Trolls and Shrek, the Incredibles, Up and so many other amazing costumes, there was a sense of elation and true Color War pride. This was it, and everyone knew it. The scores were so close it was all coming down to SING. Each team presented their plaque and banner and they were truly works of art. True art master pieces that took our breath away. It was time for Sing and both were ready to perform the songs they worked so hard on and had so much meaning in every verse. There were tears as Red Pixar sang their Alma Mater and included beautiful lyrics that embodied the feelings they have as their summer comes to an end:

Spent all this time here with you

Don’t know how Ill make it through

Winter Nights alone

This place will always be our home

Friendships different over the phone

But I’m just a call away

It was emotional and everyone knew that the end of Color War signifies the end of camp. What we have all gone through will be with us forever but for now is ending and the last three days as two teams are now back together as one amazing camp.  Gold Dreamworks so poetically conveyed in their Alma Mater:

5 days have flown by

Fearing our last goodbye

My summer home, my sweet escape

A Legacy lives on at Fiddle Lake

The Bonds you’ll find here are so rare

Nothing can compare

All the love behind these gates, is something the we can’t explain

In a Chenny tradition of musical chairs, the last Judge to grab his/her seat was GOLD and that relayed the winner of Color War 2018. There was joyous elation throughout the Gold team but just for a moment as we hugged our friends and then busted out in a giant dance party. Joys of winning Color War and tears from defeat were replaced by intense and over the top energy that literally was explosive and electric. We could have moved a mountain with all that energy and then the realization that camp is nearing its end – the tears started to flow. So many feelings flooded us all and now with Color War behind us, summer 2018 is just about done.

We walked into Shields Hall tonight as two very separate teams but came out as One! The love we all feel and the connection we have formed is transformative and experiencing Color War 2018 was icing on the cake. When you think it just can’t get better, it does. Now we down shift to the final 3 days here and we won’t wast a moment.

Chenny out

Everyone matters in the Apache Relay and every camper plays a key role. No matter if you are being wrapped in toilet paper, running around the quad track, painting an entire oak tag board or are heading into the School of Rock for the infamous “unknown”, you count. It is a race that includes EVERYONE. It is fun, it is intense and it is Apache. When you think of the true meaning of this camp wide relay, you understand how connected we all are and how each part makes up the whole. There was a camper who really didn’t want to run his race today. For whatever reason he didn’t like his task. He was teary and sad and wanted to switch his with someone else’s. But in the very long standing tradition of Apache, there are absolutely no switches or tradsies. We live and die by the history of Apache and today was no different. What happened next was magnificent. I saw his counselors, captains and lieutenants of his team stand by this boy who was nervous of letting the team down. They would not let him fail. No matter if he walked it, they were doing it together and that is exactly what happened. He got up and waited for the baton to be handed to him and as he wiped away his tears, he ran that race with counselors in tow all telling him how he can do this. He wasn’t alone and their encouragement was the push he needed. After he was finished, he dropped tp the ground and lofted his arms like Rocky Balboa. I did it, he said. It was hard and running from the canteen all the way up to mini golf isn’t an easy fete but with people by his side showing him that he can, he did!!

Girl’s side ran their hearts out at their track meet and boy’s side jumped in the pool and swam to their finish line at their swim meet this afternoon. It was a full day of active campers here with Apache and the swim and track meets.Our kids are pushing themselves to their personal best and it shows. We are all exhausted but the War isnt over and our team needs us.

Our campers downshifted a bit as they were spectators at our staff game night. The staff played basketball, volleyball, softball and wiffle ball and our campers cheered them as they fought for Color war points. The weather was perfect and night was ideal. The sky was actually pink as the sun set over fiddle lake. It was one of those summer nights you dream about.

The excitement is growing and the kids are giving everything they’ve got into this Color War. There is a mere 31 points the separate 1st and 2nd Place and both teams are fighting for every single point. Tomorrow is the last day of games and we end this 5-day competition tomorrow night with Sing. In the end as it always does, it all comes down to Sing.

Chenny Out

 

Boy’s side had their track meet today and girls side battled in the pool at their swim meet. The kids had so much fun as they relayed to their finish lines getting cheers, praise and encouragement for their hard work and effort. The spirit was high and heat was on. To watch how this community gives one another support and encouragement is really life changing. It starts from our staff as they jump up and down cheering for the campers and that is infectious and it just catches on from there. There is so much positive energy in this camp, it is infectious, it is contagious and it is everywhere.

Knowing what Color War means to our campers, makes these 5 days not only emotional but significant in the entire summer journey they have been on. Every single camper is an integral piece to the whole and they each matter to the outcome. They wear their colors with pride and everyone on camp is putting  their heart into every match, game and meet. You can see it on their faces and feel it in their effort and hard work. Your kids are digging down deep and giving it all they got. You be beyond proud of them. The cheers of victory are deafening and the anguish of defeat is real. This War matters to each of us and it is providing meaningful competition and pushing ourselves when we think we can’t, we are being encouraged knowing that WE CAN. When we think we’re tired, we get up and push harder. This ability to find that fire inside each one of us is an experience that will be with us forever. It will help define who we are and how we grow.

Not a day goes by where I don’t witness a moment that tells a story of why this experience is so profound. In Color War, there is ample opportunity to bear witness to greatness, strength, grit, determination, sportsmanship and selflessness. Today was no different and I was blown away at one of these many moments. It happened at the pool where the girls were competing in a swim meet and one camper was a bit panicked and nervous for her portion of the relay. She didn’t want to let anyone down but was so fearful she would be the reason her team wouldn’t win the race. her fear got the best of her and she tried to tell her team she just couldn’t do it. You saw it on her face, you heard it in her voice and when she was just about to bow out and quit, her teammates got behind her and said ” WE NEED YOU and who cares if we win this race. It’s more important that you swim with us.” It was a moment that defined why Color War is so impactful. I saw this happen, I heard what was said and as I watched that camper get into that pool, the result of the race didn’t matter. She already won!

This Color War is so close and the teams are within a mere  36 points of each other. Red Pixar has earned 1900 points with the Gold Dreamworks just a hair ahead with 1936 points. It is anyones war as these teams head into Quiz night tonight. Tonight was all mental as campers and staff had to answer questions about anything and everything from pop culture to math equations to Camp Chen-A-Wanda facts and everything in between. All day, our bodies were challenged and tonight we stretched our minds.  There isn’t a camper or staff who isn’t giving it their all and pushing it to the limit. It is an outstanding Color War and with just 2 more days to go and the scores so close, it is anyones game. So here is to 2 more amazing days of exhaustion, exhilaration, competition and meaningful moments. Bring it on!

Chenny out.

Today was an incredible day for so many reasons. The obvious is that we are having an insane color war. The weather was beyond perfect and we played all day long. But that was not the reason why this day was remarkable. We had our first ever alumni day and we welcomed 250 alum from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s all the way through the 00’s. It was as if a Chen-A-Wanda history book walked through our gates. They were so incredibly happy to be back at their summer home and more importantly, your children were so welcoming, gracious and inquisitive to each and every alum that was on camp today.

There was a gentleman, Tom Wilbert and his wife that went to this camp in the 1950’s and had met here. They have been married for over 60 years and were literally celebrities. Dozens upon dozens of campers surrounded them, listening to stories from way back when. He shared his childhood with us today and and a piece of his heart. He told us all that wherever he traveled to or whichever stage of his life he was in, his time at this camp was pivotal in making him the man he is. He shared stories of his youth and how important this place was for him and for out kids to not take one day for granted. He mentioned that he often thinks about this place and it brings him joy. He hasn’t been back for over 50 years but the feeling is the same. This was nothing short of amazing and your children showed such admiration and excitement with every word Tom shared with them. I watched Tom relive his youth as he told story after story. It was a treasure chest of wonderful moments that we all can relate to. He ended with telling everyone he could, to not waste a moment because time here is finite and all you will be left with are memories.

The day was just emotional and joyful. Our alumni visited their old bunks, searching for their plaques, going building to building reliving the best time of their lives. And your kids were in awe. It was a common bond everyone on camp shared. The thread that linked us all together. From 7 – 95 there was a common bond that linked us all together. Your children are part of a long history of a place that has changed lives and is so meaningful to so many. They too will one day come back and have stories of their own to share. They too will feel the impact of how this place changed them and they too will never forget their summers at this magical place. They may not remember every score of every game or recall every name to every counselor they had but I can bet with 100% certainty, they will never forget the way this place makes them feel. That was the theme today with each and every alumni that was on camp. The way this place made them feel changed who they are for the better. It was a day that took our breath away.

Tonight at Rope Burn, we all sat a little closer, embraced one another a little longer and all took what Tom Wilbert said to heart – embracing each moment we have the privilege of spending here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Life Was Is and Will Always Be GREAT at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Chenny Out.

Our campers could hardly sleep as they were filled with excitement from last night’s amazing breakout. The energy from last night’s Jake Miller show wiped us out but we were ready for day 1 of Color War to day. It is a feeling like no other, a feeling of competition, spirit, camaraderie, and just pure love of camp and all that it stands for. We were dodging the rain but nothing could stop our love of Color War.

The action packed morning was followed by an afternoon full of games. There was newcombe and softball, there was steal the bacon and soccer and of course a fierce BBG game. The kids were head-to-toe in Red & Gold and the serious Chenny pride was out and about.

After an amazing afternoon, the evenings event was Contest Night.  The weather was still a bit rainy so all of Contest Night was inside Shields Hall and though it couldn’t possibly get as loud as the night before, we went round 2 for insane energy in the Hall. The campers raced in relays, flying turtles, tunnels races, balloon pops and hippity hops. Games you only play at camp. Even if you were not competing you got into the groove.  There were Conga Lines that went all through the Hall. No matter what song played, the kids went nuts. Camp inspires us to let go and have fun no matter what we are doing.

It was a great day 1 of Color War ’18. This is by far the best part of camp. Color War embodies every important part of our incredible journey through the seven beautiful weeks we live at Camp Chen-A-Wanda. Day 1 is in the books and there is so much more to go. Not taking one day for granted.

 

Chenny Out.