Author: Elissa

Up here at camp there is one thing we expect from our campers and staff and that is to lead with kindness. You can’t go wrong when you show kindness and every single day we see these actions all around us. Making others feel good is part of our ethos and everyone here is catching on, beautifully. You see it daily and it warms your heart. When you start your day and everyone on your left and right greet you with “Good Morning” or when you are walking up the hill to Circus and anyone who passes you gives you a high five. Tonight, I was visited by two boys who brought to my attention a counselor, who wasn’t even their counselor who made an impact on them. These two campers were sitting at the hockey rink and one was sharing how he was feeling a bit homesick. In ear shot, this counselor that they didn’t know walked over and sat with them. He asked if they wouldn’t mind if he joined them and then shared a story about how he too felt the same way when he went off to college. Whatever was said helped the camper who was feeling a bit challenged with missing home but the story didn’t end their. These two campers felt compelled to ask me if I would consider giving a Kind Camper T-shirt to this counselor. He had made such an incredible gesture by just sitting with the kids, sharing his story and providing support that they wanted to honor him. The boys even said how it inspired them to listen and look for people who may need their support to get through tough moments. Nothing made me smile bigger today than bearing witness to this incredible connection and amazing act of kindness.

Our kids are off and running with their Wayne County games:

Super Girls Soccer – CAW 6 @ Westmont

Freshman/Junior Boys Basketball – CAW 35 vs. Westmont 42

Inter Boys Basketball – CAW 29 @ Tioga 4

Super Boys Tennis – CAW 2 @ Westmont 5

GC/CIT Boys Lacrosse – CAW 4 vs. Westmont 7

Tonight’s evening activity was INCREDIBLE!!! It was the staffs’s talent show and it was so good. WhenI say the campers loved it, that doesn’t truly represent what happened in Shields Hall tonight. There were dances, magic acts, singing, comedy and other incredibly talented people taking center stage and blowing our minds. The entire camp family was up on their feet, singing along and cheering at the top of their lungs. You had to see it to believe it and we experienced a night to remember. One of our new counselors was so beyond fearful to showcase her singing talents and before the show she was contemplating bailing out due to nerves. Her campers got behind her and motivated her to face those fears, get on the stage and sing and that she did. She had us all in the palm of her hands and sang her heart out. I have seen some pretty incredible ovations here at camp but this one took first place. She was incredible and after her performance all her girls ran to her with so much pride and adoration that she began to cry with joy. That counselor approached me and said that it wasn’t easy for her to sing in front of a crowd this size or any crowd for that matter but her girls gave her the courage. That is the magic of this place. We inspire one another to be better, to be brave, to step out of our comfort zones and to be magnificent.

Life is Great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Chenny out.

Even rain can’t stop the fun up here at Chenny. Regardless if you are wearing sneakers with the sun shining or rain boots with grey clouds, we still seem to have the most incredible days here. There were a group of boys that were jumping in puddles and having a ball. The puddle was there and they had to jump in it. Had to! A few years back, I learned a lesson that has stayed with me to this very day. As a mom, I always tried to have my kids avoid puddles as it would soak their shoes and get their feet wet and muddy. Even here at camp, I found myself telling to kids to be careful of puddles and mud as it may ruin their shoes, soak their socks and their feet would get cold. But that was then until a group of amazing young kids turned my thoughts from wet soggy feet to having the time of their life playing in puddles. I realized that a puddle to a kid is like moth to a flame – It is unavoidable. So I learned that telling kids to avoid those puddles are futile. I would much rather wash their shoes and socks after puddle jumping fun than keep a child from jumping in. Why? Because it’s fun, it’s freeing and it’s letting go of inhibition. So today with that group young boys, I jumped in too. My shoes were soaked and yes my feet were cold but I laughed along with them and had the time of my life jumping in puddles with your kids.

Today began our Wayne County Tournaments and our kids played with heart and grit. Playing up here is so very different than playing at home. There is never any stress, never any disappointment and playing at camp is playing for the love of the game.

Collegiate Boys Soccer –  CAW 2 @ Camp Wayne 9

Senior Boys Basketball – CAW 53 @ Camp Wayne 14

Super Boys Basketball – CAW 22 @ Camp Wayne 41

It was Sense and Nonsense for our younger campers tonight. Boys side vs. girls side and with blindfolds on, they had to touch, taste and smell certain items and guess what they were. They LOVED the show tonight and many of our campers were on stage sniffing, touching and tasting. It was hilarious and the kids loved it. Our older kids spent their evening in a black light party in the Canteen. Faces were painted with glowing in the dark paint and the canteen was fully black lighted. Music was pumping, dancing was happening and the kids had a ball. Just another day with purpose, play and meaning up here in paradise.

Chenny out!

 

What an incredible day we had today. I mean really incredible. A day you want to duplicate and never forget. The sun was shining and the weather was absolutely perfect. Not too hot not too cold, just perfect. The campers were literally skipping to breakfast this morning. Actually skipping. You can’t help but have an amazing day when you start out skipping to breakfast. It sets the tone and makes you feel good from the inside out. Not a better way to be and live and fills up your soul with good feelings of positivity. Your children are surrounded by this vibe all day long. It has only been 4 days and this feeling is why we Wanda!

Fields were full, studios were rocking, fitness was spinning, cooking was delicious and our camp was full of happy kids. Sports try outs are happening and our campers are giving it their all. I watched as a Middy boy was up at bat getting instruction from our coaches and getting praised for his effort. He stood taller after each pitch and you could see his confidence rise with the encouragement of our staff. That child worked on his swing and hit a double and he rounded each base with a smile that would melt your heart. Once he reached second base, I heard him say that he never knew he could hit like that. He didn’t like to play at home because he felt that he wasn’t good enough but here at Chenny, he felt like a star. It was pure joy and I was sure glad to see it. This is why we Wanda!

The Dating Game is a camp tradition that everyone loves at Chenny. Our kids were up on stage, as bachelors and bachelorettes. Asking crazy questions about love that made everyone laugh. One camper sang to prove his adoration for the mystery girl sitting behind the partition. The other showed his love with a poem he made up on the spot. He brought the house down and our kids made this night one to remember. Love was in the air tonight and this is why we Wanda!

Chenny out

 

 

 

Today was an awesome camp day as campers spent the day outside playing. There is truly no better sight to see than watching kids run around and play and that is exactly what your children did all day long. They had catches at center camp,  flag football games and gaga tournaments. They jumped into the lake, created works of art in Arts and Crafts and just had the greatest day. This is what our children crave and deserve and we are so happy to provide a place that playing outside all day with your friends exists.

The highlight of the day for all our new campers was hanging with their first friends. We got the kids together and the Big’s & Little’s absolutely loved it. There were special handshakes and dances they made together and this is what makes Chenny a family. Everyone is connected to one another and for our newest Chenny kids and returning older campers, this afternoon was just so special. You could see the smiles on their faces and joy in their heart as their world got a bit bigger today.

It was a day of tryouts as our fields and courts were busy with kids playing their favorites sports. As I watched the junior girls tryout for the softball team, it lifts my spirit to see kids get encouragement for trying and giving it their all. Some kids picked up the bat for the very first time but the try was all we required. Coaches get behind each one of them and from their heart praise your children. That amount of sportsmanship and support is not always associated with youth sports but that is what we do here. To see the smiles on the campers faces as they learn new skills and try their best and are celebrated for it is priceless. To be a part of our sports program here is to play for the love of the game without pressure or stress. It’s magical and so necessary for our kids. You see them thrive when they are coached without criticism and praised for what they can do. Stay tuned as we post Wayne County Tournament scores on this blog as soon as games begin.

The evening was all about BINGO and no matter how simple of a game it is, it just never gets old. That thrill when your letter/number is called and you yell out BINGO and the crowd goes wild. Kids were on the edge of their seat waiting for the next number to be called and it was intense. The room went nuts as a brand new Middy boy yelled out BINGO and his bunkmates went crazy because the prize he won was extra canteen for the entire bunk and a Beast ride from Jon. If you don’t know what the Beast is, your kids sure do and getting a ride on it is legit!!!

Another amazing day at this spectacular place we all call home!

Chenny out

It was our first full day and we are all getting into our groove. It didn’t take long for our campers to feel right at home. There were happy campers playing baseball, flying on the trapeze, working out in the fitness center, singing in the School of Rock. Camp was rocking today and kids had a pep in their step. It was just a giant good mood here at Chenny and it was contagious. I watched as group of kids sat around the apple tree and one camper pulled out a deck of cards and started a game of War. These kids didn’t need Netflix to fully occupy themselves. Instead it was 52 cards, good friends, lots of laughs and an afternoon that filled their souls. I found myself watching this incredible group of campers all period long and it was mesmerizing. There were jokes and lots of conversation and the most fun game of War I have witnessed.  They had a ball just being together. It was magical and it is exactly what camp life is all about. It’s the reason that friendships are on a different level here. It’s because your children are authentically themselves here and sitting under an apple tree playing card games is so much better than Fortnite. Screens are replaced by faces. Conversations rule. Holding hands beats  holding a device. It was just an incredible day at Chen-A-Wanda.

Our evening activity entertained the entire house. We had 2 insanely talented guys that took drumming to a whole new level. Our stage was covered with trash cans, pots and pans and buckets that were turned into the most fun drum show we have ever had here at Chenny. The kids were jamming along and loved every minute of the show. It was high intensity, it was comedy, it was crazy fun and your kids LOVED it! Just a great way to end a fabulous first full day. The best news is that we get to do this all over again tomorrow. To say were the lucky ones is an understatement. So here is to more card games sitting under apple trees, more laughs with great people by our side and more days and nights filled with good vibes. To say we are lucky to have this experience is an understatement. We cannot wait to see what tomorrow will bring.

Chenny Out