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. The feeling on camp was indescribable. 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 be and it exists here at camp.

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 and not a word to hear. We played tranquil spa music and I definitely saw a few kids rest their head and catch a few zzzz’s with how quiet and relaxed they were.

As both teams entered into Shields Hall dressed as super heroes of every kind,  there was a sense of elation and true Color War pride. This was it, and everyone knew it. Each team presented their plaque and banner and they were truly works of art. Masterpieces that will forever be proudly displayed inside Shields Hall. 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 DC sang their Alma Mater and included beautiful lyrics that embodied the feelings they have as their summer comes to an end:

Another summer in the books, Two months is all it took

From the freshman to the CIT’s, for us to become a family

Winter nights without you near, wishing that you were here

Turn the clocks bring back the times, when we were sitting side by side

We never want to leave our home, we never want to leave our home

It was emotional and everyone knew that the end of Color War means the end of camp. What we have all gone through will be with us forever but for now is ending and the last four days as two teams are now back together as one amazing unified camp. Gold Marvel sand with meaning and from their heart:

Summer ’17 – Hard to believe that soon I will be missing you

Try not to cry, As days fade to nights, Ill want you by my side

Never say goodbye

Look around this place, we wont forget the memories we’ve made here

Cause Leaving you is my biggest fear – Our summers through , we’re leaving here

In a Chenny tradition of musical chairs, the last Judge to grab his seat was Red and that signifies the winner of Color War 2017. There was joyous elation throughout the Red team but everyone in that hall tonight felt the electricity that raced through the room. You couldn’t help but feel the intense energy that was contagious and incredible. An entire room was celebrating the brilliance of what we all just went through. The tears came but it wasn’t for any loss anyone experienced, it was knowing we are at the end of this journey. We cried, we cheered , we hugged, we let go and allowed ourselves to feel every single emotion tonight. To be present at this moment was to connect in a way that changes our life. The bonds got stronger and the friendships got deeper. What an absolutely incredible night we had.

We walked into Shields Hall tonight as two very separate teams but we all walked out back together as one camp family. Three more days of living where Life is GREAT!

Chenny out

 

The rain came down today but nothing in this world could bring down our Color War spirit. We traded our sneakers for rain boots and got onto business. There were psych speeches and games, there were track meets and swim meets. Nothing could stop what we are battling for. When the going gets tough, we get tougher. Your kids stepped up their game and made lemonade out of lemons. So what they were wet, who cares they played soccer in the mud, it didn’t matter that their sneakers got dirty… They had a ball and that is all that mattered. When my kids were little, I would cringe when they stepped in puddles and got their shoes wet. I thought wet shoes = cold feet = catching a cold.. this equation is just not true and it took camp to give me that vision that when there is a puddle, of course the kids will jump right into it. Dirty shoes can get washed and muddy clothes are just not a big deal. The fun our kids have when they jump in those puddles and dirty up their shoes and maybe even stain their shirts from slipping and sliding on the mud is worth it. Every summer, I learn so much from your children and each rainy day my instinct to tell them not to jump into this puddles or avoid the mud piles has been replaced by me jumping in with them. I knew today was a great day when I looked down and my shoes were soaking wet and covered in mud.

The scores were read at dinner and Red DC has the lead but the battle is far from over. Just when you think you have it in the bag.. things turn on a dime like at dinner when Gold Marvel ran back in the Lodge as they found the axe!!! Finding the axe is a color war favorite and a hard fete and the Gold team pulled through tonight and their team went nuts. Just when they needed a lift, the got it!!!!

Scores before dinner : Red DC 2909 vs Gold Marvel 2508

The afternoon was track meet for the girls and swim meet for the boys. The rain just didn’t get in our way, it added to the fun.  The evening was spent with our kids watching counselor game night as they battled for points for their teams. It was basketball in Shields Hall, soccer on the major league field and counselor quest in the Lodge. Our kids supported the staff who played for points. The staff were the stars of the show tonight.

One more day to go in our War of Color. One last day to give it all we’ve got. One more shot to bring it and one last day to leave our mark on Color War 2017.

Chenny out.

 

It was a glorious morning and a perfect day for more color war games and contests. Everyone was feeling the spirit with their faces painted and their hair sprayed with their team colors. Spirit and team pride runs deep here and everyone feels the excitement. I watched the GC girls play BBG and that could have been one of the most fun BBG matches I have ever witnessed. So much support, a lot of laughs,  tons of jumping around, several moments of stopping the game to dance, lots of random singing and smiles that would light up the darkest room. You just couldn’t watch this game without a smile on your face. I loved being able to witness such joy for an amazing group of 15 year girls.

Boy’s side had their track meet today and girls side battled in the pool with their swim meet. The kids had so much fun as they relayed to their finish lines getting cheers praise for their hard work and effort. To sit back and watch the encouragement we all give one another here is life changing. There was a younger camper who was nervous to swim in a relay race and thought she would let her team down because she wasn’t a really strong swimmer. She told her team how nervous she was and it took about a minute for them to rally around her and told her that she would never let them down. I overheard one camper say to her, “we are team, we do it together and we can do this thing today.” It gave that nervous camper the confidence she needed and she saw her laps with a ll her might. When she got out of the pool, her team was there hugging her with arms wide open telling her how amazing she swam. It’s just mind blowing what you can do when you have a whole team behind you.

It has been three full days of Color War battle and the score before this evening’s event was:

RED DC – 2437 points

Gold Marvel -2178 points

This War is still within reach for either team with 2750 more points up for grab. Tonight was a great event as we all headed to see the long-standing camp tradition of Rope Burning and Water Boiling. Counselors for both teams have been collecting wood and preparing for tonight. Their faces are painted with zinc to protect them from the burning fire that they have created and the entire camp, watches with great anticipation as to which team while burn the rope and boil the water first. Tonight’s win went to Red DC as they burnt their rope in 14 minutes and just 4 minutes later Red boiled their water. So tonight was a big win for Red DC.  Gold Marvel’s rope burnt within minutes after Red’s water boiled.  The water boiling for Gold Marvel was a challenge as they just couldn’t get their fire going but they had their entire team behind them, cheering them on and telling them that they CAN DO IT and NEVER QUIT.  They never gave up on their female water boilers, never not once! This challenge defines the tradition of Color War. Sitting on that hill on a chilly summer night, watching Rope Burn with your friends by your side will forever be etched in the memories of every single person there tonight.  It’s an awesome Color War tradition to be a part of and to witness knowing that so many campers before us has sat on that same field, watching ropes burn and water boil. We are all so proud and grateful to be a part of this long-standing tradition that will forever be a part of each one of us.

Life is so Great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Chenny out.

The day belonged to color war games and we were all outside playing all day long. There were basketball games, softball, volleyball, BBG & soccer bouts being played all day long. Campers were pushing themselves and so committed to their teams. They laid it all on the fields and courts. You have to see an intense wiffle ball game of campers wearing tutus, bunny ears and face paint. Red DC’s and Gold Marvels where everywhere today. It is the best part of Color War that we can play hard and continue to have the most amazing time with a sense of spirit that is infectious. You can’t watch any one of these games without watching everyone on the sidelines cheer on their team with undeniable support and camp spirit. It is the essence of what these games are about. Play hard, cheer harder and have the best time of your life!!! After every goal there is a high five, after each basket there is a “way to go” and even after an intense game of BBG, there is a giant group hug. It is awesome to watch our kids truly enjoy themselves and embrace their last week of camp.

The scores were read at dinner and the entire camp gasped as they were read. Red DC has earned 1703 and Gold Marvel has secured 1530. Only 173 points separate these two battling teams. After eating our delicious meal and hearing the scores, the entire camp got on the tables and started singing on the top of their lungs. We rocked out and danced like nobody was watching us. If you can imagine the feeling of a room full of people of singing so loudly and dancing so freely it literally moves you to a place that you cant believe exists. There is just no fear to let go and cut loose and it happens here. We see kids who started this journey reserved and timid and these same kids are singing like they are alone in the shower but there are hundreds of friends around them. There is a freedom without judgement to be the most authentic you here. When a giant group of people come together in song and dance, it can literally move a mountain. The energy is tangible, contagious and feel so awesome. Our camp family is united, connected and know to have fun when we sang and dance together.

It was Quiz night and as each camper pushed themselves physically all day long, our minds were stretched and challenged as they had to answer questions ranging from math equations, history challenges all the way to pop culture quizzes. It was a great night as we each challenged our minds to think outside the box and recall information that we haven’t thought about all summer long. It was a fun night full of challenging questions and fun factoids!!! There is 3-more days of Color War and with the scores only 173 points apart,  the next few days will bring some crazy intensity and definitely lots of fun.

Chenny out

 

 

Today was EPIC. It is hard to put into words the feeling on camp today but I will try my best to relay how it felt to be part of this community who celebrated the beginning of Color War 2017. The day started like any day here at Chenny – everyone rolled out of bed and headed to The Lodge in their jammies, bed hair and all to eat some delicious chocolate chip pancakes. After they filled their bellies, it was off to line-up but it stared to feel like something was in the air. Every bird that flew by looked suspicious, every announcement from Chenny Central seemed strange – everyone was anticipating that Color war was breaking at line-up. They were sure of it. But they would have to wait a bit longer. After line-up it was back too the bunks for clean-up and inspection. You could literally see the disappointment on their faces as they headed back to the bunks. After a good cleaning and waiting for that moment…. IT HAPPENED! You could suddenly hear something, something that didn’t sound like a bugle.. It was Batman music getting louder and louder and louder.. and just like that, the kids started to scream and run around wondering where.. where do they go? Everyone headed to center camp and in rolled the Batmobile with Batman and Robin behind the wheel. Out of nowhere came Superman, Flash and Wonder-women and the kids went nuts. The car was insane but there was more to come.. As the kids followed Batman up to the top of the hill, they were met by 4 skydivers landing at Camp Chen-A-Wanda for a real Superhero battle.  Captain America, Spiderman,  Ironman and Deadpool came down from the sky and made there way to Chenny. We have a true battle happening here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda and just like it’s Color War – Red DC vs. Gold Marvel!

Kids got dressed head-to-toe in their colors and went right into Tugs of war. The battle was fierce and the kids dug down deep to do their teams proud. They pulled hard and worked as team and showed a strength that they may not have even been aware they had. The faces of fierceness and the grunts of grit, Tugs of War brought the spirit of the games to life and set the tone to what is looking to be an incredible War.  It was fun afternoon of games and competition with steal the bacon, BBG, softball, basketball and soccer but what happened tonight was a night we will remember forever. After mass games, it was contest night and there was something in the air. The energy was just INSANE. Kids were going crazy with dancing and singing in between their games of hippity hops and relay races. The vibe was just electric and the energy tonight was something I haven’t ever felt on contest night, EVER! It was a GIANT party where everyone was in the best mood to party and dance. There is no doubt that from the physical energy your kids produced today, that at this very moment they are having a very deep sleep tonight. Wow is all we can say about what happened at camp today!

Everything about Color War brings out the best in each and every single person on camp. It allows us to be a part of a team, to fight for a common goal, to reach our own personal best, to support our friends, to celebrate our wins, to accept our defeats and to a part of something greater than ourselves. So for now our camp is Red and Gold and the pride runs deep. From psych speeches to song practice – this experience transforms us and Day 1 is in the books. Cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Life is Great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda!!!!!!!

Chenny out