Author: Elissa

It was another intense day of competition as the campers got into their games.  Our camp was a sea of Blue, Red and Gold. Faces were painted, tutus were in full force, tube socks were a plenty and spray painted hair was all the rave. The race was so close that only 50 points separated the first and third teams as the morning began. Every camper was giving it their all.  It was all about the TEAM today. After a morning of games, it was off to song practice. The teams practiced their Cheer, March and Alma Mater and you could hear these homegrown songs in every corner of camp today.  Mid afternoon it was off to the track field for an afternoon of races.  The campers poured their heart and soul into every competition, every race, every softball throw and their spirit was intense. All three teams wanted the win today and it showed. After all the physical competitions were over, we all entered the Lodge for what was to be this summers INSANE dinner. Every single person inside the lodge was singing on the top of their lungs for the biggest karaoke sing-a-long party of this summer. Don’t get me wrong, we sing and dance at every lunch and dinner but tonight was incredible. We all let go tonight and it was a party like no other. Every song was better than the next and after 2 and half days of intense competition, we all had the absolute best time singing together at the very top of our lungs. The kind of singing you do in your car or in the shower when you think nobody is listening, it was that kind of singing but instead of nobody listening….everybody was listening and there was absolutely no fear of letting go and being in that moment. We all shared that moment together tonight and it was AWESOME. One that I know nobody in the lodge tonight will forget.

The Olympic games ended as all three teams presented their songs, banner and plaque inside Shields Hall. Each team presented their Cheer, March and their Alma Mater and the words of Blue Dominican Republic said it so beautifully in their Alma Mater…. ” Freshmen to CIT’s…Time Flies so fast…Wish we could stay all year, make moments last. Ill alway’s need you here, right by my side. I wanna stay with you, never say goodbye. Chenny 17 – Forvever you and me..Forever you and me..”

Now it was in the hands of judges as the decision of who would win Olympics 2017 was about to be announced. Shields Hall was packed with our campers dressed head to toe in their team colors waiting on bated breath and all at the edge of their seats. The time had come and the judges raced on scooters to a photo finish as Blue crossed the finish line. It was Blue Dominican Republic who took the Gold tonight!!! This was one close race.

Final Scores:

• Blue Dominican Republic – 2036
• Gold Sweden – 1998
• Red Mongolia – 1827

 

What we learned from these games were that we all played hard, respected the game, supported each other and believed that in the end it wasn’t just about getting the win but being there for one another. Two and half days ago, we began as Red Mongolia, Gold Sweden and Blue Dominican Republic and tonight we are back to One Camp Family.

Chenny out.

What an incredible day we had today. The sun couldn’t have been brighter and everyone was feeling the rays of sunshine that covered us all from head to toe. Faces were painted, hair was sprayed, tutus were on in full force. The spirit on this camp was off the charts and our campers were in it to win it. It was a full day of Olympic games and activities and the competition was fierce, fair and fun. Every camper pushed themselves and pushed their friends to be the best they can be today. Just when you thought you gave it your all and you may have felt you were running out of steam, your entire team was cheering you on from the sidelines letting you know , YOU CAN DO IT!!!! That is what happened on every field and every court today. You CAN do it – That made all the difference. Our campers and staff dug down deep today and pushed harder then ever before.You saw it on their faces and in the grit of their effort.  To see the encouragement we give one another can move mountains. It’s the best part of our Olympic games. To watch a camper who thinks they can’t go one more step and see them get lifted up and encouraged by their team and that is where they soar higher than they ever thought they could. We become champions for one another and we learned how powerful we are together.

The night belonged to the Apache Relay and everyone had a part in the ultimate goal. Regardless if you leaped frogged from the lake to Chenny Central, threw 5 cards into a hat or had to sing Take Me Out To The Ballgame, we all mattered and everyone counted.  The Apache Relay is an incredible race of teamwork, endurance and an enormous amount of fun. The entire camp is used from top to bottom and everything in between. To participate in Apache is something that you will never forget and is a constant reminder that every single person on this campus, is important and an integral member of the team. Tonight, Gold Sweden crossed the finish line first followed by Blue Dominican Republic with Red Mongolia just a few minutes behind. After the first full day of competition it’s too close to call. There is another full day games tomorrow and as we all know it all comes down to SING!!!!!!!

I saw something tonight at Apache that literally took my breath away. As each camper got into position for their Apache event, there was GC boy up at archery who is on the Red Mongolia team and this camper happens to be very talented at this sport. Archery comes so easy to him and he loves doing it. He noticed next to him was a girl on the Blue Dominican Republic team, who was getting upset as she has never once shot an arrow at archery but yet was chosen for this event. She kept telling him that she couldn’t do it and she knows her team will be upset with her as both her competitors were pretty great at this event. With tears welling up in her eyes and defeat written all over her face, this GC camper spent the 30 minutes teaching her how to do it. He said, “I can help you, but first believe you can do this and then you will.” I couldn’t believe I was there to hear this exchange. He taught her how to hold the bow, he encouraged her to stay calm and then he was by her side until she hit the target. It was an incredible exchange to witness. He was selfless and kind to someone he didn’t know and it was to his competitor. When she hit the target, the look on her face was priceless and she ran over to the boy that helped her and jumped into his arms with a giant hug and thanked him for his help. He said in the sweetest way to her, “You just needed to believe in yourself” This is why Life is Great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda!

Chenny out.

The vibe on camp today was all about Olympics and if today was the day.  Lot’s of chatter at line-up,  in the Lodge, down at waterfront, inside the bunks and just about everywhere. These kids wanted to dig their teeth into some serious competition and the energy was electric. Every song that played in center camp, every bugle that blew may have been a sign and the Olympic spirit was strong at Chenny today. These long standing camp traditions are the heart and soul of our camp experience. Olympics, Color War, Girls Sing, Boys Lip Sync – they are events we can count on and look forward to. They tie us to those Camp Chen-A-Wanda campers who have walked before us and have done what we are about to do. Entering into an experience that stands the test of time and when so many things change all around us, our camp traditions stay the exact same. We can count on them. We need them and thank goodness, our campers wouldn’t have to wait too much longer.

Before we broke Olympics, our fields and courts were full of Wayne County Tournament games.

GC/CIT Girls Tennis CAW 2 vs. Starlight 3

Inter Boys Soccer – CAW 9 @ Tioga 4

Senior/Super LAX – CAW 14 vs. Island Lake 12

GC/CIT Boys Basketball – CAW 45 vs. Westmont 13

In true Chenny form, we love to fake-out our kids and just when they think they know when and how a break is happening, we give them a FAKE and today was so much fun. The word out in camp was Olympics is DEFINITELY breaking at snack call so as the campers munched on their cookies, fruit and water anticipating something…and then…the Olympic theme started to play, followed by screams and cheers. Everyone was looking around and going nuts and just then out came Brian Leahy dressed head-to-toe in Red, White and Blue with flags waving high. He was perched high on top of the Beast as it jetted past center camp and the kids following directly behind when it stopped at the pool and Brian walked straight off the diving board right into the pool (fully clothed). It was hilarious and the kids loved it though this was was not the time for Olympics to break at Chenny.

The bugle rang and it was off to activities. You could see the disappointment and hear the angst as our campers wanted Olympics. They wouldn’t have to wait too long as just an hour later the Olympic Fanfare song played loud and clear. Where to go? Where was it breaking? The campers scattered around trying to find the location and word quickly spread that Shields Halls was where to go. The energy was intense and the spirit was high. 3..4…5…6… We Want OLYMPICS…. was being chanted by all in Shields Hall and our kids were so loud , I am sure the camp down the road heard us. A video was shown, with highlights from last years battle and it gave everyone in the Hall goosebumps on their goosebumps. It is intense, it is  fierce, it is pride, Olympics is here!!!!

Red Mongolia, Gold Sweden and Blue Dominican Republic are taking battle in Olympics 2017!

The first Olympic event was tonight and everyone gave their all at Tugs of War. Your kids dug down deep and showed their grit and determination. When our campers tug on that rope that feels like it is attached to a brick wall and they dig down deeper to find that strength to pull harder, it exemplifies the will they have to give it everything they’ve got. You see it in their faces, you can hear it when they grunt on every pull, you can feel it when wont give up. Every single one of us has fire in our hearts for something, and it’s our goal to find it and keep it lit. Let the Games Begin.

Chenny out.

 

 

The morning started with all the kids getting ready of their day off camp. There was a buzz in their as campers were scurrying around in the gold trip shirts, so excited to venture out of our bubble.

Our Navajo campers (seniors, supers and GC’s) were lathered up with sunscreen and they boarded the buses for their journey to the roaring rapids. They were headed to their white water trip and were excited to face the river. They all jumped in boast and battled the rapids. They rowed, they bumped and bounced and they made memories that will forever stay with them. It was an experience that they had with their camp family and it was an awesome day for our oldest campers.

Cherokee and Mohican Camp (freshman, juniors, middies, inters & collegiates) had a great day at the ballpark. They all headed to watch the New York Yankees AAA team Scranton RailRiders. It was a perfect day filled with hot dogs, funnel cake and of course watching a great ball game. The game went into extra innings and it was a nail biter with the RailRiders cinching the win in the 11th inning. After this perfect afternoon at the ballpark, it was back to camp for a pizza party and a movie. An absolutely perfect summer day for our younger campers.

Our CIT’s had an incredible day as they visited Syracuse University, went shopping at a nearby mall, eating out all day long and spending an incredible day with their camp family. They came back with arms full of fun stuff they purchased along the way. It was a great first day off for our oldest campers.

There was so much excitement for the kids first trip out of camp but there is just nothing like coming back home. As each bus rolled back into camp, and campers got of the buses all with smiles on their faces, exhaustion from head-to-toe I overheard one camper say to another “I am so glad to be home” . This is their home!

All campers are safe sound back at Chenny, sleeping peacefully from a day well spent.

Chenny out.

 

Today was one of those summer days we wish wouldn’t end. Having been here for only 11 days, its incredible to see how close we get in such a short period of time . We all wait so long to spend 50 days here and as each day passes, the bonds get stronger and the feelings of pure bliss have wrapped up us all in this incredible huge Chenny blanket. At this point in the summer, everyone seems to cherish the little things that truly matter the most. Our relationships have grown stronger by the day and our new friends have officially become our family and old friends have continued to enrich our lives.

There is something that sticks out to me every summer as I watch these relationships grow and that is benefit of a hug. Something so simple and easy as a hug or a piggyback ride or holding a hand is just what we do, daily. It’s human connection that we all crave and here is where we get it. We may not even realize how much we need it until we get here and standing next to your friend or counselor seems awkward without sitting on their lap, holding their hands or giving them a hug. You have to see it to believe it and living in this environment breeds it. There isn’t a day that I don’t hug your children and I live for the hugs I get back. It’s the thread that makes us closer and the benefits are profound. How different the world be if getting and giving hugs happened like they happen here at camp. You can’t help but smile as you watch campers walk arm in arm to an activity. It warms you from the inside out. It brings our friendships to a very different level than with our home friends. It is why our camp friends become our family. It’s why we love this place so much. It’s why we call Chenny HOME!

Sports……..Sports……..Sports…….

Inter/Collegiate Girls Tennis @ Tyler Hill

Summer Housenbold (singles) advanced to Quarter Finals / Lexi Coulthard & Haylin Roth (Doubles) advanced to Semi Finals/ Jillian Oresky (singles) advanced to Semi Finals

Super Girls Basketball – CAW 28 @ Starlight 46

Middy Boys Hockey – CAW 1 vs. Westmont 3

Chenny Cup Soccer Tournament @ CAW (Collegiate Boys)

CAW 1 vs Wayne 9 / CAW 6 vs. Tyler Hill 1

Senior Boys Soccer – CAW 3 @ Lohikan 9

GC/CIT Boys Baseball – CAW 13 vs. Tioga 0

We have some insanely talented kids here and tonight was the big audition show. There were dancers, singers, pianists, drummers, stand up comics and other incredible talents that dazzled us with their gifts. We put together a video montage of the auditions and the kids loved it. They shined so bright and we loved that they shared their talent with everyone in Shields Hall tonight. We will soon be announcing who will make it to the live show so stay tuned for the big announcement. Our kids love being the stage and we love providing to them. Hollywood here they come!!!!!

Chenny out.