Category: General News

The sun just came up and all of Head Staff has been busy since before dawn getting zombified and vampired out!!! All of camp was sleeping and at exactly 7:00am a loud siren rang throughout camp alerting all that something was happening. Each staff member was assigned a bunk to enter and awake the campers. Our youngest campers were very gently awakened in the most non-scary but yet exciting way that something very special was happening and they needed to head to Shields Hall.  They each jumped out bed with screams of joy as they knew this was it and Color War was happening. Zombies and vampires had awakened our older campers up in a very fun and exciting way this morning. There were thrilling screams and lots of laughs as the campers realized that this wasn’t a zombie apocalypse but rather a Color War that was happening to them. The haunting music played throughout camp as everyone headed into Shields Hall to see an incredible dance production of Thriller. Everyone sang and clapped along as we were so engaged with the dance that was happening before our very eyes. Just as the dance ended a loud creaky sound played and a coffin that was on stage opened and out came Gary Shields AKA Color War Guru of CAW. He turned to our campers, picked up his infamous megaphone and said… IT’S COLOR WAR 2014!!!!! Shields Hall went nuts and our Color War officially began.

Color War is such a special time and a 5-day event that every single person on camp looks forward to. It defines camp and represents everything we honor about teamwork, competition, spirit, camaraderie and most importantly having the greatest time working together for a common goal. There is nothing quite like watching an entire camp get dressed head-to-toe in their team color and show such pride for the team they are fighting for. The day was full with Tugs of War, Mass Games, Contest night and every sport you could possibly think of. We played hard, had fun and experienced a day we will never forget. As a group of Seniors girls sat with me after their softball game this afternoon, they were going over every single moment of their morning as Zombies and Vampires awakened them. Each story was followed by laughter and intense respect for the break.  As one camper asked me, “How do you guys think of the best breaks ever??” I told her how we take serious pride in providing our campers with an experience they will never forget and we know that Color War 2014 will go down as one insanely out of this world Zombified incredibly unique break!!!

Chenny out

 

The weather was perfect and the campers spent the morning in pure heaven here at CAW. Activities were running and happy campers were everywhere. It was a picture perfect and you could feel the excitement build as all the chatter was geared toward when Color War was going to break out. As like any other normal day the bugle rang for snack call and all the campers scurried to center camp. Nothing unusual yet…… From over Fiddle Lake, you saw something coming towards camp and it was a helicopter was getting closer. Over the speakers played the Mission Impossible theme and campers started to scream with excitement as the chopper hovered over center camp. All the campers chanted 1…2…3…4.. We Want Color War!!!! Was it now? Is it time? As 1,000’s of red and gold crimpled papers floated down from the sky above, the campers ran to grab them and were pleasantly disappointed as they read..#Fakeout and Color War NOT!! It might have been a fakeout but the excitement for Color War 2014 is at an all time high!!

We got to play a few games today and the kids had a ball.

Senior/Super Girls LAX – Starlight 21 vs. CAW 11 – Chenny takes 2^nd Place in Wayne County Tournament

Archery Tournament – CAW 12 vs. Westmont 0

Tonight was our big Disneycal Show and it was magical. The campers were adorable, talented and brought smiles to the faces of everyone in Shields Hall. They danced and sang to everything Disney. Our campers performed songs and dances from The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Frozen and The Lion King. Our kids have crazy talent and they showed it off tonight. Every song was sung along to and every dance took our breath away!! It was their night to shine and that is what they did. Broadway or bust for Chenny actors. It was time for dismissal as normal but just when kids started to stand up and leave Shields Hall, music started to play, lights went on and off and the curtain opened. It was our Head staff dressed as Little Finger, Rob Stark, The Hound, Daenerys Targaryen and other characters form the hit show Game of Thrones. The kids went nuts with excitement. Jumping up and down screaming for a Color War. Was it now? Is it time? A medieval battle took place on our stage but ended in yet another FAKEOUT!!!! They will have to wait and see what tomorrow may have in store for them. Looks as if a Color War may be on the horizon!!!!

Chenny out

 

 

 

There seems to be a vibe on camp that is quite contagious. As we are quickly approaching the last ten days of camp, there is a renewed appreciation of where we are. We are all noticing how fast our summer is going by so we aren’t sweating the small stuff here. Everyone is relaxed and fully embracing the home stretch of summer 2014. We are trying to stretch the days and lengthen the nights. With each bugle that rings it means that time is passing and soon we will be heading home so we are getting it all in while we can and making every second matter. Friendships are becoming deeper and more meaningful by the minute. In less than two weeks our hugs and long talks face-to-face will be replaced with texts that read ilysm (I love you so much – for those of you who don’t know text talk). The smiles we see everyday will soon become a little happy face emoji we type into a screen. It’s unreal that what we experience here everyday has to end in just ten days but what we are left with are hearts full of great memories and a summer that embraced us.

Another Championship goes to Chenny!!!

Super Girls Basketball – Lavi 44 vs. CAW 29 – Chenny takes 2^nd Place in Wayne County Tournament

Freshmen/Juniors Boys Gold Baseball – CAW 5 vs. Westmont 3

Collegiates Boys Baseball – CAW 15 – Lavi 1 – CHENNY WINS CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

The night was all about Girls Sing and it was spectacular. The pride, the joy and the honor of this night is tremendous. Each division worked so hard and it showed. When boys side can sit in awe for 2 hours, you know something special is happening. The support boys side gives girls side is just breathtaking. From our adorable freshmen through our crazy talented CIT’s, they all brought the house down. I could never bring justice to describing the bonds these girls have with one another but watching them up on stage perform together allows us all to witness it for ourselves.  They have all created a sisterhood that will follow them throughout their lives.  Each division picked a theme, danced and sang from their heart. The emotion that was felt by every single camper and staff inside Shield’s Hall could have moved the building. There were chills upon chills as each division wrote and sang their alma mater to a very captive audience. The held hands and did it together and by the time the CIT’s performed an extremely heartfelt performance, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Congratulations goes out to the Inter girls for winning lower camp and our CIT’s brought home the win for upper camp. Even though winners were crowned, this night was not a loss for anyone. Girls side grew closer as they shared something with their division that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. As the CIT’s so poetically stated in their last alma mater they will ever sing together at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

“Catch the years as they fly by. Hold them tight & don’t let them die. Chenny, my childhood home; where we all have grown. But all good things end in one last goodbye. We just don’t want to let go and say goodbye.”

Chenny out

Our Cherokee campers (Freshmen – Middies) spent today cooling off at Camel Beach. It was water ride after water ride and we had some very happy Cherokee campers today. The sun was hot but we were cool.  As the sun set, it was dinner at the park then back to camp.  What could better than that? Not much for our youngest campers. They got off the bus, all exhausted and all equally loving their biggest trip yet.

Mohikan campers (Inters & Collegiates) spent the afternoon at the State Park. Their very chill afternoon was spent hanging out in the lake, having a catch together and just enjoying the beautiful day they had. It was a perfect to sit back, relax and enjoy each other. They headed back to camp for dinner in The Lodge followed by a movie in Shields Hall. They had camp all to themselves this evening. In the words of a Collegiate girl, “Today couldn’t have been more perfect.”

Navajo campers (Seniors – GC’s) spent their last trip day at Dorney Park and it was awesome. Rides, games, food and friends was the ideal combination for their picture perfect day. They rolled back into camp, all exhausted but with smiles on their faces. They went big for their last trip and Dorney was just an incredible place to spend their last trip day of summer 2014.

Our CIT’s spent their day at Syracuse. Shopping, eating and exploring was their ideal day today. These kids just love spending every minute they can together as they know this will all be changing for them. Their run as campers is fastly coming to an end. They are evolving and growing and will soon look back at their last summer at Chenny as the best one yet. It really doesn’t matter where this group goes on their days off as long as they spend it together. That is what being a CIT is all about. Getting to this stage of being a Chenny kid and loving every minute of it. This is truly a remarkable group of kids who we are proud to have watched grow up in front of our eyes.

This is what Chenny summer’s are  all about. Sharing these amazing days with some of the most amazing people we have ever met and choosing to come back every summer and do it again. All of your kids are safely back at camp, sleeping soundly in their bunks. A perfect ending to a tremendous day!!

Get ready Chenny…….and hold on tight… looks like Color war may be coming up around the corner!!!!!!!!!!!

Chenny out

It’s a big week here at camp with some really fun events coming up and you can feel it in the air. Girls Sing is front and center. You cant go two steps without seeing divisions practice and perfect their dance and song. By the looks of things, this years Girls Sing is looking to be one amazing show. From the out of this world cuteness of our Freshmen girls to the insane dancing ability of our CIT’s, we are all in for an incredible Wednesday night.  Then of course, murmurings of a Color War are beginning to arise. These next two weeks are definitely the best part of summer at CAW!!! It’s good to be a Chenny kid.

Playing sports at camp is just plain fun.. No pressure.. no stress.. Just plain fun…

Collegiate Girls Soccer – B’Nai Brith 3 vs. CAW 2 – Chenny takes 2^nd Place in Wayne County Tournament

Inter Boys Baseball – Trails End 7 vs. CAW 3 – Chenny takes 2^nd Place in Wayne County Tournament

Collegiate Boys Tennis – CAW 4 vs. Wayne 1 – CHENNY WINS CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!

Every summer I sit in amazement as I watch our kids perform in the Chenny Circus. They defy gravity; they soar to new heights and blow our minds with what they have learned to do this summer. New campers stepped right up and delivered awe-inspiring performances that made us all sit and watch with mouths wide open. Our Chennny Circus show took it to a whole new level this summer with their Back To the Future theme. The costumes and sets were brilliant but their talent and abilities made tonight incredible. It’s amazing as we watch our kids fly through the air. Where in the world can you learn these very difficult stunts, perfect them in just 5 weeks and perform them like a pro? That happens here and to see the pride and accomplishment on all the faces of those campers who performed tonight is absolutely priceless. They shined tonight and they were stars tonight and they will never forget that summer night they soared at Camp Chen-A-Wanda!!!!

Life is sure great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Chenny out