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After 3 days of Olympic mayhem, we were all so excited to get some extra sleep this morning and we all needed it. It was a gorgeous day at camp and everyone was ready to get back to our normal activities. The sun was shining and the weather was perfect. We had a delicious brunch and all was right Camp Chen-A-Wanda. Two weeks have literally flown by and now we are sliding into Visiting Day. We wish we could slow down time but there isn’t a moment we aren’t appreciating and a second we aren’t grateful to be here.

We had a full schedule of games today on both boys side and girls side. Apologies to you at home, but I will be posting scores tomorrow from today’s matches. Just know that your kids had a ball and played hard today. It was a great day to be a Chenny athlete.

Our evening activity was a new camp favorite and an old camp tradition, Awards at the Amphitheater. What starts out as a giant dance party and sing-a-long, ends with Camper of the Week and Kind Camper Awards. Such a fun night with the entire camp present, celebrating our awesome campers in the most spirited and supportive way. When each camper heard their name called, everyone cheered in support. When one wins, we all win!!

Congratulations to our Campers of the Week.

Girls Side: 

Freshmen – Chloe Hiatt

Juniors – Layla Goldberg

Middies – Brynn Wolper & Jolie Schissler

Inters – Olivia Johnson

Collegiates – Morgan Blatter

Seniors – Ella Ogulnick

Supers – Sammie Keane

GC’s Rachel Sukoneck

CIT’s Febe Wasserman

Boys Side – 

Freshman – Blake Purcell

Juniors – Evan Freeman

Middies – Jake Blitz & Alex Orlando

Inters – Cole Pruss

Collegiates – Logan Shapiro

Seniors – Tyler Roth

Supers – Jake Marin

GC – Max Roth

CIT – Zac Penson

After our Campers of the Week, it was time to honor the Kind Campers among us. We love our kind kids as their spread joy all throughout Chenny!!

Mattea Siegal

Jolie Weiss

Maya Park

Lyla Goldstein

Chloe Hiatt

Alex Bass

Haley Eichenbaum

Maya Porat

Lexi Greenblatt

Haley Plotnick

Sofie Girantana

Natalie Portnoy

Addison Rubovitz

Dylan DeGeorge

Ben Teicher

Brady Kotler

Dylan Gold

Chase Pillersodorf

Andrew Marcus

Beji Spivak

Cooper Agulnick

Syd Havens

Ryan Katz

Trevor Weinstein

Mason Shulman

It’s Trip Day tomorrow and everyone is ready for their awesome adventures. It just keeps getting better and better!!!

I remember the exact day I stopped telling my kids to not jump in puddles after or during a rainstorm. I was worried about them having cold feet, getting dirty and ruining their shoes. Then a conversation I had with a camper about ten years ago changed everything. As I watched a camper run and jump into a puddle on the way to The Lodge, I stopped him and told not to do that because of all the excuses I had in my mind and the ones I would repeat to my own kids. He looked at me and said, “my mom says it’s ok to jump in puddles and it’s a kids job to not worry about dirty shoes. Once I start to worry, that means I’ve lost the special magic of what makes a kid a kid.” That moment changed my perspective and I called his mom and thanked her for teaching her son such an incredible lesson. He allowed me to worry less and play more. Now, that mom knew her son and packed a bunch of sneakers that summer. We washed his dirty ones and all worked out. So today, the rain came and yes your kids jumped in puddles. Yes, clothes were wet and yes, they got a bit dirty and yes they had the absolute best time. Not a worry in the world and our campers definitely still have that magic of being kids. 

Talk about twists and turns and lead changes by the minute. This Olympics was beyond unexpected and who was leading in the morning dropped by lunch. There was so much movement with the leader board, we couldn’t keep up and the anticipation was just so much. Olympics is tradition and it is something that campers did here decades ago and still do today. Traditions are what connects us all to this place and to one another. Camp traditions are bigger than each of us but has become the thread to our shared experiences here. To go through an Olympics together bonds us to one another. For the past 3 days, every camper dug deep and gave it everything they had.  New friendships were made and connections deepened. To think that a kickball game or a waterpolo match brings so many people closer together is why we love these Olympics games.

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 Red Cameroon said it so beautifully in their Alma Mater…. “ Cherish your time – Cherish your time before it’s gone. Moments together – Can we just hold each other , don’t let go. Can we just stay, right here – Can we just stay right here.”  These words are from the heart and everyone feels it. It is why this experience means so much to us all. When you let camp in, it overtakes your heart and changes who you are.

Now it was in the hands of judges as the decision who would win Olympics 2023. Shields Hall was packed with our campers dressed head to toe in their team colors waiting to see the winning team revealed. The time had come and the judges raced on turtle scooters. The team to win 2 races was crowned our Olympic Champion and a  huge congratulations to RED CAMEROON who brought home the gold.

• Red Cameroon –  1,819
• Gold Ecuador –  1,804
• Blue Iceland  – 1,792

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 Cameroon, Gold Ecuador and Blue Iceland and tonight we are back to One Camp Chenny Family.

We are in full competition mode and loving every minute of it. There is so much Olympic spirit in the air and each team is putting their heart and soul in every battle. There are wins and losses, there are cheers and chants and above all there is a respect for the game. We congratulate those who have brought home a victory and support the teams that may have lost their games today. It is having respect for one another that makes these Olympics Games so impactful.

Tonight was all about Apache Relay. Each team has 72 events to complete and the first team to finish will be crowned the winner of the Relay. The horn blew and the race began. Every member of each team is an integral part of the race. No matter if you are a Freshman or a CIT, your parts are equally important. This event emphasizes what a family we are here and bring us all together. There were so many memorable moments from tonights Apache but one that stood out was Senior camper, Arielle Schrager who had to eat 2 cookies, chug a glass of milk followed by whistling Yankee Doodle Dandy. As Arielle started the event, her entire division surrounded her chanting her name and cheering her on. Arielle is on the Red Cameroon team but that didn’t matter to the girls who were on Blue and Gold because this moment was bigger than the games. It was girls supporting their friend and letting her know she’s got this. Arielle ate those cookies, chugged the milk and whistled quicker than any other camper we’ve seen tasked with this event. The place erupted as she completed it and the look on her face was priceless. At that moment, total support and encouragement gave her exactly what she needed. It was awesome to witness and a moment that we know will stay with Arielle forever. Olympics brings us together and brings the best out of us.

After a full day of games, our Olympic athletes were glad to get to bed. They know that the battle continues tomorrow with more games and ends with Olympic Sing. If you know Olympics, It always comes down to Sing!!

 

There was a buzz around camp today and it was without a doubt, serious anticipation for a camp favorite event, OLYMPICS!!  The campers had a hunch that something special was happening but they just weren’t sure when it was breaking. But boy, was the excitement building and everyone wanted today to be the day. Some were convinced it was breaking at snack call but when the bugle rang for 3rd period, confusion set in. As campers were into their 3rd period activity, that familiar Olympic fanfare song was blasting from all the speakers and down from the top of the hill with our Olympic torch in hand, came the Head Counselors signifying that OLYMPICS IS HERE!

As the Head Counselors proudly paraded down the hill, every camper ran to Shields Hall knowing what was about to happen. There were chants and cheers and the Olympic spirit was alive today at Chenny. As every camper and staff was inside Shields Hall, you could feel the energy grow. It was electric and the type of feeling you wish yo0u could bottle. We announced the teams, Red Cameroon, Gold Ecuador and Blue Iceland followed by Sergeants and Captains. So much to celebrate and so much to look forward to these next 3 days.  Our camp is now split in three equal teams and will spend the next 3 days in deep competition, giving it everything they’ve got but most importantly, having the best time at Olympics 2023.

Just when we thought that camp could not possibly get any better, Olympics takes us to a whole new level. Tonight was a great night as we started our battle with Tugs of War. There has never been a Camp Chen-A-Wanda TUGS OF WAR WITH MORE SPIRIT AND INTENSITY.  It was a night your children will remember and we are so proud to be part of these games that bring best out of us all.

 

The heat was on today and when the temperature rises, we get wet. It was such a fun day and all throughout camp everyone was getting soaked in one way or another. Freshman girls were playing a giant game of wet duck duck goose in center camp that turned into a giant water fight. The giggles and laughs were in full force as everyone got into the fun. There wasn’t a dry person to be found. Head staff pulled out the water guns and the game was on. We had so much fun keeping our kids cool and they loved every minute of it. It was a perfect day to run through sprinklers, jump in the pool, play in the lake or have a giant water fight in center camp. And of course, popsicles for snack call was a must. Campers and staff stayed cool and had the greatest day.

Heat or no heat, our athletes played their hearts out today and we couldn’t be more proud.

Middy Girls Softball – CAW 14 @ Blue Ridge 6

Freshman/Junior Boys Basketball – CAW 17 vs. Westmont 13

Middy Boys Soccer – CAW  1 vs. Starlight 5

Collegiate Boys Hockey – CAW 4 vs Starlight 7

Collegiate Boys Soccer – CAW 3 vs. Westmont 2

Senior Boys Tennis – CAW 1 vs Starlight 4

Super Boys Basketball – CAW 49 vs Starlight 62

GC/CIt Boys Softball – CAW 6 vs. Westmont 5

GC/CIT Boys Baseball – CAW 1 vs. Starlight 6

It was time to party the night away as DJ Aaron Tell played the biggest hits and brought the house down!! Campers rocked out with their light up headbands and glow sticks. What an absolute blast tonight was and your kids loved it!!! They danced and sang and jumped around and let loose. The vibe was amazing, the music was rockin and the night was epic. Tonight was one of those summer nights that standout as pretty close to perfect. Best news is we get to do it al over again tomorrow.