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Another beautiful day in Paradise. The sun was beaming today and felt as if it was shining down on just us. Our little space in the world, secluded and insulated from everything outside our gates. There is no difference between how a Monday feels or a Saturday does up here at Chenny. No concept of time other than hearing the bugles and announcements that direct us where we need to be. I often say how “free” we are up here but it is a word that truly depicts what it feels like to live here all summer long. There is no time to feel bored, no opportunities to sit an watch Netflix or stare at a screen for hours on end. Our days a packed with things to do and relationships to build. I am a fly on the wall that watches it unfold right in front of my eyes and it isn’t just the campers who inhale this experience. A first year counselor approached me after dinner with tears in her eyes and asked me “how does this place make me feel this way?” She explained that dancing in front anyone was something she would never do. She relayed how she is painfully shy and would never in a million years dance or sing in front of anyone, even her family. She said how free she feels here and couldn’t believe this piece existed inside of her. She danced with co-counselors and sang with her campers at the top of her lungs during dinner tonight – I know this because I was watching her transform into someone who was so very different when she arrived at camp. She was guarded and quiet and kept to herself. It was like watching a flower blossom. She felt free and let go of those insecurities. I explained to her that this is what happens here – you are truly allowed to be exactly who you are here without judgement. She left the Lodge with her campers surrounding her, holding her hands and feeling just as limitless she she did. That is the power of this place. We let go, we trust and then we fly.

We are as good as our team and our team is beyond incredible. They have blown our minds with their contagious energy and  insane amounts of camp spirit. Even just meeting our newest kids just 2 days ago, they have fallen for every kid on this camp. They are vested in your children and the experience they want to provide. To watch a 20 year old counselor walk though camp holding hands with an 8 year old camper they just met 2 days ago, is witnessing the joy of this experience we call sleep-away camp . I am always so amazed at how quick the bonds are formed but when our hearts are open to new people coming into our lives, the results are meaningful and impacts us all. It was our Staff Talent show tonight and we have some incredibly talented staff here with us this summer. Campers watched and cheered on their counselors as they sang, danced, told jokes and even played the ukulele. Shields Hall was going crazy tonight with cheers and standing ovations as your kids totally and completely supported their counselors on stage.  It was a night to remember and your children made me proud. They sang along and cheered to all the acts that entertained us tonight. It’s hard to describe the energy in the Hall tonight but us lucky ones who experienced it first hand will never forget it!

It was another day living well, happy and free at Camp Chen-A-Wanda!

Chenny out

 

 

Our first full day was full of wonder, sunshine and smiles. New campers were learning the Chenny ropes and it didn’t take long for them to know where everything is. Only one day and our new kids looked as if they have been here for years. The sun was shining bright today and camp was a playground full of happy campers. After the morning of swim tests, it was right to activities and our Chenny kids were so incredibly happy. We sat and watched as our kids jumped right in. They left those devices and remotes at home and played outside…all day long. Our fields were packed with kids playing and more importantly, kids smiling from their heart. I sat and watched a group of Super boys have a catch in center camp. No words were spoken but so much was communicated. Maybe it was the peaceful look on their faces or the fact that these connections are so easily recaptured even after being away from one another for months. They tossed a ball and just enjoyed being with each other. It is the best part of watching your kids – Seeing them connect in the most real and authentic way. It takes my breath away every time I see it and it fills my heart with gratitude that they can find that connection here. It’s effortless and easy and exactly what they need. The stress from school, tests, crazy schedules, home friend drama and of course the pressures from the social media world our kids live in just all faded away. When you are here, you are truly free and our kids deserve this type of peacefulness.

It didn’t take long for our new kids to feel the love too. They may have just rolled into camp but the feeling is contagious and our newest Chenny kids embraced the day with piggy back rides, dance party in the Lodge  and boy did they enjoy playing all day long. To witness how quick our newest kids took to this place was pure magic. The bonds are being created and friendships are blossoming. It was just an absolute incredible day. When our world gets bigger, our world gets better and for our new kids their world just got whole a lot bigger. Everyone here is just so excited to meet the newest Chenny kids and they are most definitely feeling the LOVE. This is how we become one camp family.

Our first official full day of Summer 2019 is in the books and if today was any indication of what is to come in these next seven weeks, we are some very lucky people who have an amazing summer ahead of us.  Life is so Great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda!

Chenny out

As our first day has come to an end, I couldn’t think of better words to relay the feeling of summer at Camp Chen-A-Wanda than this poem written by Jason Levine who grew up here at camp. He so perfectly chose words about the magic of summer that resonates with all of us. How lucky are we to live in such a beautiful place with positive passionate people doing incredibly fun activities all summer long. After a long day of travel, combined with some nerves and lots of excitement your kids are soundly sleeping. Camp is quiet and it is so awesome to have all our campers back at their summer home. There is lots to do in these next 49 days and we won’t waste a minute. So to you, our Chenny Families at home, we say.. enjoy reading our blogs, combing through the thousands of pictures and smiling when you view our videos. THIS IS SUMMER!!!

Chenny Out.

 

This is summer 

When endless days fade into unforgettable nights 

When the cool lake makes the heat okay 

and the warm embrace of a friend warms your face til the nighttime ends 

This is summer

When summer rain can’t take away our fun and games 

We run and say the day is long we long to play 

This is summer 

When Bells become Bugles

and classrooms turn into courts 

When homework becomes home runs 

Exit the exam

quit the quiz 

erase the essay 

because

This is summer 

When fields are filled with fun 

the sun shining on pool parties and biddy basketball the cool competition let’s settle it in tetherball 

This is summer 

When adventure awaits the bold and brave 

You can ski you can climb you can jump you can fly 

This is summer

When basketball is the only task we ask for 

or toss a baseball play lacrosse launch a ball across the crossbar 

This is summer

When we take breaks at the lake shore

We ache, we want more

This is the two we live ten for

This is summer 

When lonely winter’s cold hands no longer hands us frozen snow it shows on our smiles miles away from home 

We’ve waited and hated the wait. 

created a bond that never fades. 

This is summer 

When who you are becomes who you act like and you act like who you wanna be 

When friends are family and family is forever 

When a bunk becomes a brotherhood 

and sisters stay awake saying never stray away, stay here 

hear that? 

Summer is here 

and This. Is. It. 

This is Chen a Wanda 

To you, our Chenny Parents at home that have read our blogs, watched our videos and sifted through thousands and thousands of pictures and believed in us enough to send your kids to spread their wings with us at Camp Chen-A-Wanda – we simply say thank you for sharing your amazing kids with us all summer long. I have spend the past 49 nights writing to you at home hoping to give you a glance and what is happening inside our gates but tonight I wrote this letter to your children for our last evening activity of Summer ’18. It has been an honor and a privilege spending the summer with your kids. Thank you again for your belief in us and enjoy your kids when they are back in your arms tomorrow. We will miss them so much. Thank you again.

To Our Incredible Chen-A-Wanda Family – 

It has been 49 days since we stood in this very spot and welcomed you to Summer ’18 at Camp Chen A Wanda and now we are back here for our last evening at our summer home. It has been 49 days of incredible moments, 49 days of total freedom, 49 days of navigating this experience with your friends by your side and your counselors holding your hands. These 49 days will stay with you through your life and these moments help shape who you are and who you will become. As you saw from the hundreds of alumni that came back here last weekend,  summers spent here in their youth shaped who they became and boy what they would do to be able to spend just one more summer here at this place that has never ever left their hearts. We watched you open your arms and your hearts to them as you listened to their stories they shared with you and now you share a common bond with all of them – THE LOVE WE ALL FEEL FOR CAMP CHEN-A-WANDA – It ties us all together. You are now part of of this incredible community too, as one day we hope you share your stories made here at Chenny. You are part of something special and like every single camper and staff that came before you, your story matters!!

As we look out at all of your faces, we see incredible people sitting before us. We see bravery, we see empathy, courage and kindness, we see honesty, we see hilariously funny and talented people and a hall full of campers and staff that made us smile every single day. It is hard to describe the feeling in this place to other people and do justice to how amazing it is in here but there isn’t a person in this hall that hasn’t felt what we have feel. Together,  We are the definition of family and each and every one of you make Chen-A-Wanda the incredible place it is. We come from every corner of the globe and together we have created something insanely special.

Our staff is undeniably the best of the best and nobody said it better than Lyla Miller in the ‘This is Why I Wanda” video we just watched when she so perfectly said, “The counselors here take really really really good care of you,” or when Stevie Fuetterman so eloquently described how they aren’t like teachers but more like older sisters or how Spencer Wexler relayed how he doesn’t have an older brother at home but after 7 years here it’s as if he has 20. You made it happen for our kids, you protected them, you listened to them, you helped them through tough moments and most importantly you made an IMPACT!!! Thank you for giving so much of yourself to our kids. We can only hope they impacted you as much as you impacted them.

From the freshman who stole our hearts this summer. You came into camp and dominated with your cuteness. To each and every Junior and Middy, Inter and Collegiate you brought something incredibly special to camp; your sweet generous spirit and your love to play. Regardless if you were outside tossing a ball with a buddy or inside playing jacks, you played and enjoyed a summer of just being a kid. No phones, Netflix shows or fortnight occupied you this summer. You played and talked to one another all summer long and made connections that are real. This is why friendships are so deep here because they are created without distractions and sustained by human contact, not virtual ones.

To our Navajo kids, you spent you summer with more optional nights and later curfews. You are the big kids on campus who along the way took the time to listen more, judge less and show kindness always. Lessons aren’t always easy but you defined that you can’t always change the beginning but you can stay right where you are and change the ending. We are so proud of each and every one of you and thankful you are part of our summer family. GC’s – It’s now your turn on the Hill. We can’t wait to see you shine next summer and have no doubt you will be AMAZING CIT’s!

So now to the back of the room, our CIT’s of 2018. You set the tone this summer with your infectious spirit and insane determination. Even through the ties, lessons were learned and together as a group you  showed this camp what leaders are and how to end with grace, dignity and a whole lotta love. Off you go onto your next stage – as you enter your junior year of high school, don’t ever forget about that summer you spent stargazing, singing Build me up Buttercup, holding hands, giving piggy back rides, breaking the floor and without a doubt leaving your roots here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

So here is where Summer ’18 ends, right where it began – We hope you have created incredible memories this summer, made some new friends, believed how truly special each and every one of you are and most importantly had the time of your lives. You all made an impact on us and YOU are the reason why We Wanda!!!

Thank you Chenny. We Love you!!!

Jon & Elissa 

Reality has set in that our last days of summer 2018 are upon us. It is a mix of emotion here at camp as we are organizing for the end. Cleaning out our cubbies and night stands, reminiscing about the last 7 weeks, making plans for winter get togethers and feeling not ready to leave this place. It is really happening and there is just no way to make time stop. We know we all must leave but it’s just so hard. From the Freshman to the CIT’s, nobody is ready to step out of this life yet but all great things must come to and end.

As the sun was setting over Fiddle Lake, we were all dressed up in our best outfits and headed to center camp where we took pictures together with our friends & counselors. Everyone looked beautiful. Groups stood on the dock, arm in arm smiling for that group picture that will be looked at 1000 times as soon they return home only to remind us of this very night. They captured those moments that made us feel whole on the inside. They know everything about us, they accept everything about us. You can see it in the ease on your children’s faces. Living happy is how we choose to live up here. This night was perfect and as they walked into the Lodge, our campers were transported out of this world. It was aliens and planets and it was oh so cool.  We dined on fried chicken & filet sliders, Caesar salad, honey glazed carrots and tater tots. The kids loved their meal but the big hit was dessert as everyone went crazy for the edible chocolate chip cookie dough!

After dinner it was off to Shields Hall for our end of the year division Awards. Each Division highlighted the following campers in 3 areas; Honor Camper, Athlete of the Year and All Around Camper. They are truly standout campers and we couldn’t be more proud to highlight and honor them on this great night. To receive on this night is the highest honor we can give our campers. These are remarkable campers who deserve all the accolades and praise they were given. We have outstanding campers and tonight the light was bright on the campers we recognized with these extremely prestigious awards.

	CAMPERS OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2018 – Girls side
	HONOR		ATHLETE		ALL AROUND
FRESHMEN	Meredith Jacobs		Morgan Bauman		Roxie Bishop
JUNIORS	Billie Margolis		Lindsay Gelfman		Lexi Greenblatt
MIDDIES	Ashley Schwartz & Sydney Mallah		Sammi Witz & Sloane Pariser		Gigi Leeds
INTERS	Sarah Fernbach		Elizabeth Kamelhar		Addison Rubovitz
COLLEGIATES	Gracie Frankel		Summer Housenbold		Sammi Leon
SENIORS	Ashleigh Brett		Jordyn Shohet		Marli Cohen
SUPERS	Morgan Klein		Mackenzie Rubovitz		Molly Williams
GC’s	Julia Peskin		Lindsay Komson		Sarah Haber
CIT’s Of The Year	Dylan Grabow & Madison Grabow
OVERALL CAMPERS OF THE YEAR
	HONOR		ATHLETE		ALL AROUND
Lower Camp	Ashley Schwartz		Elizabeth Kamelhar		Lexi Greenblatt
Upper Camp	Julia Peskin		Mackenzie Rubovitz		Sammi Leon

 

	CAMPERS OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2018 – Boys Side
	HONOR		ATHLETE		ALL AROUND
FRESHMEN	Brady Kotler		Jake Shiffman		Jack Zaben
JUNIORS	Jake Marin		Jake Mongeluzo		Max Schwartzberg
MIDDIES	Charlie Horton		Jacob Santiago		Jason Marks
INTERS	Bennett Votano Trent Hernandez		Derek Herzog		Jack Komson
COLLEGIATES	Derek Satz		Kash Bishop		Jack Komson
SENIORS	Jake Gold & Jack Einzig		Alex Frank & Turner Katz		Sean Pesner & Ethan Schwartz
SUPERS	Jordan Yagaloff		Josh Petchers		Jake Root
GC’s	Noah Hirshfield		Jake Becker		Danield Greenfield
CIT’s of the Year	Matthew Gershman & Jack Santoro
OVERALL CAMPERS OF THE YEAR
	HONOR		ATHLETE		ALL AROUND
Lower Camp	Brady Kotler		Derek Herzog		Jason Marks
Upper Camp	Jordan Yagaloff		Alex Frank		Sean Pesner

After the Awards, it was party time and we danced all night long. Shields Hall was full of campers who let loose and danced until their feet hurt. It was over the top fun having our last true dance party with our summer family. It’s so hard to believe the summer is over but we definitely went out with a bang. As campers headed back to their bunks full of glow sticks, T-shirts, glow rings and other items that were given out at the party, everyone was exhausted and elated and had the times of their life tonight. It was a party like no other as we celebrated an amazing season. It was just an incredible way to end an incredible summer. One more day to go!

Chenny out