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Our first week of Summer ’17 is in the books and it was incredible start. Campers are in their groove and have acclimated to their sumer home and what better way to end the week than with honoring our Campers of the Week. We love highlighting these outstanding campers who have gone above and beyond and achieved this incredible honor. We wish you could see the look on their faces as their Group Leader stands up and shares with everyone why this camper is so deserving of this recognition. It is pure joy and a pride that you can actaully feel. Congratulations to our first Campers of the Week for Summer ’17. You earned it!!

Freshman – Livia Sherman & Max Coffman

Juniors – Emma Erlich & Ian Cotler

Middies – Audrey Winter & Jacob Coffman

Inters – Dylan Yonover,Brooke Bortnick & Ben Selter

Collegiates – Emily Weprin & Jake Gold, Ethan Schwartz

Seniors – Rachel Farhi & Alex Levine

Supers -Natalie Blee & Andrew Grisack

GC’s – Ava Kreshover & Benji Herzog

CIT’s – Sara Kay & Matt Rosen

Our kids are having a ball playing ball. Here are the sports scores from the day:

                   Inter Girls Basketball – CAW 40 vs. Poyntelle 19

Collegiate Girls Tennis – CAW 3 @ Lohikan 2

Senior Girls Tennis – CAW 3 @ Wayne for Girls 2

GC/GIT Basketball – CAW 12 @ Tioga 23

Freshman/Junior Boys Soccer – CAW 10 @ Lohikan 2

Freshman/Junior Boys Basketball – CAW 33 vs. Poyntelle 8

GC/CIT Boys Soccer – CAW 10 @ Poyntelle 0

The night ended with a bit of rain and at the very last minute we had to reschedule our GC/CIT Powder Puff Game. Kids were dressed head-to-toe, psyched up, faces painted and ready to go but with very little warning, the rain moved in. Rather than being upset with this last minute change in plans, your kids rolled with it. The campers who know me, know my motto and it is ingrained in every camper here at Chenny. I ask them to be the River, not the Rock. As choosing to be the River allows us to go with the flow no matter what we face and how disappointed we may be. The River is always moving forward allowing us to see things we may not ever see if we lived life as the Rock. Living as the River is a choice and tonight no matter how disappointed the kids were that were so excited for Powder Puff, they chose to be the River. The lessons they learn here, the things they face here make them better, more tolerant and more patient human beings.

Chenny out.

 

What an incredible day we had today. We have been here for only one week but it feels like home to everyone inside these gates. Year after year, I still get that feeling of total joy being completely surrounded by a community that breathes positivity day in and day out. You just can’t walk 5 feet without seeing kids and staff arm in arm or holding hands. We all crave closeness and human connection and it thrives here. That feeling of being completely safe and trusting people who just entered our lives transforms who we are. It changes us for the better. We have become more open, more trusting, happier and it happens this quickly. It’s so hard to describe and my words can hardly give justice to what is happening here. I only hope that you at home can feel what we feel. Your children, many who are experiencing this for the very first time, have entered a world where they can just be themselves and are celebrated for it. Only a week in and this summer has a feeling that is truly indescribable.

We just finished our calls to the new campers families to go over their first week and I had a conversation with a mom and shared how her daughters favorite activity was climbing the rock tower to which she said that there is just no way her daughter climbed that tower. She couldn’t believe what I was saying. Her daughter was a bit timid and fearful of heights and would never in a million years try something that challenging. She asked me to make sure I had the right camper. I was second guessing the information I had so I went to that camper and asked her myself about her climbing adventure to which she replied, “I did it. I climbed the tower.” She told me how her heart was beating so hard but she did it and the look on her face was filled with so much pride. She did something that she thought she couldn’t and that is how change happens. One step up that rock tower became two steps which then became overcoming a fear and finding a strength you just didn’t know you had. Needless to say, the mom was in tears and her daughter looked fear in the face and climbed that tower.

It was a busy day for our Chenny athletes with games at home and away. We  couldn’t be more proud of their effort and sportsmanship. Win or loose they brought their  “A” game and had a ball.

Middy/Inter Girls LAX – CAW 6 @ Starlight 11

Super Girls Soccer – CAW 6 @ Camp Wayne 4

Collegiate Boys Basketball – CAW 48 @ Tioga 9

Super Boys Basketball – CAW 78 vs. Nesher 54

We discovered that our kids aren’t the only ones with some incredible talent as our staff shined bright at tonights’s Staff Talent Show. Our kids were blown away as they saw their counselors on stage showing off their talent. They sang and danced, they told jokes, they jammed on the guitar, the performed on the lyra and silks and they dazzled us all. Kids were screaming and cheering on their counselors with so much pride it so sweet to see. The kids loved it, the staff loved it and it’s nights like these that brings this family closer. After the show ended and it was dismissal, I overheard a Middy camper say to her counselor who performed tonight, “I know how nervous you were to sing on stage tonight, but you were just so brave and I’m so proud of you.” The counselor wrapped her arms around her camper as they walked back to the bunk and I stared in awe. These two people met just 6 days ago but the bond they created is so strong and is so real. Clearly her counselor shared how she was nervous to sing on stage tonight and her camper was right there to tell her how proud she was of her. This is the magic of this place. You don’t have to look to far. You just have to open your eyes and its right there in front of you.

Chenny out.

 

It was another picture perfect day at camp. Hard to fully fathom that we get to live in this place for the entire summer, surrounded by such beautiful nature alongside the kindest and most caring people. There is just no place like it and there is no wonder why once you are here you just don’t want it to end. Even our newest campers who just arrived only 5 days ago have made themselves right at home. Chenny has that effect on anyone and everyone who comes through our gates.

Now that all the tryouts are completed, its time to play.We had a few Wayne County games and our athletes were busy playing. Congratulations for games played hard and more importantly, played with integrity.

Collegiate Boys Hockey – CAW 0 vs. Starlight 16

GC/CIT Boys Basketball – CAW 75 @ Morasha  25

There are camp events that truly define what Chenny is all about and Sign and Sing is one of those traditions that has lasted through time. It is a camp staple that you look forward to and tonight didn’t disappoint. Since we all rolled into camp, the first big event is Sign & Song and girls have been practicing their dance for days. Each bunk on both girls and boys side creates a bunk plaque with a creative twist to their bunk letter. Every camper and counselor’s name is on it and that plaque will forever stay inside their bunk. It is a reminder for years to come that they were here in summer 2017 and left their mark. We have alumni that come and visit and the first thing they ask to see, is to try and locate their plaques. You can’t imagine the joy when you are a 35 year old father, touring camp with your soon-to-be camper and have come back to Chen-A-Wanda and the first thing you need to do is find your plaque. It is a reminder that you were here and you were part of the fabric of this amazing place. Well tonight was our night and it was incredible. The energy inside Shields Hall tonight was absolutely insane. It was a packed house and with every dance girls side performed, they were cheered on and encouraged. It is an incredible sight to see an entire community come together in support of one another. This event does name winners for best plaques and best dance and tonight’s winners deserved every accolade they received.  Best Plaques went to: Girls Bunk F (lower camp) and Girls Bunk T (upper camp) and on Boys side – Boys Bunk E (lower camp) and Boys W (upper camp) won the big awards.  But tonight is all about the dances and boy do we have incredibly talented girls. They danced their hearts out and loved every minute of it. Tonight’s winners were Girls Bunk J (lower camp) and Girls Bunk W (upper camp). Over the last decade, we have seen so many incredible performances but tonights dance by our CIT’s (Bunk W) took our breath away. These girls put on show unlike any we have ever seen. The crowd went crazy and stood on their benches screaming “W” after their performance. There was no doubt that this group of CIT’s left their mark forever as the all time greatest Sign and Sing dance we have ever seen.

There was such joy inside Shields Hall tonight. Tradition ran strong and there wasn’t a camper who didn’t have the time of their life being a part of true Chenny history. No matter if this is your 1st or 8th summer, you become part of this experience that forever bonds us together. Camp traditions like this define why there is just no place like Chenny.

Chenny out.

 

 

 

 

 

It was an incredibly gorgeous day with the sun shining bright and very slight chill in the air. Campers spent the entire day in regular activities and the weather could not have been more perfect. There is so much activity during the day but I must highlight the night we all had. Evening activity was insanely fun for every single camper and tonight was just an epic evening. It was Round Robin night and that means that each division had their own activity that was over-the-top fun.

Freshman Boys spent their night making the coolest Lego Race cars and racing them against each other. It was nascar lego style and it was so much fun. They collaborated on design and built some pretty cool cars. Our Freshman girls had a cupcake decorating party in The Cookhouse. They created delicious masterpieces and of course had the most fun when they ate what they made. It was a night-time pool party for the entire Junior division. What could be more fun that a swim party at night?  The Middy boys were at the baseball field and had their own home run derby. They loved it! The Middy girls were in the Chen-A-Plex, all in their jammies watching a movie. The Inter and Collegiate divisions were in Shields hall playing The Quest. It’s hard to describe but ask your camper about the Quest and they will just say one word, AWESOME!!! Our Seniors enjoyed a trie tailgate party with snacks, s’mores and a fun coed social party. The Supers had their own bonfire under the stars. It was Trivia night for our GC’s who had an amazing time playing for some incredible fun camp prizes. They were all in the Canteen, putting their heads together in this fun trivia competition. The CIT’s enjoyed their evening of MTV Music awards. Each group had the BEST time. It was one of those nights that just felt great. There wasn’t a group that didn’t love their night. It was an ideal summer night.

Then it was off too bed for our kids. Jon and I walked around boys and girls side saying goodnight to the kids and what happens inside those bunks at bedtime is even more engaging than the activities they just finished. We went bunk to bunk saying goodnight to the kids and we walked into a girls bunk who happened to be doing Rose and Thorn which is a activity during flashlight time when each camper is quiet in their bed and then one-by-one, share their Rose(favorite part) of the day and their torn(least favorite) thing they did that day. It was incredible to listen to each one of them share what brought them joy and things they liked the least today. It was peaceful and quiet and each camper had a chance to share with a captive audience. What each one shared mattered and the incredible piece was that each camper listened. Within minutes of the last camper sharing, they all fell peacefully asleep. It was so sweet and the perfect way to end a perfect day.

Chenny out.

There is something I’ve learned after running this camp for the last ten years and it’s that our CIT’s set the tone for how spirited and connected our camp feels. We’ve watched our oldest kids grow from their junior year till now. Seeing them develop into who they are right now has been a privilege that I can’t quite put into words. They start the chants, the spread the cheers and they can electrify a room with their love for Chenny. Our younger kids look up to them and even the kids just a few years younger want to be them. There is an aura in being a CIT here at Chenny and that feeling blankets every single division. Some years have stood out more than others but these kids have started this summer with such incredible and contagious camp spirit it is just awesome. Being a CIT is the first step into truly owning a sense of responsibility and giving unselfishly to the campers they CIT for. They are learning to care for others and give of themselves. They assist for 3 periods a day with a bunk of campers and the other periods throughout their day, they can do whatever activities they choose. I knew this group was bound for greatness as their Group Leaders pulled me aside and asked me if it was ok for the CIT’s s to work with their kids for more than the assigned 3 periods. They loved working with their kids so much and just wanted to do more. So when our CIT’s have the opportunity to be off or go to activities themselves, they are choosing to spend time with their kids. They are litterally passing on their love for Chenny to the kids just starting out. That relationship makes this summer family a giant circle with no beginning or no end. It is a continuous feeling of love and camp spirit and this group of incredible CIT’s are defining how incredible summer 2017 will be.

The fields were full of athletes trying out for teams, the studios and stage were packed with campers auditioning, the trapeze was in full swing with circus auditions and Arts & Crafts was hopping with kids creating works of art. It was a perfect camp day and you could see it on the faces of our kids. Happy and content would be the best description. Your kids have let go, gotten into their groove and embraced living happy and content for the next 48 days. It was Bingo night at Chenny and the prizes were flying. Kids were screaming with excitement as they won pizza parties, milk shakes for their bunk and Chenny fidget spinners for their entire division. If you can imagine your kids having the time of their lives screaming out “BINGO”. Evenings here are unlike anywhere else. You can have the most incredible time as you and your buddies laugh and scream out loud that you only need 1 more until you have BINGO. No fancy video games, no sitting in front of the TV, no staring at screens – just good old fashion fun with a bingo board and a room full of excited happy kids playing a game that they may never play at home – This is CAMP!

Chenny out.