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We had a brunch morning and everyone loved the extra sleep after the last 5 days we all had. Color War required so much effort so that sleep in felt amazing. After our leisurely wakeup it was off to the Lodge were we filled our bellies with a delicious brunch. You can certainly feel the end is near. Lots of hugs and more tears so every meal, every moment we are trying to hold on to. Every song that was played in The Lodge struck a cord as we stood on our seats, wrapped our arms around one another and sang all in unison of how much we just don’t want to leave this place. To bear witness to this connection that we have with one another is moving beyond words can describe. These moments will soon be a fond memory of ours but will last way beyond this summer.

We spent the day having a lazy free play kind of day. There were movies in the Chen-A-Plex and some basketball games on Shields Court. There were some great GaGa games but mostly it was just truly enjoying spending time together today. You would see clusters of kids sitting on courts and playing jacks or cards, all laughing together and just connecting. It always amazes me to see a day spent of happy kids connecting face to face. Talking and laughing, playing and engaged to each other. We have spent the last six and half weeks without texting each other or connecting because we liked an Instagram post or checked out each others Snap Chat story.  We actually “liked” being with each other. We made bracelets together, we braided one another’s hair, we played jacks together, we traded pokemon cards with one another, we spent hours playing with our Spinablo together but most importantly we just connected and loved it.

As we celebrated our last 2016 Campers of the Week, we want to highlight just how amazing these campers are and the joy they bring to camp. We thank them for their outstanding contribution.

Freshman – Sammi Witz & Andrew Garrod

Juniors – Rebecca Stulberger & Derek Herzog

Middies – Zoe Gorsky & Barndon Witz

Inters – Gabby Hoffman & Jake Gold

Collegiates – Allie Schwarz & Ryan Bornstein

Seniors – Kelsey Bloom & Mitchell Limsky

Supers – Jessie Glickman & Benji Herzog

GC’s – Abby Nussbaum & Matthew Dillello

CIT’s – Maci Rubenstein/ Stevie Weingard & Mack Schnell

Tonight was a big show and everyone was excited for The Chenny Globes. It is our annual awards show and the kids love it. There is a red carpet, Paparazzi and of course the Globes. Campers dress up for the show, as this is a real deal Hollywood-esque celebrity show. Tonight’s Globes goes to:

Camp Clown – Pepper Margulis & Matthew Marchisotta

Most Likely To Save The World – Eden Lebovitch & Jagger Morgan

Most Likely To Become President – Julia Peskin  & Chase Rubenstein

Best Hair – Shaya Roth & Jesse Ryback

Best Smile – Maya Grill & Maw Secular

Future Head Staff – Abby Leeds & Sam Rochlin

Dynamic Duo – Shelby Myers & Rachel Stulberger / Griffin Gurewitz & Seth Haber

Best Siblings – Casey, Jake and Arielle Ashkenase / Derek & Benji Herzog

Camp Spirit – Brianna Deutsch & Jack Komson

Most Likely To Brighten Your Day – Bari Klein & David Smolowitz

Best Eyes – Michelle Pesner & Ethan Sukoneck

Three more nights, three more amazing evening activity’s to experience. Wednesday, it’s Late Night with Leahy, Thursday is Banquet and Friday is Memory Night and sadly Saturday is filled with heartbreak and sorrow as we leave this amazing place we call our summer home.  So it’s onto the best and last 3 days of living in paradise. #NotGonnaWasteOneMinute

Chenny Out

We spent the last official day of regular activities having the best time playing  everything and anything. The pool and lake were full of happy campers. The fields had tons of games going on and the biddy courts had kids playing on them all day long. It was like we all knew that this is it. Trying to get every last game in before we load the buses on Saturday.

It was time for two last Wayne County Championship games and it was a Chenny sweep.  Our Freshman/Junior girls played their heart out today on the basketball court as they defeated Westmont with a 24-20 win to clinch the Championship. You could hear the cheers with excitement as the whistle blew and the game ended. These adorable talented kids ran around jumping up and down knowing they had just won their very first Championship. All they wanted to do was jump in the lake, uniforms on and all and that is exactly what they did. Together they held hands and jumped in with the biggest smiles on their faces; a moment that these kids will never forget.

A huge congratulations to our Collegiate Boys Softball team for defeating Equinunk with a 8-7 win to be named Wayne County Champions. They worked hard, had a common goal and brought home the championship. They were so excited, proud and most importantly, they had a great time.

The night was all about Late Night with Leahy and the buzz was in the air. It is an amazing culmination of great videos and presentations delivered by our Associate Director extraordinaire, Brian Leahy. It was hilarious and referenced everything funny about camp this summer. Every camper and staff member laughed till it hurt. It was like watching a real late night show with comedy sketches, give away prizes, Carpool Karaoke and a camp favorite How Animals Eat Part II. This evening’s activity is a camp favorite and even our counselors that were off duty, stayed to watch because it’s just that entertaining. Campers absolutely went crazy for the hilarity of what they witnessed. It was a perfect way to end a perfect day.

Everyone is looking forward to banquet tomorrow. It is the best celebration and we do it in style. We dine on amazing cuisine as we are all dressed up in our best duds. Then it’s back to the bunk to get on comfortable clothes and shoes for one amazing night of dancing and celebrating. Best night of CAW is just around the corner. It’s one big party and everyone looks forward to this night all summer long. We just can’t believe it’s actually here. Feels like we just rolled into camp and started this journey but 48 days have passed and we are looking at the end of an experience that has changed who we are.  Summer 2016 will forever be etched in our minds as the summer that made us better versions of ourselves. Here’s to the last 2 days

Chenny Out.

The Apache Relay defines what Color War is all about and  it was an absolutely perfect day for this race. This race includes every single player everyone matters in the Apache Relay. No matter if you are wrapping your teammate in toilet paper head-to-toe, rowing a kayak across Fiddle Lake or heading into Shields Hall for the infamous “unknown”, you count. There were 57 events that make up the Apache and each one of them are essential to the integrity of the race. It is a 3-hour event that utilizes the entire camp and being a part of it is something you will never forget. To run the Apache is like nothing you have ever done before and after you have done it, you can’t wait to do it again. The race was close the whole way through with lead changes happening at every turn. You could hear the cheers from each team that took the lead but in the last few challenges Red Summer crossed that finish line only to beat Gold Winter by a record breaking 2 minutes. It was close and a race well run. Apache 2016 is in the books as one of the most exciting races ever run at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

There was no time waste as the afternoon was full of last day games. Soccer matches, softball games, steal the bacon, volleyball and basketball games were being played all throughout camp. Everyone knew that this was the last day of competition and they were ALL in. You saw the fierceness in every camper. They dig down deep today and brought their “A” game. There wasn’t a camper who didn’t believe in these games and what they meant. There is pride, commitment, loyalty, dedication and a deep sense of spirit that comes from being a part of our Color War. Your effort is all that matters. Stop and imagine for one moment that your kids were part of a life changing experience where they contributed their best while being supported for their hard work. They shared a common goal withe their teammates and they believed in themselves. They never gave up, not once. They pushed themselves to their limit and watching it up close, was just awe-inspiring. It takes our breath away to watch all your kids take part in this journey. Five days of hard work, five days of exhaustion, five days of personal growth, five days of pushing forward, five days of knowing they can do anything, five days of getting behind their teammates and inspiring others to be their best and five of the best days at camp.

Tonight was a silent meal and never was The Lodge so quiet. It was oddly silent as this is the place where we dance and sing but tonight in Color War tradition, we ate silently.  The campers wanted more than anything to talk but knew that every word spoken would loose points for their team. Try and visualize The Lodge full of campers and counselors that just don’t speak. It was a sight to see and not hear a word spoken.

As both teams entered into Shields Hall dressed as elves, rays of sunshine, snowmen and surfers there was a sense of elation and true Color War pride. This was it, and everyone knew it. Each team presented their plaque and banner and they were truly works of art. Masterpieces if you will. It was time for Sing and both were ready to perform the songs they worked so hard on and had so much meaning in every verse. There were tears as Red Summer sang their Alma Mater and included beautiful lyrics that embodied the feelings they have as their summer comes to an end:

 

Can’t believe this is the end

We can’t pretend, please hold my hand

I’ll try Not to cry as we say goodbye

Just 4 days left with you – this just can’t be true

It was emotional and everyone knew that the end of Color War signifies the end of camp. What we have all gone through will be with us forever but for now is ending and the last four days as two teams are now back together as one amazing unified camp.  Gold Winter so poetically conveyed in their Alma Mater:

 

You’ve changed my life, now its my turn to change yours

Who knew that time could go by so fast?

Reality is slowly setting in

Always knew that this day would come

Thinking of all the memories and good times forever mine

I’d be lost without you

In a Chenny tradition of musical chairs, the last Judge to grab his seat was Red and that relayed the winner of Color War 2016. There was elation as the realization was true, Red Summer wins Color War. But only a mere 66 points was the difference between winning and losing this War. It all came to Sing and tonight was just spectacular. There were so many tears tonight. Some were of joy from winning this 5 day battle, some were of loosing and the heartache of defeat but regardless of why we all began to cry we all ended in tears because we know the end to summer 2016 is near. The hugs and embraces wrapped us all in this Chenny Love we feel every single day. From the freshman who were weeping to our CIT’s that cried from a very different place. Their journey as a camper is ending. One CIT, walked over to a very teary Middy boy who was overcome with emotion, he kneeled down, put his arms around this young camper as said, “I would do just about anything to start Camp Chen-A-Wanda all over again. You are so lucky,” He then said, “Don’t waste one minute of your summers here at Chenny. They will change your life. I promise.” This is what it’s all about.

We walked into Shields Hall tonight as two very separate teams, dressed head to toe in gold and red but we all walked out back together as one camp. Sad tears quickly turned into tears of joy as everyone held onto one another and walked back to their bunks and cherished the night being together. We have four more days and much more fun to be had here at Chenny. So with Color War behind us, we are headed for the absolute best last 4 days to go!!!

Chenny out

The spirit was high and competition was fierce today. It was a great day and the campers dug down deep today. Red Summer were decked out in red and everything summer from head to toe while the Gold Winter shimmered with snowflakes on their faces. It was team spirit and pride that every competitor had on their minds.

The Super boys played a soccer match today that will go down in Chen-A-Wanda Color War history with a 5 minute overtime followed by a sudden death shootout that took over 18 shots on goal to determine who would prevail. This was a nail biter the whole way thorough. It was so competitive and so fierce ands so much fun to play, the boys were on fire. After a long and intense competition and on the 18th penalty kick, Gold Winter won the match. They celebrated as if they just won the war. That was a game of all games and the Super boys will never forget their soccer match they played in today.

The afternoon brought all of girls’ camp to the track meet. There were individual races and relays that brought a deep lever and appreciation for this competition. On your marks, get set go was heard all afternoon and girls side was ready. As each girl did her part, she became part of something much bigger than herself. She ran alone but she ran for her team today. When you see the faces of each runner knowing they must do their best because this event is for the greater good. One camper crossed the finish line while screaming on the top of her lungs, “Never, give up, Never give up” She won that race and as we watched her celebrate the win, she used that saying all afternoon for this who followed her… Never give up, Never give up!!! When she first muttered those words, it was intended for herself but those words resonated with every girl who ran today.. We will never give up.

While all of girl’s camp at the track meet the boys were busy with races at the pool and lake. They dove right in and what is so awesome to watch these boys race in the pool is their total support for getting their teammates to that finish line. It’s a scene unlike any other as you can hear their support chanting over one another with all the same goal and then you see the kids swim faster as if words of encouragement gave our campers fins that propelled them through the water. It’s like a burst of energy that takeover and makes us stronger and allows us to believe we can. We can do it and boys side did do it with an incredible swim meet. Phelps may have won his 19th gold medal today in the Summer Olympics but our boys won a lot more as they swam with heart, passion and intensity.

Tonight was Skit Night and each team brought creative, unique and entertaining productions to the stage. They danced, they sang and they told their stories. It was a skit night that will go down in history as one to remember. Watching it unfold, one can only say, these campers and staff are having the time of their lives. You can be as goofy and silly and passionate as you can possibly be here. This is your turn to let loose and give it your all and that’s what each team did tonight, they brought it. All with smiles and spirit so high, Shields Hall could hardly contain the energy inside of it!!!

 

Chenny out.

We can’t believe that it’s Color War Day 3 already. Today started with another action-packed morning full of games. Whether it was the intense game of water polo being played by the Super Boys, or the Middy Girls playing steal the bacon, which might be one of the cutest sites you’ve every seen. It was if someone took this morning right out of the encyclopedia’s definition of Color War. There was fierce competition, incredible dedication, and unparalleled spirit coursing through everyone’s veins, all set in the warm sunny weather at C-A-W.

The afternoon gave way to Track & Field for the Boys and Swimming & Boating for the Girls. The weather was incredible, and this morning’s energy carried right on through to the afternoon. The boys threw softballs and footballs, hit fungo, and ran individual and relay races. While the boys were up the hill, the girls were at the pool and lake. Our girls had a fabulous time swimming individual and relay races, rowing boats, and paddling with kick-boards. Both Track & Field and Swimming & Boating give our kids the most incredible feeling of accomplishment for their team. The entire camp was there to cheer them on whether they come in 1st or 4th, its their effort that counts.

As we all worked our bodies to the bone with a day of physical challenges, the night was meant to test our brains. It was Quiz Night and it was awesome. Each group had trivia tests that covered everything from pop culture to sports to history and everything in between. Every topic was covered and every camper was challenged. It was a team effort as they hummed and hawed over the answers. A giant trivial pursuit if you will. The night was amazing and one thing we all realized that our minds are sharp and we are all smart as a whip. After all our kids got to compete, it was off to Shields Hall to watch the counselors in a serious battle of the brains contest. After 40 challenging questions, the race was close but Red Summer squeaked out the win tonight.

Calling it an action-packed day would be the understatement of the year, and tomorrow will be even busier. Day 3 is in the books, and we are off to bed to recharge as we dream about the amazing time we are about to have tomorrow.

Chenny Out.