Game Changing Moments

Boy’s side had their track meet today and girls side battled in the pool with their swim meet. The kids had so much fun as they relayed to their finish lines getting cheers, praise and encouragement for their hard work and effort. To sit back and watch the encouragement we all give one another here is really life changing. It starts from our staff as they jump up and down cheering for the campers and that is infectious and it just catches on from there. There is so much positive energy in this camp, it feels as if there is a constant stream of encouragement all around us.

When we sit back and watch what Color War means to our campers, it is apparent that they all believe in it with their heart and soul. Every single camper is an integral piece to the whole and they each matter to the outcome. They wear their colors with pride and everyone on camp is putting  their heart into every match, game and meet. You can see it on their faces and feel it in their effort and hard work. Your kids are digging down deep and giving it all they got. You would be so proud of them, we sure are! The cheers of victory are deafening and the anguish of defeat is real. This War matters to each of us and it is providing meaningful competition and pushing ourselves when we think we can’t, we are being encouraged knowing that we can. When we think we’re tired, we get up and push harder. This ability to find that fire inside each one of us is an experience that will be with us forever. It changes who we are and how we see ourselves.

I had the privilege of watching a softball game between the Senior girls and a very special camper had a moment that will forever stay with me. I saw this camper, who is certainly not the most athletic, she hit a home run with such fury and passion, it went way beyond the center fielder. Something she had never ever done before. She ran around those bases as her team was chanting her name, and  I saw the look of pride she felt bringing in those runs for her team. Hitting that homerun would have been a great moment for her, something she had never done before but in the last inning with her team up by only one run and the opposing team had a player on first base, this same camper made the play of the game by catching a line drive and making a double play to end the game and cinch the win. It was incredible to watch as this feeling she felt went way beyond a softball game for her. She found a confidence that she didn’t know she had during that game. I know how much this meant to her as this camper is my daughter and I saw something magical on that field today happen with her. She walked over to me after her game and whispered in my ear, “I didn’t know that I could do that mom.” She smiled a smile I hadn’t seen before and ran off with her friends. As a Camp Director, I see this everyday with your children and today I was just a mom, watching my own daughter find something inside of herself she never knew was there. A moment, I will forever cherish.

This Color War is so close and the teams are within a mere 54 points of each other. Red Cowboys have earned 2271 points with the Gold Indians close behind with 2212 points. It is anyones war as these teams head into Quiz night tonight. Tonight was all mental as campers and staff had to answer questions about anything and everything from pop culture to math equations to Camp Chen-A-Wanda facts and anything in between. All day, our bodies were challenged and tonight we stretched our brains.  It was such a great night and we are all giving everything we have into this Color War. It’s not over yet and we have more to give to our team and of ourselves. It just keep getting better here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda. Life is GREAT.

Chenny out.