Red Jocks Wins Color War!!!!
With the last day of Color War upon us, everyone was working hard, having fun and giving it every ounce of effort they had. It meant that much to all of us. Win or loose, each team put their heart on the line and played hard. Each field and court was full of Red and Gold spirit, chants and cheers. The feeling on camp is just plain inspirational. To see groups of kids rally around one another in the true sprit of competition and do it in a way that is uplifting and encouraging is awe-inspiring. It’s the way it should be and it exists here 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.
As both teams entered into Shields Hall dressed as Jocks and Geniuses, 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 Jocks sang their Alma Mater and included beautiful lyrics that embodied the feelings they have as their summer comes to an end:
Is this reality, Is it almost time to leave
How are there only four more days for you to be here with me
Looking around at all these faces, Stop time before everything changes
From the freshman to CIT’s, Chenny is our home.
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 Geniuses so poetically conveyed in their Alma Mater:
The days wind down and summer ends, Close your eyes try to pretend
Don’t wake me up ‘till we’re back here again, You’ll hear the song and hum the tune
Count the days until next June, Don’t tell me that we’re going home so soon
Standing here in Shields Hall, Asking for more time
Feels like just yesterday, We all rolled past the sign
In a Chenny tradition of musical chairs, the last Judge to grab his seat was Red and that relayed the winner of Color War 2013. There was joyous elation throughout the Red team but just for a moment until they realized that their fallen Gold comrades suffered feelings of defeat. What amazed me in Shields Hall tonight was to see the empathy and compassion of the Red team embracing their friends on the Gold team. There was that moment beyond the win, it was true friendship and respect. That is what we do here at Chen-A-Wanda. 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 2013 is near.
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. Life is really Great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.
Chenny out