Chenny Blog

The sun was shining, and it was the kind of summer day that made you want to jump right into the lake or pool. Every corner of camp was alive with activity and filled with happy campers. From the ATVs to Gaga, from the waterfront to Arts & Crafts, and everywhere in between, campers spent the day doing what summer at Chenny is all about, playing outside, laughing with friends, and soaking in every minute.

We’ve been together for just about 2 weeks but somehow it feels like we’ve been living this rhythm forever. Waking up to the sound of the bugle, walking to the Lodge in pajamas for breakfast, spending all day outdoors, and ending each evening surrounded by friends has become second nature. Camp has a remarkable way of making strangers feel like lifelong friends in such a short amount of time.

Today was about as close to perfect as a summer day can get.

As parents, there is nothing more reassuring than knowing your children are happy. When we walk around camp and see campers engaged, connected, relaxed, and completely at ease, it fills our hearts. We hope the pictures and videos give you a glimpse into what it truly feels like here because there is something impossible to capture with a camera alone. Your children are thriving. They are making friendships, building confidence, trying new things, and experiencing the kind of freedom that only camp can provide. They are unplugged from the outside world and fully plugged into the people around them and that’s a beautiful thing.

Sports Center

Super/Senior Girls Lacrosse: CAW 5 at Camp Lohikan 9

GC/CIT Boys Lacrosse: CAW 9 vs. Camp Wayne 10

GC/CIT Girls Softball: CAW 0 vs. Camp Poyntelle 10

Inter Boys Baseball: CAW 12 vs. Camp Lohikan 0

Collegiate Boys Soccer: CAW 12 vs. Camp Lohikan 2

Island Lake Tennis Tournament

• Mason Luhrs – Singles, First Round
• Chase Schwartz & Logan Shapiro – Doubles Champions!
• Sid Haven – Singles Semifinals
• Garren Katzenburg & Sam Schrager – Doubles, First Round

We absolutely love our CITs, and to show them just how much we appreciate everything they bring to our camp community, we had a very special surprise in store. We sent them on a scavenger hunt this morning following clues to where they would be heading tonight. The all ended up in the Chen-A-Plex where a music video of Alex Warren was playing. We shared that they were heading to Philadelphia for an Alex Warren concert, the excitement was through the roof! It was an unforgettable night filled with incredible music, nonstop singing, laughter, and memories shared with their closest camp friends. Seeing the smiles on their faces made it all worthwhile. Our CITs give so much to Chenny, and we loved giving them a surprise they’ll be talking about for years to come.

But as wonderful as the day had been, tonight belonged to one of Camp Chen-A-Wanda’s most treasured traditions… Lower Camp Sign & Song. This isn’t just another evening program. It’s history. It’s tradition. It’s Chenny.

The evening began with the Plaque Presentation, one of the most meaningful traditions we have. Each bunk creates a plaque that includes the name of every camper and counselor who called that bunk home this summer. Those plaques are then permanently displayed in the bunk, joining decades of Chenny history. As you walk through our bunks, you can see plaques dating back generations. They tell the story of every summer before this one and remind us that today’s campers are now part of something much bigger than themselves. Years from now, they’ll return to camp, find their plaque on the wall, and remember exactly how it felt to be sitting in that bunk with their best friends. After the plaques came the moment everyone had been waiting for. SONG

For the past week, every Lower Camp girls’ bunk has been practicing, rehearsing, counting beats, and perfecting their dance. Tonight, all that hard work came to life. One by one, each bunk took the stage and danced their hearts out. From our adorable Freshmen to our energetic Juniors, Middies, and talented Inters, every performance was filled with enthusiasm, confidence, creativity, and pure joy. The smiles on the girls’ faces said it all.

Congratulations to tonight’s winners!

Lower Camp Boys Plaque: Bunk G

Lower Camp Girls Plaque: Bunk L

Lower Camp Song: Bunk P

Sign & Song is so much more than an evening activity. It teaches teamwork. It builds confidence. It encourages creativity. It creates traditions. And perhaps most importantly, it gives every camper the opportunity to leave their mark on Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Every child who stood on that stage tonight is now part of a tradition that has connected generations of Chenny campers. Their plaque will hang on those bunk walls for years to come, reminding future campers that they, too, were once part of something truly special. It was a remarkable night for Lower Camp. And now… The excitement shifts to tomorrow night. Upper Camp Sign & Song is just around the corner, and the anticipation can be felt throughout camp. We can’t wait to watch our older campers take the stage and continue one of Chenny’s most cherished traditions.

Have we mentioned lately… Life is great at Chenny!

It was another perfect day of amazing activities, with every corner of camp buzzing with excitement. But if you walked around Girls Side today, you couldn’t miss the anticipation building for one of Chenny’s most loved traditions, Sign & Song. Everywhere you looked, girls were practicing, rehearsing, and putting the finishing touches on their performances. From dance studios to basketball courts, grassy fields to bunk porches, campers were counting beats, perfecting choreography, and cheering each other on. The pride that surrounds Sign & Song runs deep at Chenny. It’s so much more than a performance, it’s about teamwork, creativity, confidence, and every girl contributing to something bigger than herself. Lower Camp takes the stage on Friday, followed by our Upper Camp girls on Saturday, and if today’s rehearsals were any indication, we are in for two unforgettable nights. The excitement is building, the performances are coming together beautifully, and we can’t wait to watch these talented girls shine on our big stage.

SPORTS CENTER:

Inters Girls Basketball – CAW 22 @ Lohikan 13

Collegiate Girls LAX – CAW 2 vs. Wayne 8

Senior Girls Soccer  – CAW 2 @ Lohikan 1

Super Girls Softball – CAW 10 vs. Poyntelle 9

GC/CIT Girls Soccer – CAW 1 vs. Westmont 2

Lokanda Cup – Boys Collegiates/Seniors  Game 1 CAW 2 vs. Lokanda 9 / Game 2 CAW 1 vs. Timberlake 2

Collegiate Boys Softball – CAW 5 vs. Lavi 4

GC/CIT Boys Tennis – CAW 4 vs. Lohikan 1

Tonight, camp was filled with laughter thanks to a camp favorite, Simon Sez! It may sound simple, but when you have hundreds of campers playing together, it becomes one of the most entertaining nights of the summer. “Simon Sez hands up!” “Simon Sez hands down!” “Simon Sez jump!” “Simon Sez spin around!” Every command was met with smiles, giggles, and a whole lot of campers trying not to get caught moving at the wrong time. It was olds school fun and of course, our favorite command of the night was the easiest one for everyone to follow: “Simon Sez… Chenny is the BEST!”  The cheers were loud, the laughter was contagious, and for another unforgettable evening, our camp family came together to simply have fun. Sometimes the greatest camp memories come from the simplest games and when you share this experience with your friends, it makes it the absolute best time.

Some days at Camp Chen-A-Wanda are simply unforgettable. Today was one of those days.

The sun was shining, the weather was absolutely perfect, and camp was buzzing from the moment the bugle sounded. It was one of those classic summer days where every field, every court, and every activity area was alive with laughter, joy , and happy campers. Camp was absolutely poppin’, and you could feel the energy everywhere you looked. Whether campers were creating in Arts & Crafts, soaring on the trapeze, making a splash at the lake and pool, competing on the fields, or simply enjoying time with their friends, it was the kind of day that reminds us just how lucky we are to call Chenny home each summer.

Our athletes continued another exciting day of Wayne County competition, proudly representing Chenny with determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Sports Center

Inter Boys Soccer: CAW 2 at Camp Wayne 2 (Chenny wins on penalty kicks!)

Senior Boys Basketball: CAW 18 at Camp Morasha 43

Freshman/Junior Girls Soccer: CAW 9 vs. Camp Wayne for Girls 1

Senior Girls Softball: CAW 3 vs. Camp Lohikan 0

As proud as we were of every one of our athletes…Tonight belonged to the 171 Cup.

There are certain moments that become part of camp history. This was one of them.

As the evening approached, our oldest campers, our Supers, GCs, and CITs were dressed head to toe in red. The excitement was impossible to contain. Camp pride was at an all-time high as chants echoed throughout camp and everyone eagerly loaded the buses for the trip to Camp Westmont.

And then we arrived. Bus after bus rolled in carrying a sea of red.

The chants got louder. The excitement grew. It honestly felt like something straight out of a movie or a collegiate rival basketball game. There wasn’t just a game being played. There was pride. There was tradition in the making. There was a community showing up for one another.

Our GC and CIT Boys left everything they had on the court, playing with incredible heart, toughness, and determination. Every basket was met with deafening cheers from the Chenny crowd as our campers and staff created an atmosphere unlike anything these boys had ever experienced.

When the final buzzer sounded… Chenny 46. Westmont 36. The celebration that followed was unforgettable.

It was one of those moments that every camper and counselor who was there will remember for the rest of their lives. After the game, both camps came together exactly as they should. We gathered in Westmont’s canteen, shared McDonald’s, laughed together, and celebrated what camp is truly about, competition, friendship, and mutual respect.

The inaugural 171 Cup has become so much more than a game. It has become a tradition. A goal. An experience every camper now dreams of having. And that’s exactly what camp is all about. Today was one of those days that reminds us why camp is so much more than a place.

It’s a feeling. It’s a family.It’s pure magic. And nights like tonight are exactly why we come to Chenny.

Life is simply the best at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

There is something about Trip Day that brings a different kind of excitement to Camp Chen-A-Wanda. From the moment the buses line up and campers eagerly climb aboard with their backpacks, and big smiles, you can feel the anticipation in the air. It’s one of those days that campers look forward to, and today certainly did not disappoint.

Every division had its own adventure, creating memories that become part of their Chenny story.

Our Freshmen, Juniors, and Middies spent the day cooling off at Camel Beach, and what a perfect day it was! Between the water slides, wave pool, lazy river, and endless splashes, the campers had an absolute blast. There is nothing better than spending a hot summer day racing down water slides with your best camp friends, laughing until your stomach hurts, and making memories together.

Our Inters and Collegiates headed to Dorney Park, where thrills were around every corner. Roller coasters, carnival games, yummy treats, and nonstop laughter made for an unforgettable day. Whether they were conquering the biggest rides or enjoying a slower pace with friends, there was something for everyone. Watching campers experience an amusement park together is always special because it’s never just about the rides, it’s about sharing those moments with the people who have become your summer family.

Our GCs spent the day exploring Syracuse University, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect experience. As our GC’s  begin thinking about the exciting years ahead, walking through a college campus with their closest friends was both inspiring and a lot of fun. They loved imagining what college life might be like one day while soaking in the beauty and energy of campus. It’s amazing to think that these campers, who once arrived at Chenny as nervous Freshmen, are now beginning to picture their futures beyond camp.

Our CITs returned from their Hersheypark overnight, and by all accounts, it was everything they hoped it would be. From roller coasters and arcade games to the sweet smell of chocolate that seems to follow you everywhere, the trip was filled with excitement, laughter, and unforgettable moments. Overnight trips are always a favorite because they give campers even more time together to build those undeniable bonds that brings kids closer to each other.

Our Seniors also returned from their overnight adventure to Dorney Park with stories that seemed to get bigger with every retelling. There were favorite rides to debate, funny moments to relive, and plenty of laughs shared on the bus ride home and not to leave out the giant stuffed animals that were won at the arcade.

The only campers still away from home are our Supers, who are soaking up every minute of their Virginia Beach adventure. We know they’re having an amazing time making memories together, and we can’t wait to welcome them back and hear all about their trip.

While camp was a little quieter today with so many adventures happening beyond our gates, it was the best kind of quiet, because we knew our campers were out exploring, laughing, growing, and creating the kinds of memories that define a Chenny summer.

Trip Days have a way of reminding us that camp isn’t just one place. It’s every adventure we share together, every bus ride filled with songs, every roller coaster screamed through with friends, every late-night hotel laugh, every first glimpse of a college campus, and every memory that brings us just a little bit closer.

No matter where our campers spent today, they all came home with the same thing: Big smiles. Great stories. And another unforgettable day of summer.

Trip life is great at Chenny.

Rainy days at Camp Chen-A-Wanda don’t slow us down, they simply bring out the very best in us. While Mother Nature may have thrown us a curveball today, it never put a damper on the spirit of Chenny. Around here, we don’t let the weather define our day. We adapt, we laugh, we pivot, and somehow the magic simply takes on a different form. At Camp Chen-A-Wanda, the fun never stops when it rains, it simply changes shape.

Our Senior campers headed off on one of the highlights of the summer, their overnight trip to Dorney Park. There is something so exciting about watching those buses pull away, knowing the adventure that awaits. Spending the day riding roller coasters with your best friends, staying overnight in a hotel, laughing late into the night, and waking up for another full day at the park is the kind of experience that defines a camp summer. These are the memories our campers talk about for years, and we couldn’t have been more excited to send them on their way.

Our CITs were off on an adventure of their own as they spent the day at Hershey Park. With the sweet smell of chocolate in the air, they experienced everything that makes Hershey so special thrilling roller coasters, arcade games, great food, and countless laughs shared with their best friends. There is something magical about spending a day at Hershey Park with your camp family. It’s carefree, exciting, and one of those days that campers remember long after summer ends.

The excitement didn’t stop there. Our Supers kicked off their own overnight adventure with an action-packed day at Kings Dominion. From towering roller coasters to water rides and everything in between, they made the most of every minute before continuing their journey to Virginia Beach tomorrow. These overnight trips are so much more than travel. They are milestones, traditions, and unforgettable experiences that become part of every Chenny camper’s story.

Back at camp, our younger campers embraced the rainy day with the same enthusiasm they bring to every sunny one. The schedule shifted indoors, but the fun never skipped a beat. The Rec Hall, bunks, and activity spaces were buzzing with games, creativity, laughter, and friendships. From LEGO building and board games to arts and crafts and impromptu dance parties, campers found joy in every corner of camp.

One of my favorite moments of the day came while I was sitting with a group of Middy boys building with LEGOs. One camper looked out the window at the steady rain and quietly said, “Rain makes everything green and beautiful and the sun will always come out.”  Sometimes the greatest lessons at camp come from the campers themselves. In one simple sentence, he reminded me that rainy days are temporary, that beauty often follows the storm, and that optimism is a choice. He made my day without even realizing it.

Sports Center

Collegiate Boys Basketball: CAW 44 vs. Camp Poyntelle

Tonight, the spotlight belonged to our incredible staff during one of our favorite traditions, the Staff Talent Show.

And wow…are they talented! Our counselors sang, danced, played instruments, performed comedy, and entertained the entire camp with performances that had everyone laughing, cheering, and applauding from start to finish. It was another reminder that our counselors don’t just create the magic of camp, they are a big part of the magic. Their willingness to step on stage, be themselves, and bring so much joy to our campers is one of the many reasons they are such incredible role models.

Rain may have fallen outside today, but inside Chenny, the smiles never faded. That’s the beauty of this place. The weather may change, but the joy never does.

Life is Great at Chenny.