Chenny Blog

There seems to be a vibe on camp that is quite contagious. As we are quickly approaching the last two weeks of camp, there is a renewed appreciation of where we are. We are all noticing how fast our summer is going by so we aren’t sweating the small stuff here. Everyone is relaxed and fully embracing the home stretch of summer 2024. We are trying to stretch the days and lengthen the nights. With each bugle that rings it means that time is passing and soon we will be heading home so we are getting it all in while we can and making every second matter. Friendships are becoming deeper and more meaningful by the minute. In two weeks, our hugs and long talks face-to-face will be replaced with texts and snap chats. The smiles we see everyday will soon become a little happy face emoji we type into a screen. It’s unreal that what we experience here everyday, has to end in just 13 days but what we are left with are hearts full of great memories and a summer that embraced us. We were sitting with our CIT girls tonight in the Lodge, as they finished up helping serve at pizza parties and they were sharing with me how much this summer has meant to all of them.  They shared so much gratitude for the summer they have experienced, the memories they all made together and the love they all feel for Chenny. Tomorrow night, these amazing girls will take the stage for their very last Girls Sing and it seems surreal to us all. We are so excited to see them one last time perform together on our stage. We have no doubt this will be a night to remember.

Girls Side Sports:

Inter 0 vs Collegiate 6 – Tennis Tournament Teams – Collegiates Win Championship!!

Super Soccer – CAW 0 vs. Island 8

Boys Side Sports:

Freshman Soccer – CAW 5 vs. Westmont 6

Senior/Super LAX – CAW 6 vs. Starlight 9

GC/CIT Basketball – CAW 41 vs Starlight 50

And the Oscar goes to…… The Chenny cast of Lion King!! This was the best theater show production we have ever had here at camp. The costumes, the choreography, the drama, the singing all lent itself to one incredible and perfect summer camp production. The audience was entertained and so supportive of their friends up on that stage. It was just another example of how much we care about one another here at Chenny. And for our actors who have worked so hard on this show and committed to be a cast member, we are in awe of their performance. The courage and bravery it takes to stand in front of camp and perform cannot go unrecognized. It takes a lot and these kids gave a lot. What an absolutely incredible show.

 

Our dance team got up early and headed over to Camp Wayne for Girls for their annual Summer Dance competition. There were 15 camps that were competing and the talent was fierce. Our team was ready and prepared and before we took the stage, all the girls made a pact to just have fun and show the judges how Chenny can dance and thats exactly what we did.  The girls put their heart into todays competition and we proudly took 1st Place in Hip- Hop. The girls were beyond happy with winning but they were more excited to jump into the lake upon their return to camp. As they pulled down Camp Rd, you could hear the horn honking which lets us all know that our team are Champions today. The pride was felt not just by our dancers but everyone at camp who heard the horn horn honking as they pulled in. There is something that happens here at Chenny that when one of us wins, we all Win. Our Chenny pride runs deep and when we win Championships, there is nothing better than watching that team jump into the lake. It’s these moments that will stay with your kids as they will never forget that feeling of running down to fiddle lake, holding their teammates hands and jumping in!!

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. This is a real deal Hollywood-esque celebrity show. And tonight’s Globes goes to:

Most Chenny Spirit – Jocelyn Griggs & Jonah Haskell

Most Likely to be Head Staff – Emma Rice & Kyle Goodman

Camp Clean Machine – Madden Weissberg & Caiden Ho

Greatest Showman – Alexa Donchek & Max Maged

Most Likely to Make you Laugh – Emerson Bodner & Chris Luisi

Most Likely to Win Free Canteen  – Mila Kovelman & Matthew Strauss

Most Likely to be President – Hayden Berger & Brady Bornstein

Most Likely to Brighten Your Day – Harlow Fass & Jack Klareich

Most Likely to Compete in the Olympics – Bridget Rooney & Spencer Weinstein

Most Likely to be Color war Captain – Jolie Schissler & Mason Friedman

Two more weeks to go here in Paradise and we aren’t wasting a minute!

Be the River and Not the Rock  is our personal mantra and has become part of our ethos here at Chenny. When you approach life as the river, you are capable to roll with life’s ups and downs and can go with the flow. When faced with unexpected twists, being like the river means adjusting our approach, learning from the experience, and having the ability to move forward. The rock, in contrast, represents rigidity and resistance to any change. It remains unmoved and unable to move on or move forward, potentially missing out on the beautiful moments life is showing us.  Our GC campers were most definitely the river last night and today as their flight home from Phoenix was pushed back, delayed and then cancelled only to finally board the flight today and face another delay. With all the travel challenges, our kids rolled with it. They were able to just go with it and deal with each delay. Your kids showed patience and helpfulness today and a desire to be  part of the solution.  The flight finally took air and they are currently headed back and we can’t wait for them to roll into camp early tomorrow morning. We are so proud knowing that all our campers were most definitely the River when faced with some challenges that were just out of all of our hands. A life lesson that these kids embraced and put to use. Feeling proud of them and excited to get them back to camp – we miss our GC’s.

Girls Side Sports:

Freshman 0 vs Junior 1 – Tournament Team Soccer – Juniors Win Championship!

Freshman 10 vs. Junior  7 – Tournament Team Softball – Freshman Wins! 

Inter Girls  Basketball – CAW 18 vs. Wayne 9 – Chenny Wins Championship!

Boys Side Sports:

Freshman 2 vs. Juniors 1 Tournament Team Baseball – Freshman Win!

Middy 14 vs. Inter 22 – Tournament Team Basketball – Inters Win!

Collegiates 1 vs. Seniors 5 – Soccer Tournament Teams – Seniors Win!

Tonight was Round Robin Wednesday and it was a perfect night of fun with each division. We had kickball games, bonfires, dodgeball tournaments and biddy basketball games. There was movies in the Chen-A-Plex and crafting in Arts and Crafts. An absolute great night of fun and friends and a perfect way to spend a summer night. So many happy campers with so many fun activities happening at camp.

Supers and CIT’s rolled back into camp and both divisions absolutely loved their trips. They are happy and exhausted! Now all we need are the GC’s to come back to camp and we will be a full house again and get on with the last two weeks of summer 2024. The best is definitely yet to come.

 

 

 

As the sun rose over Camp Chen-A-Wanda on the final trip day of summer 2024, a wave of bittersweet excitement swept through the camp. Hard to believe it was our last off camp trip but all campers put on their Gold Chenny Shirts, loaded the buses and off they went. Our Freshman, Juniors and Middies had a full day of fun. They started their adventure at Lahey’s Fun Park for some arcade games, mini golf annd go-karts, then off to Ninja Nook and Roller Skating and if that wasn’t enough, the night ended at the movies for a summer blockbuster. Our youngest campers had the best day ever.

The Inters & Collegiates loved their day at Dorney Park. What defines summer more than a day spent with your campies at an amusement park. The weather was perfect, the rides were riding and the roller coasters were rolling. Everyone loved their day at Dorney Park and there were more huge stuffed animals the kids won at the park that made their way back to camp tonight.

Seniors enjoyed their overnight at Hershey Park. Big kids get big trips and these kids loved sleeping out with back to back days of Hershey fun. The campers loved the rides and of course loved the chocolate. The Supers are having an absolute amazing experience in Boston. They are seeing all the highlights of that what that great city has to offer.  After a full day of fun, they headed to see the Blue Man Group which was a huge hit. The GC’s are en route back home after their amazing West Coast trip and our CIT’s are wrapping up their Lake George trip. The Supers, GC’s and CIT’s all get back tomorrow and then our house will be again full. The last two weeks are the best two weeks of camp as we know the end is near. Lot’s to get to but for now, it’s a late wake up tomorrow to give our campers some extra sleep after a full day of so much fun.

Our Inter Girls are an amazing group of great kids. They are a big group and all add so much beauty to this incredible division. I have been so  proud of how they have been to one another and how they have treated those around them that I wanted to celebrate our Inter girls. We had a Sprinkles and Sparkles party, full of cupcakes, candy, special fun lemonade sparkle drinks, queen headbands, photo booth, great music and each other. As the girls entered the canteen, I asked them to repeat our queen mantra, ” I AM KIND, I AM A GREAT FRIEND, I AM INCLUSIVE, I APOLOGIZE WHEN I MAKE A MISTAKE, I NEVER HOLD A GRUDGE, I AM POWERFUL AND STRONG, I AM A QUEEN.  The highlight of the party would have to be when each camper pulled a name of a fellow camper randomly out of a fishbowl and was asked to write down something on a huge piece of paper about the camper and follow this prompt, “My friend XXXX sparkles because ____.”  We asked the kids if they had chose a name of a friend they may not know that well, to spend a few minutes and find out what makes them sparkle. What they wrote was magnificent. “Jolie sparkles because she is never afraid to be herself – Lila.” or “Aubrey sparkles because she is a great friend and an amazing athlete – Maya”.  This huge poster was full of positivity, love and gratitude.  It was a very memorable experience one that I know these girls will never forget.

Girls Side Sports:

Freshman/Juniors  vs. Middy Tournament LAX – Freshman/Juniors Win 7-5

Middy vs. Inter Tournament Basketball – Inters Win Championship 14-5!!!

Boys Side Sports:

Middy  vs. Inter Tournament Soccer  – Middys Wins Championship 3-1 !!!! 

Middy vs. Inter Tournament Baseball – Middy’s Win Championship 9-8!!!

Collegiate Baseball – CAW 1 vs. Starlight 15

Halloween in July!!! What a fun night we had dressing up and running all around camp trick or treating. Truly incredible. The campers went all out and so did the staff. Everybody got in the spirit and I overheard a counselor say to their co-counselor ” I’m glad i’m on toinght, I feel like a kid again trick or treating”. We started with our costume walk and that was electric. Each bunk got to show off their costumes and the fun they had, walking with their bunkmates down the cat walk. What a great night it was and it didn’t end there. It was time to Trick or Treat and each group went station to station, filling their bag with candy and chips. Our Collegiates put on an scary, not scary  Haunted House in the dance studio and the campers loved it. The night was a perfect continuation of our amazing day. Great vibes all around and we still have 2 weeks to go!