Chenny Blog

Today was one of those perfect Chenny days that reminds us why camp truly is the best place on earth. The sun was shining, the weather couldn’t have been more beautiful, and from the moment the bugle sounded this morning, camp came alive. Every basketball court, tennis court, athletic field, waterfront, and activity area was filled with happy campers doing what they love most—playing, laughing, learning, and spending the day with their best friends. Everywhere you looked there were smiles. The energy was contagious. The vibes were high. Camp simply feels like home.

It’s hard to believe we’ve already been together for three weeks. In that short time, your children have built something truly remarkable. They have created a community where campers know one another by name, cheer each other on, include everyone, and genuinely care about the people around them. It is a place where friendships grow stronger every day and where countless moments, both big and small, shape who our campers become.

Today was filled with those moments. As we get closer to two of Chenny’s most loved traditions, Boys Lip Sync and Girls Sing, the excitement is building all across camp. Everywhere you turn, divisions are rehearsing, practicing, laughing, and perfecting their performances. You can hear music coming from every corner of camp as campers put the finishing touches on routines they’ve been preparing to perform.

But today, one of my favorite moments happened with our Freshman boys. Like many younger campers trying something new, a few of them were feeling a little unsure about Boys Lip Sync. They weren’t quite convinced this was something they wanted to do. Then our CITs stepped in. We gathered the boys around and showed them a video of last summer’s Boys Lip Sync performance. The boys became silent. The Freshmen watched in amazement as the CITs danced together with confidence, enthusiasm, and pure Chenny spirit. One lcamper proudly pointed at the screen and said, “That’s my CIT!” Another smiled, jumped to his feet, looked at his friends and said, “Let’s get to work!” Just like that, everything changed. It was one of the sweetest moments I’ve witnessed  And it perfectly captured what Camp Chen-A-Wanda is all about.

Sports Center:

Freshman/Junior Basketball Championship – CAW 11 @ Wayne 1

Middy Girls Basketball – CAW 16 vs Morasha 21

GC/CIT  Girls Tennis: CAW 0 vs. Island Lake 5

Freshman/Junior Boys Basketball – CAW 29 @ Wayne 31

Tonight was more than a game.

Tonight was the 171 Cup. The third and final event in this summer’s inaugural rivalry with Camp Westmont. Everything had come down to this one night. The Cup was on the line, and both camps knew exactly what was at stake.  Then came the Pep Rally. It was everything we hoped it would be and more. The music was blasting. The cheers were deafening. Team chants shook the room. Every camper and counselor was dressed in all black, creating an incredible sea of Chenny pride. The unity and spirit in the room were unlike anything we’ve experienced this summer. It felt like Friday Night Lights, only louder, bigger, and even more meaningful.

When the buses pulled in carrying Camp Westmont, the atmosphere reached another level. This wasn’t just about football. It was about community. It was about tradition. It was about pride. Our campers cheered for every play, every first down, every defensive stop, and every touchdown. The energy never let up. Every chant was louder than the one before. Every camper believed they were part of something special. And they really were.

Tonight our boys played with tremendous heart, grit, and determination. They left everything on the field, competing with passion while displaying outstanding sportsmanship all hroughout the game. Every player represented Camp Chen-A-Wanda with pride.

The final score was 14 – 13 US in overtime.  And with that … The 171 Cup belonged to Camp Chen-A-Wanda. But as amazing as it was to win the Cup that’s not what we’ll remember most. What we’ll remember are the moments. The 171 Cup has done something truly remarkable in its very first summer. It has united our camp. It has strengthened our Chenny pride. It has given our oldest campers an experience unlike any they’ve ever had. And it has become a tradition we already can’t imagine camp without.

 

 

Some days at Camp Chen-A-Wanda are about the laughter. Some days are about the competition. And then there are days like today, days that reach a little deeper into our hearts. Today, Girls Side had the privilege of experiencing The Emmie Effect, and it was nothing short of extraordinary.  From the very first session, there was a feeling that something meaningful was happening. The focus wasn’t on winning or performing. It was on becoming the very best version of ourselves. Through honest conversations, thoughtful activities, and moments of quiet reflection, our girls explored what it means to lead with kindness, compassion, empathy, respect, and courage. By the end of the day, Girls Side was simply floating on everything good.

Friendships grew stronger. Conversations became more meaningful. Smiles came a little easier. Our girls walked away feeling inspired, not only to be better friends to one another, but to be kinder to themselves.

One of the most powerful moments of the day came during a simple exercise. Each girl was asked to stand proudly and say three things she loved about herself. Without hesitation, voices filled the room.

“I’m brave.” “I’m kind.” “I’m funny.” “I’m loyal.” “I’m talented.” “I’m athletic.” “I’m fair.” “I’m happy.” “I’m a good person.”

Listening to these incredible young women confidently speak about their strengths was one of the most beautiful moments we’ve experienced this summer. So often, children are quick to compliment others but hesitate to recognize the wonderful qualities within themselves. Today, they gave themselves permission to do exactly that. Because self-love is where it all begins.

When we recognize our own worth, we become more capable of lifting others up and when we believe in ourselves, kindness becomes natural. Compassion grows. Empathy deepens. Respect becomes effortless. The friendships we build become stronger because they’re rooted in confidence rather than comparison. That was the heart of The Emmie Effect.

Today wasn’t simply about hearing inspiring words. It was about giving our girls the opportunity to think about the kind of friend they want to have…and, even more importantly, the kind of friend they want to be. Today reminded us that the greatest strength we can ever possess is a kind heart.

Thank you, Emmie, for opening our hearts and minds and reminding us that every single one of us matters. Thank you for showing our girls that kindness begins with loving ourselves and that the way we treat others has the power to change lives. Long after the words spoken are forgotten, the feeling you created will remain. Your message of kindness, compassion, empathy, and self-worth left an imprint on all of us, and we are so grateful you shared your heart with our Chenny family.

One of our favorite traditions is recognizing those campers who consistently make Chenny a better place simply by the way they treat others. To be named a Kind Camper is one of the highest honors at camp. It recognizes character over talent, heart over headlines, and reminds us that the greatest leaders are often the kindest people in the room. This week, we are incredibly proud to celebrate the following campers and staff members whose kindness, compassion, and caring hearts have made a difference in the lives of those around them.

This Week’s Kind Campers

Boys Side

• Jaxson Kuropatkin – Boys A
• Jace Weiler – Boys B
• Sam Fox – Boys C
• Ari Locker – Boys G
• James Ackerman – Boys I
• Mateo Kaufman – Boys I
• Max Cohen – Boys K
• Grayson Zweben – Boys L
• Eli Pease – Boys O
• Grey Goldman – Boys P

Girls Side

• Chloe Shulman – Girls C
• Sadie DelCioppo – Girls F
• Savannah Bernstein – Girls G
• Ashley Kier – Girls M
• Audra Konner – Girls O
• Syd Diamond – Bunk Y
• Emme Shulman – Bunk Y

We are so proud of our kind kids here, and we know just how much their kindness matters. It’s Cool To be the Kind Kid!!!

 

For three unforgettable days, Camp Chen-A-Wanda lived and breathed Olympics. And what an Olympics it was. From the very first event until the final song, this year’s games were anything but predictable. The leaderboard seemed to change by the hour. The team leading in the morning found themselves chasing by lunchtime, and every event carried enormous weight. No lead ever felt safe, and no team ever stopped believing. The suspense built with each passing competition, making this one of the closest, most exciting Olympics we can remember. Olympics has always been about so much more than winning.

It is one of Camp Chen-A-Wanda’s most treasured traditions, a tradition that has connected generations of campers through teamwork, spirit, determination, and pride. Over the past three days, every camper gave everything they had. They competed with heart, encouraged their teammates, celebrated one another’s successes, and discovered strengths they never knew they possessed. Friendships grew stronger, confidence soared, and countless memories were created through moments that may have seemed simple, a perfectly timed relay race, a game-winning kickball run, a water polo goal, or a teammate’s encouraging words.

That is the magic of Olympics. As the athletic competitions came to an end, the entire camp gathered in Shields Hall for one final tradition, Olympic Sing.

One by one, Red Canada, Blue Greece, and Gold Egypt proudly took the stage to present their banners, plaques, cheers, marches, and alma maters. Every performance showed preparation, creativity, teamwork, and tremendous pride. As the campers and staff sang together in perfect harmony, you could feel the emotion throughout the room.  Years from now, these campers will still remember the words they sang tonight. That is what happens here.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for. The judges had finalized the scores. Shields Hall fell silent. Campers dressed head to toe in red, blue, and gold held hands, hearts racing, eyes fixed on the stage.

The countdown began…Five..Four..Three..Two..One…And then…Red Canada Wins! The room erupted.

Red confetti filled the air as teammates embraced, jumped with joy, and celebrated an incredible Olympic victory. The cheers were deafening, the smiles were endless, and before long the entire hall had become one giant dance party. The celebration belonged to everyone because, regardless of the color you wore, every camper had poured their heart into these games.

What made this Olympics so memorable wasn’t the final score. It was the courage to compete. The willingness to encourage one another. The resilience to bounce back after disappointment. The friendships strengthened through shared wins and defeats. The respect shown to teammates and competitors alike.

Just two and a half days ago, we became Red Canada, Blue Greece, and Gold Egypt.

Tonight, we return to being what we’ve always been…One Camp Chen-A-Wanda family. Stronger. Closer. More connected. And forever grateful for another Olympics that reminded us why there truly is no place like Chenny.

Congratulations to Red Canada, our 2026 Olympic Champions!

 

Camp was buzzing with excitement from the moment everyone woke up this morning. Everywhere you looked, campers and counselors proudly wore their team colors as Blue Greece, Gold Egypt, and Red Canada took to the fields, courts, and waterfront for another unforgettable day of Olympics.

The energy was electric from the opening whistle until the final event. From our Freshman girls giving everything they had in a fun game of Steal the Bacon, to the Collegiate boys battling it out in Newcomb, to our CITs diving into an intense Water Basketball game, every event was filled with determination, teamwork, and incredible Olympic spirit. Chants echoed across camp all day long as teammates cheered one another on, celebrating every point, every play, and every victory.

But what makes Chenny Olympics so special isn’t just the competition, it’s the heart behind it all. It’s the moments that remind us these games are about so much more than winning. It’s watching a Freshman camper surprise herself with a game-winning goal that sends her teammates into celebration. It’s seeing an Inter boy dive for a loose basketball as if he’s playing in a championship game. It’s teammates encouraging one another after every event, regardless of the outcome. These are the moments that define Olympics and remind us why they mean so much to every camper.

As the sun began to set, it was time for one of Camp Chen-A-Wanda’s most cherished traditions – Apache Relay.

Seventy One events. One continuous relay. Every single camper, from our youngest Freshmen to our oldest CIT’s all playing an important role. When the horn sounded, camp exploded into action. For the next two hours, campers raced, climbed, paddled, threw, balanced, sprinted, and cheered their hearts out. Every second mattered. Every event mattered. Every teammate mattered.

When the final event came to an end, it was Blue Greece that crossed the finish line first, followed closely by Red Canada, with Gold Egypt finishing just behind after an incredible effort. The excitement, sportsmanship, and determination shown by all three teams made it one of the most memorable Apache Relays we’ve experienced. The vibes were so good today and camp was just the best place to be.

As the night sky grew dark, our Olympic athletes made their way back to their bunks tired, proud, and smiling from ear to ear. It had been another incredible day of competition, friendship, and unforgettable memories. Tomorrow brings one final day of Olympic competition before we gather for one of the most anticipated traditions of all – Olympic Sing.

And if you know Camp Chen-A-Wanda, you know that while every point matters – It all comes down to SING!