Gold Rush

Each summer we have the privilege to witness the best parts of your children and today didn’t disappoint as I saw kindness and love rise to the top in a very special way. We have a camper who has been coming to Chenny for years but this year, nerves knocked on her door and it hasn’t been an easy ride. From her smiling face, you would never know that on the inside she was feeling insecure and unsure of herself. But she kept it inside and just didn’t want anyone to know. When she sat with me today and cried and saw a huge mountain in front of her, I asked if she shared these feelings with her friends to which she shook her head no. I told her the only way to get over that huge mountain in front of her was to trust her friends and let them in and talk about it and that support would get her through the times she felt alone. I knew she needed backup and she couldn’t do it alone, nobody can do it alone.  She named 2 friends to which she thought could be her support and with her permission agreed for me to fill them in. Feeling shy and nervous about revealing her feelings, I sat with these two amazing girls and brought them up to speed on what their friend was facing and how she was keeping it all inside. Without hesitation, they wanted to help their friend whom they had no idea how sad she was feeling on the inside. These two incredible kids showed compassion and kindness and said it so perfectly, “We got her. We won’t let our friend do this alone.”  You see, this girl who has been here for years just didn’t want to burden anyone with how she was feeling and her friends had no idea but when they heard that she was struggling, they stepped up, grabbed her hand, put their arms around her and told her that they are by her side, always. I saw the three of them on their way to dinner and when they saw me they stopped and gave me a wink as to say, Don’t worry we got her covered.  The camper who had cried to me earlier today looked happier tand more relaxed than I have ever seen since she arrived 4 weeks ago. A smile so genuine and a look as she shed that weight that was heavy on her heart. She opened up, trusted and let her friends in. It was magical and she wasn’t alone. She is climbing that mountain with her friends right by her side. Sometimes you have to take a leap before you are able to fly.

GIRLS SIDE SPORTS

Middy basketball CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – CAW 19 vs. Lavi 11

BOYS SIDE SPORTS

Freshman Flag Football Tourney @ CAW  – game 1. CAW 40 vs Westmont 14 – Game 2 CAW 20 vs. Starlight 27

SUPER/CIT Soccer Tournament @ Equinunk – game 1. CAW 3 vs IHC 0 game 2. CAW 0 vs. Equinunk 2 game 3. CAW 3 vs Westmont 0 FINALS CAW 0 vs. Equinunk 0 – Equinunk wins with a penalty kick

Tonight lower camp had an awesome evening activity with The Gold Rush. Each bunk had to look all over camp for gold bars and collect them. It was hilarious as they searched high and low and everywhere in between. The campers were eager to find the gold because they knew the more they got, the better their chances were for getting some premiere prizes at the auction. Our older kids had their own fun at a Vegas style casino night inside Shields Hall. They too, were vying for more chips as they played blackjack and other card games in their own private Chenny Casino. As the night came to a close, the entire camp gathered by bunk on Shields Hall court and pooled the gold they found and chips they won to give each team the money value they had to use at the upcoming auction. It was a real deal auction as Jon and yours truly, were the auctioneers of the night. The kids were going for some very desirable prizes for their bunk from the likes of a late night pool party to a McDonalds Party to breakfast in bed too mention a few. Bunks were out bidding one another and the campers just had the most amazing time, hootin’ and hollarin’ and having a ball. It was another remarkable night your kids enjoyed.

The GC’s are truly having the trip of a lifetime as they enjoyed their last day in LA and headed to Las Vegas. What a trip these kids are having together. Making memories, deepening friendships and making new ones. Life is Incredible when you are a GC at Chenny.