The Spirit is Contagious

Our Olympic games stands out as a true picture to why Chen-A-Wanda is truly a remarkable place. Victory is not defined by wins or losses. It is defined by our effort. Today our campers gave it everything they had. Every camper put their heart and soul into each battle and gave it their all in every competition. The battles were fierce, they were fun and in the end it was the undeniable effort that made today such a standout day. We played hard, had fun and in the end supported one another. When you walk around camp, in the midst of hearing all the chants and cheers during all the games, you also heard “great job, amazing effort, proud of you.” There is something equally valuable to encouraging those around us that actually feels better than getting the win.

Being part of a community that comes together and supports one another regardless of the outcome is what makes Chen-A-Wanda Olympics so spectacular.  Tonight was Contest Night and everyone from our Rookie campers to our GC’s played an integral part. The fun they had took center stage and the only word that can accurately describe tonight was Electric. The energy was incredible, absolutely awesome.  We sincerely hope that the pics and videos we post on our social media platforms gives you at home an up-to-date snap shot of much fun your kids are having. Olympics brings the best out in us all. There are so many valuable moments each and every day here but Olympics feels different. We are watching the joys of winning and the sting of defeat. We are seeing your kids put everything they have into making this Olympics incredible. The spirit, the heart, the dedication, the emotion – it’s all here front and center.

It was Contest Night tonight and if you happened to catch our Facebook and Instgram stories, you would have seen a snip of Freshman camper Zach Capon riding that turtle bike with a determination on his face, that said it all. He was focused and in the zone. His counselors and Captains Ben & Connor were right by his side, cheering him on. They were doing it together and it was magical. As Zach crossed that finish line first, Conor picked him up and put him on his shoulders as the entire team surrounded him chanting his name. It was a scene right out of Rudy. He was a champion and felt like a hero. The race was so close and Zach brought it home with a win for the gold team. A moment he wont forget, and neither did anyone who was lucky enough to watch it too.

When all is said and done, it’s not the shots that won the championship that we will remember, but the friendships we made along the way that will stay with us forever. All are sleeping peacefully as we rest our bodies for another amazing day of Olympics. Doesn’t get much better that this!!!