Thank you for sharing your children with us this summer. We had the best time together and words cannot fully express the experience we all just had together. We hope that the following letter we read to your children at memory night will help explain our gratitude for how lucky we feel being able to experience summer camp with your kids.

Dear Campers of Summer 2011,

We have watched you over the past 51 days and we are so glad that we got the chance to spend this summer with you. It has been pure joy as we get to see first hand how you all have embraced this place and love it as much as we do. It’ s hard to explain to people what goes on here. How can you possibly use words to describe what happens at boys line up and why they always shout out SAFETY and DOORKNOB! And just how awesome it is to cheer for your favorite Gladiator as they battle in an intense tetherball match. Would anyone outside Chen-A-Wanda truly understand why we have to sing at the top of our lungs while standing on chairs and rocking out in the Dining Hall at every lunch. Where else does that happen? What are the words we can use to fully explain Color War and that feeling of pride that goes along with it.

We are all so lucky to get the chance to be part of this spectacular experience. We have watched you make friends that will last a lifetime. There is this comfort we know you get by being with your campies and living together makes that bond unbreakable. You are sisters and brothers to one another and that doesn’t end when we leave this place tomorrow. We all bring it home with us.

The connections you have made with your counselors will stay inside of you forever. They have given you a piece of themselves and we know that no matter how far away they live from you, they too will always be with you. That bond you made is real for them as well. They too will have hard time leaving you tomorrow. It hurts to leave to the people you love.

We have seen many of you try new things this summer and accomplish goals you set for yourselves. You have been brave, you have been confident and you are all leaving here a little more independent than when you came.

We have seen many of you beat homesickness and the feeling of great pride as you have overcome something you thought you couldn’t. You have worked through arguments with friends and got closer because you spent the time trying to understand each other better. You flew on the trapeze when at first look you were terrified. You did it because your friends and counselors believed in you and then you believed in yourself.  You celebrated together as you won and you picked each other up when you lost.

There is just something that happens here that is simply magical. It’s a place you can be exactly who you are, without judgement, and without criticism.  It’s a world like no other and that’s why we all keep coming back again and again and again.

We will miss each and every one of you and as you head home and start your school year, know that we will be busy making plans and preparing for an awesome summer 2012.

Thank you all for making this summer the best one yet.  It takes each one of you to make this place a home. You give it a heart and give it soul. From the bottom our hearts, we thank you.

Life is Great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Sincerely,

Jon & Elissa

There was a buzz around camp today and it was all about Banquet. The weather was perfect and the mood was great. Everyone knew that tonight was the big dance and the excitement was growing. The morning was chilled out and relaxed and the afternoon was full of anticipation of a great night. We have gone through the entire summer looking forward to Banquet and it’s finally here!!!

Everyone got dressed up in their finest clothes and was ready to impress. There were no Chenny t’s and soffe shorts, it was dresses and colored shirts. Everyone looked amazing and happy. It was a night to celebrate our summer her at Chen-A-Wanda and that is exactly what we did. The entire camp gathered outside the Dining Hall tonight before dinner as we all took pictures together. Groups of friends gathered together as they caught each moment with a picture.  Wishing time would stand still as they do in each frame.

As we entered the Dining Hall to see how the CIT’s and Wait’s had decorated the room, there were cheers of support as the campers entered the jungle. It was an awesome sight to see as our Dining Room became a Safari The room was transformed and looked amazing. We all sat down and had the most delicious meal of the summer. What made this dinner even more fun and perfect was the impromptu conga line that started with boys and ended with the girls. We just have fun here, that’s what we do.

After dinner it was into the Rec Hall for end of summer Awards. It was a remarkable night as we honored our outstanding campers of the year. Congratulations to the following campers who received the highly respected awards tonight. These campers shined throughout the summer.

Lower Camp

Athlete of the Year                      Adam Covey & Skylar Kohn

Honor Camper of the Year        Eli Kellner & Ally Heller

Camper of the Year                      Josh Friedman & Hannah Pollack

Upper Camp

Athlete of the Year                       Steven Bochner & Mychael Schnell

Honor Camper of the Year         Jason Rossell & Paige Mandel

Camper of the Year                       Tyler Loberbaum & Gillian Stapler

Then it was time to party and oh how we danced the night away. The DJ played all our favorite songs we stayed up late dancing with our friends. It was an amazing night that we will never forget. We just loved it and didn’t want it to end. A prefect party to end a perfect summer!!

Chenny out.

We had a great day today as we all down shifted. It’s that time of summer as we start preparing to pack up and head home.  All the campers got a few more activities in today but it was a day to relax, hangout and just get some great quality time with our best summer friends.  It was just one of those great days we spent with each other. We were playing basketball on the biddy courts, jumping rope on the Rec Hall court and playing some fun BBG on the Lake Court. You could actually feel the joy all throughout camp today. It was just a great day.

As our last official trip of the summer, the whole camp went to out to the movies tonight. It was a perfect way to end a perfect day!  Everyone was relaxed, chilled out and enjoyed munching on popcorn and watching a movie with their campies. When you look around and all you see is a sea of Gold Chenny shirts sitting next to you in the theater, you know that you are part of one very special summer family. We look out for one another and each of us make it whole!

We have a few more great things to look forward to as Banquet and Memory night are still ahead of us. Everyone is looking forward to getting dressed up and dancing the night away tomorrow night at Banquet. It will be a night to remember as we close down summer 2011.

It feels as if we just arrived here at Chen-A-Wanda. It’s hard to believe that we are all going home in just a few days. But before the tears come rolling down, and we know they will it’s party time!!!

Chenny out.

Today we had a late wake up and boy we needed it. The pace of the last five days was fast and furious so getting some extra zzzz’s was much needed. As camp started to wake up and we all headed to brunch, something caught our eye. It would appear that camp had been pranked. Our Arts & Crafts building was spray painted, colored and splattered. This was a sight to see and as everyone approached with great caution, it was obvious who was responsible. The CIT’s and Waits were the artists and left behind their mark. The new brightly colored building had then inspired the rest of camp to get creative and continue where they left off. Everyone knows that this building is coming down after camp and for the next few days, our CIT’s are responsible for the most beautiful, creative jaw dropping piece of art we have on campus. Great work girls.. You left your signature on a piece of Chenny History. Today, it became the place that we hung out at, cried in, left our own signature on and was a reminder that just like this building, our summer will soon be gone.

Today was a Chenny Championship kind of day!!!

Congratulations to our Inter Girls Softball Team who won the Wayne County Championship vs. Lavi with a score of 10 -0!!! It was a great game, with superb sportsmanship. Excellent work girls. You deserved the Championship!!

Way to go to our GC/CIT Girls Soccer Team who defeated Nesher to win their Wayne County Championship today with a score of 11-0!! We couldn’t be more proud of your teamwork! You all rocked!!

The highly anticipated Late Night with Leahy proved to be one of this summer favorite evening activities. Our Boys Head Counselor Brian Leahy, was the host to his very own Late Night Talk Show and brought the laughter in. He entertained the crowd with hilarious videos and brilliant performances. He produced a fantastic show, one that you just have to see to believe. The Rec Hall was exploding with laughter as we all watched in amazement of how truly talented our very own late night host is. We put Brian right up there with the likes of Letterman & Leno but we bet that those guys couldn’t hold a candle to how Leahy runs lower camp.

It’s hard to believe but we only have 3 days left in our summer home.

Chenny out.

The past 5 days have been exhilarating, exciting and spirited. We have felt the highs of winning and the disappointment of loosing. This Color War we have all just experienced made us push ourselves beyond what we thought was possible. We played the best we could and at times when pure exhaustion set in, we pushed harder but there was no quitting. Not here, not now.

We learned that each one of us counts and matters. We learned that when our teammates got behind us, anything is possible. We learned that Color War is an act of determination, commitment and pride. We learned that loosing is part of life’s process. We learned that winning feels great when you work really hard for something. We learned that even in our celebration, there is always room for compassion as our friends feel the agony defeat. We learned that we all went through this together and are better because of it.

Red Robbers did win Color War tonight and we congratulate them for their phenomenal teamwork and effort. Gold Cops never gave up and fought a long hard battle full of spirit and sportsmanship. After five long days as two separate teams, we are now back to one united camp. It was an amazing week and as this summer comes to a close, we are so grateful for every day we have spent here. Life is truly Great at Chen-A-Wanda!!!

Chenny out.

Another spectacular day we had full of Color War games and events. The morning was dedicated to Apache Relay and every camper counted!!! There are 52 events that each team must complete. Our campers piggy backed, leap forged, got wrapped with toilet paper, elephant walked to name a few. No matter if you ran the lake or shot a bulls eye, your part was equally important.  The intensity grew, as both teams were neck and neck. The lead switched twice right at the end but the Red Robbers came in first in this summers Apache Relay.

Boy’s camp had their swim meet today while girls ran track.  Everyone gave it their all and fought to the finish. The commitment every camper and staff showed today was unbelievably commendable. This is the time to shine and camp is shining bright right now. The songs, the cheers, the spirit, the wins, the losses all add up to one fabulous Color War.

The night belonged to Rope Burning. We all watched with great anticipation as the fire starters got their flames roaring. Red Robbers jumped out to an early start as their fire flared up with ease. The campers cheered with excitement and the spirit was off the charts.  We all got behind our teams today and participated in one longstanding Chen-A-Wanda tradition. As our CIT’s got emotional knowing this was their last official rope burning, you saw the spark engage in our first time campers as they now see what they have to look forward to for many years to come.  This tradition runs deep and connects the campers that have come before us, those that are here now and will still be here and alive for campers who will one day call Chen-A-Wanda their summer home.

There is just one more day for the battle between Red Robbers and Gold Cops. They have one more shot to give it there all and be part of something very special in summer 2011.

Chenny out.

The rain stayed away and the campers had a full day of games. The spirit was high and competition was fierce. It was a great day and the campers had a ball. The Red Robbers were decked out in red from head to toe while the Gold Cops shimmered in their gold hue. It was team spirit and pride that every competitor had on their minds.

The afternoon brought all of girls’ camp to the pool for their swim meet. There were individual races, relays and boating. The girls were there to bring points back to their teams and had such a great time doing it. As each girl did her part, she became part of something much bigger than herself.

As I watched the kickboard relays, there was one swimmer that fell behind a bit and her team was there for her encouraging her to finish strong and to give it her all. She lost that race, but popped out the pool with a grin so big that it brought smiles to everyone who watched. She said, “ I’m not that great of a swimmer and that was really hard but everyone kept me going and I finished… I feel great that I finished the race.” This is a great byproduct of what happens here during Color War. The team gets behind you and pushes you to that finish line!!!!

While all of girl’s camp was in the pool, the boys were at their track meet. There were individual sprints and relay races and the boys worked hard. It was a team effort at the meet today and the boys brought the spirit and support there too. They gave it 100% and ran their hearts out today. An unbelievable effort today!!!

Tonight was Skit Night and each team brought creative, unique and entertaining productions to the stage. They danced, they sang and they told their stories. It was a skit night that will go down in history as one to remember. Watching it unfold, one can only say, these campers and staff are having the time of their lives. You can be as goofy and silly and passionate as you can possibly be here. This is your turn to let loose and give it your all and that’s what each team did tonight, they brought it. All with smiles and spirit so high, the Rec Hall could hardly contain the energy inside of it!!!

Color War Rules!!!!!!!!!

Chenny out.

The rain came down but that didn’t stop us. The War raged on with wacky relay races & mass dodge ball inside the Rec Hall. While song and skit practice were held in the Canteen and Teen Center. The spirit is alive and each team knows what they have to do. Every team member is equally important. No matter if you are a Freshman or a CIT, you count and you have your entire team rooting for you. Every member is a contributing factor. They are giving it their all and working hard for the good of their team.

Tonight was quiz night and everybody experienced our mental challenge. Questions ranged from the obscure to the mundane. Every topic was covered and every camper was challenged. It was a team effort as they hummed and hawed over the answers. A giant trivial pursuit if you will. The night was amazing and one thing we all realized that our minds are sharp and we are all smart as a whip. Chenny kids have the brains and the brawn!!!!!

Our spirit is on overdrive and everyone feels it.  Color War brings out the best in us. It emphasizes camaraderie and spirit. It embraces great competition and intense play. It honors sportsmanship and unity. It teaches us how to tolerate that feeling when we lose and how unexplainable the elation is when we win. This Color War allows us to come together as a team and fight for something we believe in. We are in the midst of a battle and love every minute if it.

Can’t wait to get up tomorrow and do this again!!

Chenny out.

The tale of this summers Color War started 5 days ago. It began as a Waiter prank that we initiated. We put up a rival camps sign just at the end of our road and as tradition would have, our Waiters (along with their Head Counselors) decided that they would take down that sign. It was put up way too close to our dear summer home and they weren’t having that. As midnight struck on this past Tuesday they all dressed in black and with flashlights in hand and one goal in mind…. Take down their sign!!!!!

Off they went and they completed their mission. The new sign was brought down and Chenny prevailed. So they thought. Having no idea that we were there, in the brush watching them as they worked together quiet and only using hand signs. They cheered without sound and carried that sign back to camp. Mums the word but we needed the word to spread. Who stole the sign? We spread the rumor and it spread like wild fire. Our rival’s brand new camp sign was stolen and we were to blame. But who was responsible?

The next step was to bring both boys and girls together after their morning line up so days ago, we started having group tetherball right out front of Arts & Crafts. This got the whole camp together, without suspicion. Today was the day. It was the Championship tetherball matches and just as the final round was beginning…you heard the sirens coming down Camp Road. It was the Police and they were looking for the culprits of who stole the sign.

The Chief of Police got out of his car and the campers knew something quite strange was happening. Matty Lennon, our Boys Head Counselor took the fall. He was arguing that there was no sign here but the Chief would not have it. Matty was cuffed and in the back of the police car he went. To his rescue came Brian, our other Boys Head Counselor and he too put up a great fight but was cuffed and off he went. Campers were so confused and emotional as both of our Head Counselors had just been arrested.

As the police car rolled out of camp with sirens blaring, the mayhem began. Out of the Boat House rolled seven Cops (our staff) and out of the School of Rock came seven Robbers (our staff too) and began a hilarious cops chasing robbers scene. The campers caught on and couldn’t believe that what had happened a few minutes prior wasn’t real. This was Color War, our Waiters had been punked and the fun was about to start!!!!!

It is RED ROBBERS vs. GOLD COPS and WE HAVE A COLOR WAR!!!!!!!

Games are in full swing and the campers have caught the spirit. First order of business was this mornings Tugs of War, then games, game and more games. We ended with Contest Night and day 1 of Color War 2011 was spectacular.

Camp is full of pride, spirit and fun competition. It just doesn’t get better than this. We are loving it and can’t wait for tomorrow to begin as we tackle Color War day 2.

Chenny out.

Color War 2011 is here!

Gold Cops vs. Red Robbers.

Stay tuned to our blog tonight for a full recap!