Today was a spectacular day. The campers want to show off their summer home and spent time making sure their bunks look fantastic for your arrival tomorrow. We have so much Chenny pride and we are all feeling it here.  The energy is at an all time high as we are living a dream up here.

We had a sing off at lunch today. It’s hard to describe the energy in the Dining Hall, but I’ll try. Everyone camper was standing on their bench singing at the top of their lungs. Arms were around each other as campers swayed side to side in unison. Boy’s side made a giant circle in the Dining Hall as they sang Lean On Me. Girl’s side were dancing as if nobody was watching. Inhibitions are gone and you are accepted for exactly who you are. Nobody feels embarrassed to let loose and have fun. It was an insane lunch and there wasn’t a camper or staff member that wasn’t completely blown away at what happened today in our Dining Hall. Nobody wanted lunch to end as we sang song after song after song. We are a united family who breaks out into giant sing sessions, just because!!!

Tonight was all about the big show, West Side Story. The show was great and we loved watching them shine on stage. They danced, they sang and they entertained us. After each act, there were cheers, applause and standing ovations.  Getting on that stage and performing in front of the whole camp isn’t easy but when you have all your peers and counselors cheering you on, you feel like you can conquer the world. That’s what we do here, we life each other up!! We are so proud of our theater kids. They did a great job tonight. Bravo!!!!

We all know what is happening tomorrow and we can’t wait to see you and show you all the amazing things we do here at our summer home. It will be a memorable day. See you in a few hours. Can’t wait!!!!

Chenny out.

What an extraordinary day we all had. The weather was spectacular and all activities were full of happy campers.

Our Boys had their swim meet at Starlight today and placed 4^th out of 8 Camps. We are proud of their hard work, commitment and sportsmanship. Go Chenny Boys Swim Team!!

The excitement of the day was definitely about our 2 soccer stars that visited us today. Veteran Chris Albright and the phenom, Juan Agudelo of the New York Red Bulls spent the afternoon with us. They ran skills and drills exercises, had a Q & A session and ended with a cross bar challenge with our kids. The campers loved having the players here and Chris and Juan enjoyed the Chenny spirit. The campers were so enthusiastic and excited to learn some tips from the pros. As Chris and Juan left camp, they put on their Chen-A-Wanda T-shirts and said to us, “We will wear these with pride and will be back again next year.” What a great time we all had. We are rooting’ for the Red Bulls!!!!

It was a Chenny Idol kind of night. We all headed into the Rec Hall and were excited to listen to the Top 10 Finalists in this years Chenny Idol perform a song of their choice.  You saw divisions get behind their favorite singer as all 10 performed live in front of the whole camp. It will be a very difficult decision the judges have as they pick the Top 3 that will be in the final show. The campers were amazing, talented and shined on stage. They gave it their all and brought the house down. Everyone was clapping along in support of our very talented singers.

There is something quite special about our camp as we all rally behind each other. Those singers took the stage and looked out at a packed house looking back at them. As each singer started, there were cheers and claps and arms waving side to side. Those 10 that took the stage tonight will never forget their moment. Ally Heller, Julia Bromley, Jake Quadrino, Daisy Chaskin, Daniel Gur, Justin Oresky, Olivia Hornick, Amanda Model, Jordan Leeds and Carly Wills felt the feeling of success tonight. Your courage amazes us, your voice inspires us and we loved watching you tonight as you entertained us!!!

Chenny out.

Today was a great day at camp. As we approach the end of week 3, we are in full stride and it feels like we’ve been here forever. Everyday, you see campers run to their next activity with sheer excitement. One Middy boy said it perfectly, “I just hit a homerun at Wiffle Ball, made banana turnovers in cooking and am about to get blobbed off the water trampoline. This is the best day!!!” This is everyday here at Chen-A-Wanda. So much packed into each day.

Our athletes were hard at work today. They all had a ball playing their games.

We hosted our first annual Freshman/Junior/Middy Girls Soccer Tournament and the kids loved it. The girls played four games. We won some and lost some. Camp Tioga and Camp Echo were here and all the campers showed great sportsmanship, energy and spirit. Chen-A-Wanda played in the finals and just fell short vs. Camp Echo. Great job girls!!! So proud of you.

Freshman/Junior Boys Basketball – CAW 17 vs. Tioga 27

Inter Boys Basketball – CAW 16 vs. Tioga 43

Collegiate Boys Roller Hockey – CAW 1 vs. Starlight 9

Super Girls Softball – CAW 4 vs Starlight 6

Waiter Boys Softball – CAW 4 vs. Equinunk 21

It was Movie Night tonight for everyone and the Freshman, Juniors and Middies were in the Rec Hall relaxing as they watched Diary of a Wimpy Kid. After a full day of running around in the sun, a movie night was so enjoyed!

The Inters, Collegiates, Seniors, Supers, GC’s and CIT/Wait campers watched Ace Ventura Pet Detective outside on the Giant Screen under the stars. Just another amazing day!!!

Chenny out.

It was Ally & Brian Day for our Freshmen, Juniors and Middies. They had the whole camp to themselves and they loved every minute of it. Each division had extended activities at waterfront, wiffleball, The Zone, Giant Dodgeball and a mid day movie. We ended with a pizza party and the campers had the best day. So much fun was had today by our youngest campers.

Our Inters, Collegiates and Seniors spent the day at Dorney Park. It was the perfect day to go to an amusement park. There were no crowds and it was as if they had the whole park to themselves. No lines and with a few clouds in the sky, the weather was ideal for their day at the park. They went on roller coasters, rode the rides and got soaked in the water park. There is something quite special and unique when you hang out all day at a fun amusement park with your camp friends. It’s just a blast and the memories they made today will be with them forever.

The oldest kids in camp, our Supers and GC’s spent the day relaxing at the state park. Hanging out and relaxing with each other was what they wanted to do and is exactly what they did. As day turned to dusk, it was BBQ time and they enjoyed their very own cook out.  As they all got off the bus, they looked relaxed and so satisfied with the amazing day they just had.

Everyone is back safe sound and loved the day they had. Regardless if they were at camp swimming in a twilight pool party, on a giant roller coaster or just hanging out at the park, it was a phenomenal and exceptional day today. Great news is that we get to do it again tomorrow. Oh, how we love camp!!!!

Chenny out.

Chris Albright & Juan Agudelo of the New York Red Bulls are coming to C-A-W on July 14th! They will be holding skill workshops with the campers and taking on our counselors in the 2nd Annual Crossbar Challenge! Watch a message from Chris and Juan here!

It was back to normal routine today and the campers loved to be back in their activities. The sun was shinning and camp was buzzing with happy campers. Our lake was full of campers getting blobbed off the water trampoline and climbing the rock wall. The beach was covered in giant sand castles that the campers had built. It was one of those days that just felt like a perfect camp day. We are all so lucky to have days like these.

We hosted our first Freshman/Junior Boys Baseball tournament today. Three camps came to play. Our campers got to play four games today and all had a ball. Here are the scores from today’s games:

CAW 2 vs. Westmont  12

CAW 3 vs. Tyler Hill 0

CAW 3 vs. Towanda 2

CAW 0 vs. Westmont

Collegiate Girls Soccer Tournament at Blue Ridge – Our Girls made it to the finals and lost in a hard fought battle. We are so proud of your efforts and sportsmanship. You make Chen-A-Wanda proud!!!

Senior/Super Boys Volleyball Tournament – We played Island Lake and lost in the first round. They played hard and will get them next time!

Collegiate thru CIT Boys Lacrosse Tournament at Camp Wayne – We competed today in our first Lacrosse tournament and played three games but fell short. The boys played a great game and enjoyed their time on the field.

Julius C and Camp Rock Star was here all day as they worked with each division to transform them into rock stars. Each group had a song to perform live on stage tonight and loved every minute of their time to shine. With a live band playing back up, the groups rocked out and felt like stars.

Lights are out here at Chen-A-Wanda and all are asleep. As we reflect on all we do in just one day, we take a deep breath and breathe in this incredible experience we get every day we are here. It is just phenomenal to experience the joy of being here, getting to play all day and being with friends who become our family. What a gift!

Chenny out.

The games continued today with Track and Field and everyone’s favorite, Bucket Brigade. The scores were so close going into today’s competitions. Everyone gave 100% and put their team first. It was a battle down to the very end. The spirit was insanely intense. Faces were painted and fierce with determination. Team pride took us all to the finish line. Captains lost their voices and lead by pure will.

We all gathered in the Rec Hall, as Olympic Sing would determine the winner. Each team presented its plaque and banner. The artists created amazing pieces that will forever stand in our camp and will always represent the diversity of each team.

Each team stood as three separate teams and sang their Cheer, March and Alma Mater. Our judges who had the difficult task to pick the best one judged each song. This was no easy feat as they all brought amazing lyrics that separated them from one another.

But in the end, there can only be one winner and tonight, Blue France brought home the victory. As the winner was announced, the cheers of success could have lifted the roof off the building. The feeling was so intense and exciting but this lasted for only a few brief moments. The agony of defeat was felt by Red and Gold tonight and within moments you saw our Blue team embracing their friends who had lost. This is where the magic happens. We pick each other up and as we all walked into the Rec Hall tonight as three separate teams, we left as one united Camp.

The games are over and the battle has been won but the experience we all received was immeasurable.

Life is great here at Chen-A-Wanda!!!!

Chenny out.

Blue France Wins Olympics 2011!

Stay tuned for our nightly blog post and check out the official scores

We are in full competition mode and loving every minute of. There is so much Olympic spirit in the air and each team is putting their heart and soul in every battle. There are wins and losses, there are cheers and chants and above all there is a respect for the game. We congratulate those who have brought home a victory and support the teams that may have lost their games today. It is having respect for one another that makes these Olympics Games so magnificent.

Tonight was all about Apache Relay. Each team has 72 events to complete and the first team to finish will be crowned the winner of the Relay. The horn blew and the race began.

Every member of each team is an integral part of the race. No matter if you are a Freshman or a CIT, your parts are equally important. This event emphasizes what a family we are here and bring us all together. A junior girl was piggy backing on a Super boys back while a Senior boy is leap frogging with a freshman girl. Everyone worked together as a team to get to the finish line. It was a great night, one that we will never forget.

After a full day of games, our Olympic athletes were glad to get to bed. They know that the battle continues tomorrow with more games and ends with Olympic Sing.  There can only be one winner. Red Japan, Blue France and Gold Jamaica are all determined to bring home the Gold!!!!!

Chenny out.

After yesterdays fake out, the campers spent the morning chanting…”We Want A Break Out.. Not Another Fake Out!!! Well, we gave them a breakout today and the Olympic spirit was in the air. It didn’t matter that it rained on and off throughout the day. It just mattered that this camp has spirit that is as high as the mountains that surround us.

All the camper were at snack call, when we heard the Olympic them song over the PA system. Everyone was looking around as if to say, is it real? Is this a real breakout? When out of the Dining Hall came one of our Boys Head Counselors with the Olympic Torch lit and glowing in all its’ glory. As he walked thru the sea of campers, they all followed him. He passed the torch to the next Head Counselor and so on and so on. As our campers kept following the torch being passed throughout camp, we all ended at the Skate Park for our opening ceremonies.

The Captains were announced and the excitement only grew bigger. We are heading into a 2-½ day battle and everyone is ready for the competition. Our campers were split into the three teams, RED JAPAN, GOLD JAMAICA and BLUE FRANCE!!

The first official Olympic event took place in the Rec Hall as all three teams were battling in tugs of war. Everyone gave it their all as they pulled with all their might to get a win for their team.

The next few days will be filled with spirit, sportsmanship, competition, teamwork, dedication & camaraderie. Let the Games Begin!!!!!

Chenny out.