Early this morning, our Supers boarded the buses and off they went for their 4 day adventure to Virginia/D.C. and they were pumped. They all eagerly got up at the crack of dawn, grabbed some breakfast and you could see how excited they were to head off camp for an incredible trip they have ahead of them. They were giddy and the smiles said it all. This trip brings this group of kids together as one division. It bonds them unlike any trip they have been on before here at Chenny. They are ready for this 4 day experience that is all about them as a division. The sights they will see, the places they will go and even the bus rides is just them. Every year I love watching this group leave and get so excited when they return because something magical happens on this trip. They spend 4 days with ones another, without distraction or interruption. They grow together as a group and the memories they make form this journey together defines them as a unified division. They had an amazing first day as they stopped along the way at Towson Mall for some lunch and shopping followed by an afternoon that went into the night at Kings Dominion Amusement Park. They had a ball and are back in their rooms, exhausted from a full day of fun. They are loving it and it’s only day 1.. More fun to come tomorrow.

Our Seniors left soon after on their own trip to Hershey Park. They get to spend 2 full days at the park and they too are loving this trip. It rained a bit at the park today but our campers could care less. They were with each other, eating chocolate like it was going out of style and loving every minute. We also saw that it truly doesn’t matter where you go but who you go with that matters. You could go to Disneyland by yourself and you would probably have a not so great of a time but you can be with your friends sitting in your backyard and have the time of your life. Rain or shine, these kids loved their day at the park and loved being together. They are back safe and sound in they hotel room, and they too exhausted from a long day.It’s an early rise tomorrow morning as the head back to Hershey Park.

The GC’s trip is winding down and they are enjoying some down time in Phoenix in the pool and watermark at the resort. They have had a packed 10 days on the road and to say they loved every step of the way is an understatement. We cant wait to get our GC’s back but they have one more day to go and they deserve every second of this experience. They were so well mannered, kind and respectful along the way and we are so proud of each and every one of them.

It was a rainy day and if I can tell you how much we all loved to downshift, it wouldn’t do it justice. When it rains up here at camp, it’s an experience. Being on your bunk, cuddled up with friends, playing jacks or cards, listening to music and chilling out is something we rarely get to do. You know this days that you never want ti get out of your pajamas, well that was today. It felt lazy and it felt good. We loved today and a little rain cooled down camp and allowed us all to downshift and have a child out afternoon.

Our lower camp gymnasts had an incredible day at their competition at Bryn Mawr. We are so proud of our team who placed 3rd out of 13 Wayne County camps that competed today. We are so proud of our kids who worked hard and gave it everything they had. With smiles on their faces and Chenny pride in their hearts, they did their best and we couldn’t be happier for them.

Our Collegiate Girls softball team beat Westmont today in softball with a  3 -0 victory. Lucky for the girls, they got their game in before the rain hit. We are proud of our girls who are headed to the Championship game.

We had another incredible night of some serious Chenny talent. It was Cherokee Talent night and these kids brought the sparkle to our stage. They danced and sang and made us laugh all night long. It always makes me smile when I watch your children take center stage. Regardless if they stand alone on that stage or are with their friends, they have a confidence that is electric. There is just no fear and they feel so good about themselves. I stand in the back of Shields Hall with a smile that comes form my heart because I see your kids do things they probably would never do at home. I know many of you say, my kids would just never do what they do at camp back here at home. It is inexplainable how much I love to watch your children get up on that stage in front of their friends and perform. They just are never alone at Chenny as they get cheered along the way followed by a standing ovation. It is just respect we show our friends here and it changes who we are. They are free to be silly and dramatic, they are encouraged to be perfectly imperfect. Missed dance steps and crackling voices just don’t matter here. The end result isn’t to be picture perfect but it is truly to bring the fun and joy of just getting up on that stage. Our kids get it and I am so glad they do because every performance makes us smile. It was a great night and it’s good to be a Chenny kid!!!

Chenny out.

Chenny won it’s first Championship of the summer and in true CAW tradition when we we win, THE ENTIRE TEAM JUMPS IN THE LAKE TOGETHER. They stand on the dock, hold hands and jump in together. Today our Inter girls basketball team beat Wayne in the Wayne County Championship Game. They were so excited  and full of pride that when they came back to camp you could hear the horn honking which means Chenny won!! They jumped out of the van and went directly to the waterfront with only one thing on their mind, to jump into that lake with their teammates by their side. It is a thing we do here and I was watching this amazing group of girls stand so proudly on that dock, and grab one another’s hands, looked at each other and counted 1..2..3. and as a group they all jumped in together. What a moment that was and one they will never forget. They were fully dressed in their uniform and loved every minute of that celebration. They ran through camp giggling with laughter and everyone knew they had brought home the Championship!!! We could’t more proud of the teamwork they had to bring home the win.. What a great day for our Inter Girls Basketball team.

Senior/Super Girls LAX – CAW 4 @ Westmont 9

Super Girls Tennis – CAW 0 @ Wayne 5

Tonight our Supers had their Road Rally which they all split up into teams and ran like crazy al throughout camp doing tasks for a giant scavenger hunt. It is a traditional event for this group before they head out to Virginia/D.C early tomorrow morning. It was such a great night for these awesome kids who have been having an incredible summer. Every single Super is so beyond excited for their trip tomorrow and got to enjoy a huge ice cream party tonight as a send off for their journey tomorrow.

The Seniors are getting as equally excited for their trip to Hershey Park as they enjoy 2 full days at this Chocolate Heaven. They head out in the morning and can’t wait. So much fun for our navajo kids.

GC’s spent their day at the Grand Canyon and were in awe of its beauty and vast magical hold on them. They sat together and experienced this wonder together as a camp family and that made this experience more special than they ever imagined. These kids have been so appreciative and grateful for these incredible experiences and that has made this journey so special. They have arrived at their final destination on this trip of a lifetime as they spend the next 2 days resting and relaxing at the most gorgeous resort in Phoenix. We cant wait to get them back here!!!

The rest of camp enjoyed Minute to Win It tonight and loved every minute if it!!! They laughed as they watched their friends compete with the most hilarious tasks to be completed and timed. It was a race to the finish and all the campers were on the edge of their seats.. Another outrageous and fun Chenny night!!!! There is no place like Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Chenny Out

There was a large group of  Junior girls in jewelry making that spent their time in Arts & Crafts making friendship bracelets for one another. They each picked another camper to make this symbol of friendship for. The table was full of colored string, happy smiling faces and a mission to create friendship bracelets for everyone at the table. It was group activity that involved and included everyone. The best part was listening to all of their conversation that was had during this group experience. They chatted and laughed and connected with one another as they spent their time creating something beautiful for a friend. As they finished each bracelet and put it on the wrist of their friend, it bonded them together as they experienced the act of giving something from their heart, something they made that had meaning behind it. I watched one camper slip it on the wrist of her friend and apologized for a few missed spaces and knots that were accidentally there to which the recipient said with so much enthusiasm, ” It’s perfect and I will never ever take it off.” The girls were as excited to make these bracelets as they were to receive them. This group of girls proudly walked out of Arts and Crafts arm in arm, hand in hand all wearing the most beautiful hand made bracelets we’ve ever seen.

It was fun day of sports.. sports…sports…

Inter Girls Tennis – CAW 1 @ Wayne 4

Collegiate Girls LAX – CAW 10 @ Starlight 11 (game went into overtime)

Middy Boys Hockey – CAW took 2nd Place in the Tourney @ Wayne – CAW 2 vs. Wayne 7

Super Boys Baseball – CAW 8 @ Starlight 2 – CAW going to Championship

Congratulations to our outstanding Campers of the Week:

Freshman  –          Lila Klasrfeld    & Ben Diamond

Juniors –         Abby Isaacson & Trent Hernandez

Middies –      Addison Goldstein & Ari Hirshfield

Inters –        Sarah Lord & Jonah Marcus

Collegiates –    Lexi Tave & Jared Simpson

Seniors –      Sophia Jaffe & Colby Frankle

Supers –    Nikki Younger  & Mike Hellerman

CIT’s –   Carly Wills & Josh Liebman

It was time to honor more KIND CAMPERS and these kids are spreading the kindness at camp. We just could be more proud of: Annie Isaacson, Lexi Heifler, Pepper Margulis, Rachel Farhi, Jordana Ruderman, Sarah Gershman, Melissa Borker, Bari Klein, Jordana Reissman, Zoe Grabow, Skyler Adamchak, Alex Brandoff, Ben Diamond, Ben Gruberger, Aaron Hafkin, Trent Hernandez, Justin Horowitz, Michael Kalina, and Jerry Kessler. Keep on Being Kind!!!!

Everyone loves to watch Brad Henderson as he gets our staff into a deep trance and hypnotizes them right in front of our eyes. His mesmerizing voice gently guides our staff into a deep sleep and has them do the most hilarious things on stage. Our kids belly laughed so hard it was contagious. Watching our male staff dance like Britney Spears and bark like seals and twirl around like prima ballerinas in front of the entire camp while under total hypnosis is just hysterical. The counselors who were up there were convinced they fell asleep and have no recollection of what just happened to them. That made tonight all the more hilarious. Tonight was just another incredible night of hilarity at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Chenny out.

You may or may not have noticed the craze for fanny packs at Chenny this summer and let me tell you that it’s really a thing. I have to admit that I started the craze this summer when I busted out an old fanny pack for convenience and ease. Carrying everything around camp that I needed was just so much easier when it was in my fanny pack so on day 1, I was rocking the pack. It caught on like wild fire on girls side and every day at least 4 or 5 new fanny’s arrive in packages you send from home. Girls side is wearing these throwback waist purses with so much pride. The fanny’s were out in full force yesterday at the baseball game but even on a regular camp day like today, girls were proudly wearing them. They are a badge of honor for girls side and it is now a movement. You can hear campers walk by one another and say, “Happy Fanny Friday”. I saw a group of “fanny” girls compare what was in their packs and this one camper had it packed to the brim full of items she deemed absolutely necessary for her day. As she explained , she had a set of jacks, because you just never know when you want to get a game going. She packed chapstick because her lips were chapped. She needed hairbands because she was on her way to get her hair french braided so that was a must. She had a stick of suntan face lotion to which I was very proud of her being responsible for her reapplying throughout the day. She had hand sanitizer hanging from the outside and the sweetest thing of all was in her pack as she carries a letter from home. I asked why she carried that around too and she told me that it made her feel like her mom and dad were right here with her all day long. She thanked me for bringing the fanny pack to Chenny this summer and with that I hugged this sweet girl and I knew that my small little act of bringing out my fanny allowed this camper to have a piece of home with her all day long, right at her fingertips.

Our athletes had a ball all day long playing the sports they love.

Inter Girls Basketball – CAW 24 vs. Lavi 11

Inter Boys Basketball – CAW 27 @ Westmont 14

Inter Boys LAX  Tournament @ Wayne – CAW played 2 games and went o for 2 in tourney

Super Boys Soccer -CAW 14 @ Island Lake 2

The evening was absolutely perfect. You couldn’t get more campy that what happened tonight at Chenny. All of Cherokee was in Shields Hall playing Quest. It is this insanely fun game that has a little of everything, singing dancing, acting and you cant explain it but love doing the QUEST. Mohican camp had a pool party tonight followed by s’more at the beach. It was so beautiful tonight at the lake and the sunset just took our breath away. Novajo campers LOVED their tail gate party. They were at the top of the hill, some playing frisbee, some sitting around the camp fire, some making s’mores, some just sitting eating chips and listening to music, some played wiffle ball but all together having one amazing tail gate party. Our Navajo kids have brought the positive this summer and you can see it in their faces and feel it in how happy they are. It was a perfect summer night for all our kids. We miss our GC’s and so happy they are loving it in Vegas. Today was a standout day and a remarkable night. Life is just so great at Camp Chen-A-Wanda.

Chenny out.

We and another outstanding day here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda and before lower camp headed out to watch the Scranton Yankees  (AAA baseball team), our kids got a few games in.

Collegiate Girls Basketball – CAW 27 vs. Poyntelle 8

Collegiate Boys Basketball – CAW 39 @ Nesher 48

Super Boys Soccer – CAW 2 vs. French Woods Sports 1

Barsel Cup Hockey Tournament @ Camp Lokanda (For Boys up to 6th grade) –Game 1 CAW 0 vs. Timberlake 8 / Game 2 CAW 5 vs. Equinunk 8

Lower Camp boarded the buses this afternoon and and headed out for an awesome night at the ballpark. It was a perfect night watching baseball, eating hotdogs and popcorn and sitting in the stands doing the wave with your best camp friends. There is something pretty special about summer nights at the ballpark. It defines summertime and we had a ball tonight. It started out incredible as Evie Glickman and Austin Bernstein got to throw out the first pitch tonight. The sea of Gold and Red shirts were cheering in support of our 2 campers who represented Chenny on the mound. There was lot sod laughs tonight and a great time had by all. Another perfect summer night.

Our Seniors, Supers and CIT’s had camp all to themselves tonight as they ran the Chenny Color Mudder. These campers couldn’t have had a better time running a challenge course that included getting soaked in the slip and slide, running in the mud pit challenge course, being doused with colored powder and then jumping into the lake. They go town and dirty and had a ball. After their evening of mud and mess it was off to the Lodge for a pizza party followed by movie night. Our Navajo campers are having the summer of their lives and we couldn’t be happier for what an incredible experience they are having.

The GC’s have arrived in Las Vegas and are truly speechless from the adventures they are experiencing. It is a trip that keeps on getting better and better with every day. To be able to share this experience with their camp family is undeniably an experience they are loving. We have some very happy campers and that makes us smile from the inside out.

Chenny out.

Who would have thought a deck of cards would be able to fully entertain a group of active 11 year olds? A simple deck os 52 cards that allowed 4 boys to sit around a tree and play for an hour. I was watching this group of kids who weren’t interested in going in the lake during general swim today and instead played cards. I thought, when was the last time at home any of these kids played card games with one another. They were sitting around the base of the apple tree at center camp, laughing, strategizing and talking to each other and playing cards. If you brought out a deck of cards at home when they have a play date over, they would most likely look at you with a look of disgust or as if that may be the most ridiculous suggestion they have every heard but why here? Why does a simple game of cards make so much sense? Sometimes less is more and this card game was just that. It was so much more than sitting side by side playing video games and not talking. It was so much more than mine craft and candy crush. It was an hour of 4 kids playing a game of cards and probably having more fun than they ever thought possible. So when your kids get home, pull out the cards and give it a try. They really do enjoy the simple things…There is just no denying that.

The fields and courts were full of hard working happy athletes today. So proud of our kids.

Collegiate Girls Basketball – CAW 46 @ Shoshanim 14

Middy Boys Tennis – CAW 0 @Wayne 5

Middy Boys Hockey – CAW 8 @ Starlight 3

Inter Boys LAX – CAW 11 @ Westmont 4

Collegiate Boys Tennis – CAW 1 @ Tioga 4

Senior/ Super Boys Volleyball Tournament @ Towanda – CAW Supers Boys Won 1st Place & Senior Boys Won 3rd Place

Our GC’s are still wandering In LA as they enjoyed a Sony Lot Studio Tour. They were on TV sets and spent the day enjoying the magic of Hollywood. Then it was back to the hotel to change and have dinner before they headed to Universal Studios for the night. It’s a trip that just keeps getting better and better. Our GC’s are loving every minute and taking it all in. Not a moment to waste as they experience an absolute trip of a lifetime.

Two Words… Nancy Tucker!!! Ask you children about Nancy Tucker and they will tell you that she is AMAZING!!! The fun we had in Shields hall tonight was absurd. If you can imagine an old school folk singer, singing songs like One Meatball, Jelly Fish, Habitat and Scallywag and our entire camp standing and singing along with her at the top of their lungs, you can envision a room full of happy campers. It was a total throwback to good old fashioned camp songs and we loved it. Everybody was up on their feet, moving to the beat and every song had hand movements that took about 2.2 seconds to catch on. We looked like a scene right out of the movie, Meatballs and it was AWESOME. This squeaky clean show was a crowd favorite and just when we see our kids as moving too fast, too mature, too old for their age, they go and totally enjoy a show that was clean, pure and right out of the 1970’s. Nancy has been singing these exact songs for decades and your kids loved it…So all you gotta say is One Meatball….No Spaghetti and your kids will smile and sing along!

Chenny Out.

The fun just continues here with our divisional day trips today. Everyone enjoyed their day out of camp.

Our adorable freshman campers had just about the cutest day ever as they went to Claws and Paws Zoo. They saw cool animal exhibits and went on an animal scavenger hunt. They got back to camp and couldn’t tell us fast enough about how great their day was showing us their cool shark tooth necklaces they got and the minerals and rocks they collected too. It was back to camp for a pizza party and into the Chen-A-Plex to watch The little Rascals (which they LOVED).

Juniors & Middies had a ball at Leahy’s fun park playing in their giant arcade and mini golf course. After an afternoon winning prizes and having a great time, it was off to the movies to see this summers blockbuster. Our kids munched on popcorn and goodies and watched some fun summer movies. When they got back to camp after their fun day, it was a pizza party of them too. The night was beautiful and it was outside playtime for these campers as the Junior and Middie boys battled it at the Wiffle Ball Field. Middie girls had their own fun in a giant dodgeball game while the Juniors spent t heir night playing kickball.

Mohican Camp (Inters & Collegiates)  spent their day at Camel Beach for some fun in the water park. It was great way to beat the heat while having the time of their lives.  They swooshed down the toilet bowl, got lazy down the lazy river, slipped down the slip and slide and got bounced off the giant bungee blob. They had an absolute awesome day.

Seniors and Supers had an absolute blast at Aquatopia, a giant indoor water park that took them to new heights. They park was empty and the kids went on ride after ride after ride and had an absolute incredible day.  It was a full day in the water and our campers spent their day loving it. Just another great day for our Navajo kids.

The GC’s had the most amazing day at Santa Monica Beach. They shopped, they ate, they played in the Pacific Ocean and they are having a trip of a lifetime. Then it was back to the hotel and out to City Walk for a movie. They are living the dream. It’s good to be a GC.

CIT’s spent their day at Syracuse University. They shopped, toured the school and had a perfect off day. They came back to camp ready for another incredible day of CIT’ing.

All the campers are safe and sound back in their bunks, all exhausted from an amazing day out. What a successful  trip day, full of memories that will last a lifetime. Your children were absolutely fantastic and every place our Chenny kids were today, we received praise on how well behaved and respectful our campers are.  Gotta love that. We sure do.

Chenny Out

When we talk about teachable moments, they happen every single day here and today a few of our boys learned a life lesson that will forever impact them. We had a team out playing baseball at a nearby camp today and as Chenny was easily winning and the boys were feeling pretty confident, a few comments were made to the other team during the game that made one of the opponents feel pretty bad about himself. The comments were made in jest and never truly intended to hurt anyone but none the less offended a player on the other team. As group mentality would have it, making a negative comment or two was intended to get a laugh and the boys who made it had no real idea the effect it had on that player of the opposite team. We were made aware that these comments made this boy feel so bad it brought him to tears. Now these comments that were made regardless how benign the intentions were, made another human being not feel so great about themselves and their abilities on the field. We told our kids how disappointed we were and how their words effected another human being in a negative way. They truly had no idea how much a comment said even under their breath would effect someone else so deeply. These boys felt instant remorse and realized instantaneously that they have to make this wrong a right. They asked to go back to the camp and apologize in person to this boy they had unintentionally offended. The way in which they made this wrong a right was what made this moment so powerful. As they sat in front of this boy they did not know, they asked for forgiveness and apologized for their behavior. They only wanted to make their friends laugh without truly having regard for another’s feelings. One of our kids said, “This will forever change how I try to impress my buddies at the expense of another.” They showed empathy and compassion and the boy from the other camp, graciously accepted their genuine apologies and said to them, “If this game allowed you guys to see that words can hurt, maybe it happened for a reason.” Our kids won the game today but that took second place to the teachable moment it presented. Our kids walked away with a lesson in empathy and understanding that will forever stay inside of them and be part of who they are. It was real and it was raw and the lasting effects of facing a mistake, dealing with it head on was a lesson they will never forget.

Todays Games:

Inter Girls Softball – CAW 14 @ Westmont 7

Super Girls Basketball – CAW 20 @ French Woods Sports 22

Middy Boys Soccer – CAW 5 vs. Lavi 4

Senior Boys Baseball – CAW 15 @ Tioga 5

Super Boys Basketball – CAW 33 @ French Woods Sports 28

Simon Says we had a great evening activity tonight. It was optional evening activity for Navajo and they all wanted to relax in the Chen-A-Plex and watch a movie. But for Cherokee and Mohican, it was an incredible night of Simon Says. They were trying so hard ti beat the best, Steve Max as he dazzled our campers with the hardest game of Simon Says anyone has ever played. It was boys vs. girls and it was fun. Not a camper could resist trying to win this game but had a ball in the process.

The GC’s are wandering on the West Coast and loving  it. Their first stop was touring UCLA followed by dinner at City Walk in Universal City. Lots of fun so far and it’s only day 1. Life is Great if you’re a Chenny kid!!!!

Chenny out.

What an absolutely incredible day we had with all our families here at camp yesterday. It was spectacular day and we love showing off our summer home but today it was back to camp and everyone was ready to play. I rarely get the opportunity to sit and watch the kids play but I took some time today at the waterfront and it was mesmerizing. Fiddle Lake was glistening and all I saw were happy kids playing in it. I walked down to the dock where two boys were contemplating jumping in. One was a bit more tentative than the other and without missing a beat, he reached out to his buddy, held his hand and said,’”Let’s jump in together” and that is exactly how one camper encouraged his friend to jump in the lake. They did it together and then swam off in that glistening inviting lake. I was so happy I was present for that moment. The tentative camper took his hand, literally and jumped in literally. If you could have seen the happiness on his face, it was priceless, truly priceless. Then I just sat and watched all the kids in the lake. I turned off my walkie, sat back and watched what was right in front of me. A lake full of happy kids without a care in the world. Being up here in this little secluded space allows us to breathe, to play, to not worry, to live in the moment, to let go, to be brave, to cope and to appreciate the simple things like jumping in a lake with a friend. For 7 weeks, there is no Breaking News Story that our children see on the news of some horrible shooting we try and shelter them from and have difficulties trying to explain why they happen in the first place. I truly believe that is why they are so free here. So I sat and watched your children play so fearlessly and full of life. It is a joy I cant quite explain and a privilege I treasure.

Our GC’s are going out of their mind with excitement as they are within hours of leaving on their West Coast trip. The buses pull out of camp at 2am heading to JFK for a trip of a lifetime. We sat with the GC’s today going over the itinerary and all the amazing things they are going to experience for the next 11 days. An absolute trip of a lifetime. My exact words to them were, “Enjoy every minute, treasure every experience, keep your eyes wide open and appreciate that you will never ever again travel with 50 of your friends the way you will for next 11 days.” Every single camper in that meeting had a smile on their face and excitement in their eyes. This is the ultimate best of both worlds. They are a true camp family and they have grown closer and more inseparable over the years but this trip bonds them together forever in a away that no teen tour can ever do. It is they own teen tour as a group of 50 incredible positive, happy Chenny Kids!!!!! Off they go to have the trip of a lifetime…

I must apologize but i don’t have any scores form todays games. I will post them in the morning.

Tonight brought a whole new level of greatness as our Head Staff battled on the stage with a camp favorite, Lip Sync. It was incredible. The lip syncing, the choreography, the entertainment, the costumes and the sheer brilliance of how much fun they all had. Each competitor involved the campers of the division they were representing. It;s a must watch when the video comes out. The kids LOVED tonight’s evening activity and 9 acts went down to 5. The Lip Sync Finals are going to be one amazing show. Chenny Head Staff  brought it tonight.

Chenny out.

What we all experienced today was magical.  The weather was unbelievably ideal, the day was perfect and the Chenny love was felt al over camp today. It was our plan to show you what an amazing time we have been having here so far and from the looks of it, you got it. You experienced a glimpse of what happens here at Camp Chen-A-Wanda and how your children have made this place their summer home.

Watching you embrace your children and holding them so tight was beautiful. You just can’t prepare for the emotions that happen on visiting day. Today belonged to you and your family and we hope you had an amazing day. We sure did. Hopefully you saw your kids happy, safe and loving their summer home.

After you all left today, it was back to camp life and believe it it or not the kids had room for dinner even after all the goodies you left them with. Their evening tonight was group activity night and each group had a blast. There was Quest in Shields Hall for all of Mohican, Supers enjoyed a movie in the Chen-A-Plex, Cherokee campers had trivia night in the Lodge and Seniors & GC’s spent their night chilling in their bunks relaxing after a great day. CIT’s were hanging out together in The Hangout playing cards and having a great time being together.

What makes today so special other than the obvious of spending time with family, is the bonding that happens after you leave. So many emotions and tons of tears but when your camp friends and counselors wrap their arms around you and pick you and tell you everything will be alright, those bonds are why these friendships are so strong. It’s at these moments of vulnerability that bring us together and why our camp friends become our family. There is nothing fun about watching your family leave on visiting day but when you are literally surrounded and embraced by your camp family, there is nothing you cant get through. All the tears dried up and were replaced with laughter, all the sadness went away and instead it was a feeling of being supported and our campers coped with all these feelings tonight with friends by their side. Not one camper is stuck. Not a single one. They get through it here, they face it here, they overcome it here. I always tell our campers to be the river, not the rock. Tonight all of your children, chose to be the river.

We have had three amazing weeks and cannot wait for the next four. It just gets better and better. We are living the dream up here and are so glad you had a day to experience what our summer home feels like every single day. Thank you all for a day we will never forget.

Chenny Out