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Gary Shields

@_garyshields

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30 Summers.

It’s incredible to think about everything that has happened over the last 30 summers. I grew from childhood to adulthood here. I’ve experienced incredible highs and even the lowest lows. I’ve met thousands of people from all over the world, and I’ve had the opportunity to watch more children than I can count fall in love with camp the same way I did 30 summers ago.

I’ve now had campers whose parents were a part of my own childhood memories. Not many people are lucky enough in this lifetime to spend 30 summers doing anything—let alone something that simply brings them joy. This is not something I will ever take for granted.

What a gift to celebrate this milestone in a year when the celebration and preservation of our forever home was a gift in itself.

Jon and Elissa—thank you for protecting, preserving and fostering our incredible home. This is our home because it’s filled with our summer family. Thank you for being such an integral part of that family. Thank you for taking a chance on me at 20 years old and seeing that I had so many years ahead of me to give, when I was simply a college student who dreamed of becoming a teacher and returning year after year to camp. I guess sometimes dreams really do come true.

To my camp family, which extends well beyond the people spending my 30th “final night” with me on beautiful Fiddle Lake—thank you for being a part of my story and for making this experience one worth living over and over again.

Every summer is a new journey and a new adventure, with new faces and some of the same ones who have grown and changed alongside me. It’s the people who make the place—and after 30 summers, it’s clear that you truly are the GREATEST of people.

Because life will ALWAYS be GREAT at Camp Chen-A-Wanda. ❤️💛

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203 years of experience, memories, and pure Chenny spirit right here! ❤️💛

With the help of every single staff member, it’s been an incredible summer making camp amazing and we can’t wait for many, many more to come!

#Summer2026 #ChennyForLife #BaseCamp #ChennyFamily #WeLive10for2

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My tea cup runneth over 🫖 🇬🇧 ♥️

Left a piece of my heart (and a bestie) in the UK…I’ll be back soon…

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Banquet 2024 #DreamTeam #BaseCamp #CAW❤️💛

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With 164 combined Camp CHEN-A-WANDA years, this team is READY for YOU. SEE YOU TOMORROW! #CAW❤️💛

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Building an action packed schedule with fun filled activities for Summer 2024; we cannot wait with ONLY 91 Days to go! #CAW❤️💛

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2️⃣0️⃣ Summers at @CampChenAWanda - who would’ve thought?! #CAW❤️💛

What an honor it is to reach this milestone with the BEST team by my side 🔒

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Summer 2023 Schedules 📄✍️

Drop what activity you’re most looking forward to this Summer in the comments👇 #CAW❤️💛

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Gary cannot wait to be back in 1️⃣8️⃣4️⃣6️⃣5️⃣ with the ☀️! #100Days #CAW❤️💛

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Base Camp Summer 2022 #Banquet #150YearsOfChenny

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Carnival 2022; Congratulations to Dylan LaPorte on the winning design 👟🎡 #CAW❤️💛

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Base Camp be Ballin’ 🏀 #OBLHoops #CAW❤️💛

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