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Cheley Colorado Camps

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Cheley Colorado Camps
LocationEstes Park, Colorado
TypeSummer Camp
Established1921
Slogan"Great things happen when youth and mountains meet" – Frank H. Cheley
Websitecheley.com

Cheley Colorado Camps (also known as Cheley, Cheley Camps, and Camp Cheley) is a residential summer camp in the Estes Park Valley. Cheley is located at two sites: Land O'Peaks Ranch in Estes Park, Colorado, which houses three girls' units and three boys' units, and Trail's End Ranch for Boys and Girls in Glen Haven, Colorado.[1] Since 1921, Cheley Colorado Camps has had around 50,000 campers. Cheley hosts over 1,200 campers each summer.[2][3]

History

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Cheley Colorado Camps was established on the shores of Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park in 1921 by Frank Cheley.[4] Originally, it was named the Bear Lake Trail School: An Alpine Summer Camp for Boys. In its first summer, the Bear Lake Trail School gave nine boys instruction on outdoor subjects such as camping, forestry, botany, birds, geology, orienteering and horsemanship. In 1926, Frank Cheley opened Camp Chipeta, named for the wife of Chief Ouray, chief of the Ute tribe.[5] Following the success of Camp Haiyaha and Camp Chipeta, Cheley sought to provide campers with a more rustic experience. In 1937, he opened Boys' Trail's End (BTE) and, in 1941, he opened Girl's Trail's End.[5] Following Frank Cheley's death in 1941, his son and his wife led the camp for 40 years. They then entrusted its leadership to their son and his wife. As of 2005, Cheley Colorado Camps remained under family leadership.[6]

Code of Living

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Rather than a fixed set of values, Frank Cheley proposed a system that evolved with society.[citation needed] The 'Code of Living' is a compilation of traits suggested by the campers in each unit that the campers strive to uphold throughout the term.[7][better source needed] Every term (every summer), each unit, unit staff, and support staff form their own Code of Living. The Code of Living for each term often takes the form of written – and signed – set of standards and values (e.g., traits like respect, integrity, grit).[6]

The 'Blue Kerchief' (BK) represents the Code of Living, and is a "symbol of commitment to the Cheley Experience". All campers and staff receive a BK during a ceremony.[6]

Citizenship awards are voted upon at the end of the camp session by counselors and other campers. They recognize individual campers for following the Code of Living, helping others, assisting counselors, and conducting themselves to a high standard.[8]

Camp activities

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Cheley campers can participate in mountain biking, whitewater rafting, paddleboarding, horseback riding, hiking, backpacking, crafts, archery, riflery, sports, high ropes, and low ropes.[9]

Program Recognitions

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Members of the Cheley campers community can strive for recognition in the form of a patch on their BK. These include program patches, awards, and other recognitions of achievement. They are earned, by individual campers, by challenging themselves and excelling.[citation needed] The early camp patches in the 1920s were colored patches representing special sets of tests and were sewn on the kerchief. They were awarded for Citizenship, Horsemanship, Science, Guide, Physical Development, Mountaineer, Naturalist, First Aid, and Camp Improvement. Over the years, various patches and awards have evolved.[8] Program patches include hiking, outcamping,[10] horsemanship, climbing, mountain biking, backpacking, and sleuthing.[8]

More difficult to achieve, requiring more than one summer, are the Trail Hand for horseback riding achievement and 4th Degree Tyrolean for hiking, backpacking, and outdoor expertise. A camper who attains the height of achievement with strong proficiency in all camping skills and programs can earn the Gold Spurs recognition. It honors excellence, in various activities, over at least three terms.[8]

Facilities

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Cheley's facilities include five horseback riding rings, a climbing wall, a gymnasium, a fleet of mountain bikes, a low and high ropes course, a grassy amphitheater with a lighted stage, a soccer field, a fishing pond, and facilities for working with leather, paints, ceramics, and wood. Cheley's lodges and log cabins date from the 1920s.[11][3]

Specialty Camps

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Quarter B-4

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In 2017, Cheley Colorado Camps began offering Quarter B-4, a five-night intro to the Cheley Experience as "a wonderful way for 7 to 10-year-olds to dip their toes into camp before jumping into 27-days".[tone][12] Campers are divided into two units: the Pikas for 7/8-year-olds and the Marmots for 9/10-year-olds. In 2023, Cheley announced that they were changing the minimum eligibility for Quarter B-4: Pikas to 8-years-old and that they were shortening the program by one night.[13]

Family Camp

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In 1985, Cheley started Family Camp. Family Camp at Cheley Colorado Camps invites families with children age 6 and older for five days of family time at their Trail's End Ranch for Boys property.[14][better source needed]

Cheley/Children's Hospital Burn Camp

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Cheley Colorado Camps expanded in 1984 to include the Cheley/Children’s Hospital Burn Camp Program. The program was started to include children healing from a burn injury and give them a camp experience.[15] The eight-day camp is attended by burn survivors from all over the world, including from the United Kingdom and Russia.[16] Burn Camp includes day hikes, backpacking, technical climbing, horseback riding, crafts, fishing, evening campfires, songs and games, and sports. Staff members from Cheley provide the programming and counseling while the Children’s Hospital Colorado team provides expertise in burn injuries and emotional/social issues. In addition, firefighters from Denver and Estes Park and burn nurses from multiple countries join the staff.[citation needed] All campers at Cheley/Children's Hospital Burn Camp attend on a scholarship basis. Burn Camp is held in August, following the completion of Cheley's summer programs.[16]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "Cheley Colorado Camps". Goop. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  2. ^ "This weeks Inside Business feature – Generations of happy campers". Estes Park Trail-Gazette. October 19, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e "The Cheley Way. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  4. ^ "Bear Lake - Hike the Bear Lake Loop in Rocky Mountain National Park". www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Tracking the story of Colorado's Cheley camps, where generations of kids have learned to love the mountains". The Colorado Sun. October 3, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "A life lesson on Colorado's peaks". The Denver Post. August 15, 2005. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  7. ^ "Code of Living at Cheley Camps - YouTube". Cheley Colorado Camps. Retrieved November 10, 2020 – via youtube.com.
  8. ^ a b c d Young, Mary Taylor (2019). I Found You in the Mountains: 100 Years of Cheley Colorado Camps. Cheley Colorado Camps. ISBN 9781591522492.
  9. ^ "The 50 Most Amazing Summer Camps for Kids". Early Childhood Education Zone. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  10. ^ "Activities Archive". cheley.com. Cheley Colorado Camps.
  11. ^ "Cheley Colorado Camps - Cheley Camp Facilities". cheley.com. Cheley Colorado Camps. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  12. ^ "Cheley Colorado Camps - Colorado Summer Camp for Kids Ages 7-10". www.cheley.com. Cheley Colorado Camps. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  13. ^ "Dates & Tuition". Cheley Colorado Camps. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "Cheley Family Camp - YouTube". Cheley Colorado Camps. Retrieved November 11, 2020 – via youtube.com.
  15. ^ "Identical Twin Left with Severe Burns After House Fire: 'I Don't Let My Injury Define Me'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Every kid fits in at this Colorado camp for burn victims". KUSA.com. August 15, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  17. ^ "Starry Nights celebrates 25th year of John Austin Cheley Foundation". The Denver Post. October 2, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  18. ^ "News - 2007 10 15" (PDF). Cheley Colorado Camps.[bare URL PDF]
  19. ^ "Jennifer Beals: 25 Things You Don't Know About Me (I Can't Put on Mascara Without One Hand Behind My Back)". Us Weekly. July 30, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  20. ^ "Hornbein, Thomas (b. 1930)". www.historylink.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  21. ^ "Longtime Colorado author dug deep, and found treasures in iconic Cheley camps' past". The Colorado Sun. October 3, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  22. ^ "1992 Promotional Video - YouTube". Cheley Colorado Camps. Retrieved November 19, 2020 – via youtube.com.
  23. ^ "Blog". Jena Lee Nardella. April 14, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  24. ^ "Mary Louise Akaka, 85, kahu's widow | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper". the.honoluluadvertiser.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

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