When we saw the notice in the EP News that there was going to be a tour of the Cheley Colorado Camps in September, we quickly called the Estes Park Museum to make our reservation. We had no idea the extent of the camps and what they offered. Wow! What an experience. Jeff Cheley, Frank Cheley’s great-grandson and present Director, met all of us in the main lodge and gave us an extensive overview of the camp before taking us on a tour.
 
The Cheley Colorado Camps, founded by Frank Howbert Cheley in 1921, were a result of his "dream to help boys grow and develop into manhood through the experiences of the great outdoors." He believed that children learned best by hands-on experiences or "learning by doing." He also required that these boys be associated with the right kind of dedicated adult leaders. These two basic ideas are still the basis of their outdoor approach to education. What started as The Bear Lake Trail School (up at Bear Lake) and had nine campers its first year has grown into a camp of over 800 campers in 2008. Of these campers, 591 were returning campers...which speaks very highly of the camp. The staff and campers come from 44 different states and 11 foreign countries. Most of their advertising is done by "word of mouth."
 
In 1925, Frank Cheley bought the property of the present-day Cheley Camps, started building the different structures and made it into a camp for both girls and boys, ages 9-17 years. Each building has a specific name (Ex. Haiyaha or Chipeta) and a date in which it was originally built. Each unit, which is like a little village for a specific age group, is divided into 4-6 cabins, a bathhouse and a lodge where they eat meals and have their meetings. We were able to see a couple of the cabins. They hold about 16 campers in bunk beds and their staff. The lodges that we went in to see were spacious and had beautiful decks with spectacular views. The entire camp is maintained beautifully and in pristine condition. What an experience just to walk through and see the children learning and growing.
 
There are two 4-week sessions each summer which are broken up into different age groups. The camp’s philosophy is to put the children in a nurturing situation and then to challenge them. There is always upward movement….meaning that the different age groups do not all do the same things. Their activities change and vary as they get older and move to different camps. Every Sunday they have a meeting to decide what activities they would like to do for that particular week. These include hiking, horseback riding, backpacking (2-5 days), mountain biking, rock climbing and rafting. We were all very impressed that there is not a lot of technology in the camp. Children are not allowed to bring iPods, iPhones, cell phones or computers, or call home. The camp uploads photographs on their website so that parents can see what is going on in camp.
 
Frank Cheley was a strong believer in rules and regulations. The second night that the campers are in camp, each unit writes their own "Code of Living" which are rules they must all abide by while they are at camp. Each camper signs them and they are posted in their specific units. If they are living up to their unit’s code that first week, they receive a "Blue Kerchief." Their goal is to give the children the tools that they can then take back home. At the end of their stay, each unit votes for a camper who has really lived up to the "Code." This person is given special recognition.
 
After the two 4-week sessions, there is a Family Week and then the Cheley/Children’s Burn Camp. In 2008, over 70 burn survivors came to Cheley Camp for some camaraderie and to learn and grow and process what happened to them. Children’s Medical Center provides a medical team to help them. All of these students come on scholarships. What a wonderful opportunity for these individuals who have been through so much. And what a fantastic thing Cheley Camp is doing to foster these victims with experiences in the great outdoors. The last week is National Leadership Week where 60 middle and high school students gather to learn how to be more effective school leaders. More accolades to the Cheley Colorado Camps for all that they are doing for ….it is just an incredible place!
 
If you haven’t been to the Cheley Colorado Camps, put it on your list. It is just amazing to see what this one camp is doing for so many individuals right inside Estes Park. Thank you, Jeff, and everyone who works there. You are making a difference!