Cheley Camp

Cheley Camp

Cheley Camp is a summer camp for boys and girls in Estes Park, Colorado. It was founded in 1921 by Frank H. Cheley. Cheley Colorado Camps is one of 46 Colorado camps accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA), which sets standards for programs, staff training and qualifications, facilities and more. Counting day and residential camp rosters, an estimated 9 million American kids will go to camp this summer, according to the ACA. [1]

Each summer. Cheley operates two, 27-day-long sessions for about 500 children per session, ages 9 to 18 and a five-day-long family camp. [2]

Cheley is a big commitment—it only offers four-week sessions—but kids get the full Colorado experience, including raft trips down Poudre Canyon, top-roping at on-site rock faces, and, for the older kids, a shot at summiting a fourteener like Longs Peak. [3]

For 15 years the facility has sponsored a week-long camp for seriously burned children. [4]


History

In 1921, Frank H. Cheley founded Cheley, which was then called the "Bear Lake Trail School", near Bear Lake in the Rocky Mountains. Cheley stated the camp to "help boys grow into men". Five years later, girls were allowed to join the camp.

In 1927, the camp moved to "Land O' Peaks", and 14 years later, in 1941, the Boys and Girls Trail End camps were opened. These were remote extensions of Cheley which allowed campers to live out in the open in covered wagons instead of cabins. Also in 1941, Frank Cheley died, and the leadership passed on to his son, Jack, and his wife, Sis. The camp has continued to stay with the Cheley family for four generations.[5]

In 1958 it hosted the National Student Council Leadership Conference including 200 students from 34 states.[6] Week-long "Family camps" have also been offered.[7] Families stay together in covered wagons.[8] Don Cheley was interviewed by National Public Radio (NPR) about the arrangements.[9]

Eleanor Cheley (d. 2005) served as "Camp Mom". She didn't hike, ride horses or camp out, but set high standards for "1,000 kids every summer" with rules about "no food fights, snakes in beds, initiation rites, bad language, alcohol, smoking, sex or drugs."[10] Most notable alumni include Daryl Hannah, Jason Ritter.[citation needed]

Recent Changes

Recently, there have been changes made to many camps. Kids are allowed to do more and spend more, and parents are informed of more. Cheley has been posting around 75 images each day to allow parents and other concerned individuals see whats going on, and reassure them that the children are safe.[11] There have also been more parents joining their kids at summer camps. Cheley started its first family camp back in 1985.[5][12] Parents say summer camp is one of the few places where they can spend one-on-one time with children without the troubles of cooking, driving or planning activities. And most argue that it offers a relatively inexpensive vacation.[13]


References

  1. ^ http://www.allbusiness.com/management/267230-1.html
  2. ^ http://www.allbusiness.com/management/267230-1.html
  3. ^ http://outsideonline.com/outside/culture/201006/how-to-raise-active-kids-best-camps.html
  4. ^ http://www.allbusiness.com/management/267230-1.html
  5. ^ a b "Cheley Colorado Camp main site". Cheley.com. http://www.cheley.com/index.php. Retrieved 2009-12-21. 
  6. ^ Student Council Conference... Provides Interesting Experiences August 15, 1958 page 50 Nevada Daily Mail
  7. ^ Barbara Hey [Family Camps Where adults leave cell phones behind and bunk down with the kids] Special to The Denver Post Page F-01 Aug 14, 2001 Denver Post
  8. ^ Gene Sloan Parents trailing along to camp; It's now part of family time Apr 1, 2005 Page: D.4 Life section USA TODAY
  9. ^ Parents Head to Camp with Their Kids August 2, 2006 NPR
  10. ^ Virginia Culver A Colorado Life; (Eleanor) Cheley ran a tight ship at youth camp July 8, 2005 Page C-10 Business section Denver Post
  11. ^ Leigh, Alison (2003-07-22). "Sleepover Camps That Redefine Notions of 'Away'". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/22/nyregion/sleepover-camps-that-redefine-notions-of-away.html?scp=1&sq=Cheley+Colorado+Camps&st=nyt. Retrieved 2009-12-21. 
  12. ^ Parents joining kids at camp
  13. ^ Alsever, Jennifer (May 8, 2005). "What We (and Our Parents) Did at Summer Camp". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/08/business/yourmoney/08camp.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=Cheley+Colorado+Camps&st=nyt. 


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