Cheley Basics

I thought I would give a little tutorial on the basics of Cheley.

Main Camp or LOP (Land O' Peaks) is in Estes Park and is home to 3 brother/sister units:
Lower Ski (pronounced sky) Hi and Lower Chipeta
Ski Hi and Chipeta
Haiyaha (HIGH-YA-HA) and Senior Chipeta.

This is where the offices are and where the camp administration exists. There is a boys dining room and a girls dining room. Each above unit has there own lodge, cabins, and camp area.
There is a large pavilion with stadium seating that has a stage. This is where my favorite camp activity happens- All Camp Campfire. This is when all the camp units go to main camp for dinner in Wood's Kitchen (an outdoor area with huge boulders) and each unit does a skit, led by the campfire counselors.

Boy's Trail's End Ranch and Girl's Trail's End Ranch are about 35 minutes from Estes Park outside a tiny town called Glen Haven. These camp units are literally the end of the trail! Boys and Girls TE's are near each other and have a special bond. At these units, the campers sleep in real covered wagons. John and I were at BTE for all the years until last year, when John cooked at GTE. We always thought we could not love any place at camp better than BTE, but GTE is something special. BTE is so beautiful- it lies down in a valley and has the most rustic lodge, the river running through, and it is so peaceful. It runs entirely on a generator. So, at night, no electricity. GTE is just as beautiful, in a different way. It is like an enchanted forest. The barns are so picturesque and the horses have a huge pasture to run- they have to be called in to feed. It is surrounded by the river and woods. The director, David, is best described as a hippie football coach. He is so laid back and allows this to be a very magical place. He certainly does not micromanage or lose sight of the fact it is summer camp. The attitude and feel of GTE is amazing.
The TE's sort have a special distinction in that they are very different from main camp. Think about over 500 people being at main camp and only 85 at the TE's. It's smaller, more family like, and sort of beats to its' own drum. John and I are cooking for all the campers and staff of GTE. We stay in the Heinz House, the 3 bedroom cabin I've spoken of before. It is a super cute cabin.

Man Child has chosen to go to main camp because he does not want to sleep in a covered wagon. So, it's not that main camp is worse, it is just different and the right place for many campers. A camper has to be at least 12 to go to a TE.

Princess will be in Lower Chipeta; Curly Locks will be at GTE first term and Chipeta 2nd term. Man Child will be in Haiyaha.

Cheley began in 1921 with the Grandfather of the current Ex. Director. The great grandson is starting to take over as operations director- a phase in, I guess. The camp began only for boys and took place in what is now part of the Rocky Mountain National Park. The Cheley's actually owned Bear Lake. There are awesome pictures of boys taking morning plunges in the shivering lake in those wool bathing outfits. The place has amazing history, tradition, and programs.
We are so lucky to have our kids be able to access this opportunity.

Amazingly, Man Child, who practically came kicking and screaming, has already shown positive changes and attitude since being here; and camp hasn't even started. He has met some of his counselors and seems to really be looking forward to camp. Chef Boy is worried he will want to go 2 terms!!!!

The programs that campers go out on are: hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, outcamping, crafts, horse riding, sports, rock climbing (gym and real rocks). Campers get to sign up each Sunday for the activities they will do all week. Outcampers go out to a spot and basically camp out. Backpackers hike in, camp out, and hike out. Hikers hike all day to reach a summit or other location. Crafts happens in camp. Riders do day rides and overnight rides where they ride in, camp, and ride out. Mountain bikers do the same- some day rides and some overnights. They cook out on overnights. They are all awesome experiences. I will never forget visiting Lincoln on one of his first outcamps when he was 9 in Lower Ski Hi. It was like coming upon Lord of the Flies. He was so dirty- dirtier than I had ever seen him, which is saying something, and it was all I could do not to lick my thumb and wipe his face! He was busy making a damn with all the other kids!
Curly Locks loves the horses. She rides almost daily. It is her dream come true!
It will be curious to see what the Princess participates in most. She claims she will ride, but I see her doing some hiking.

That is a short tutorial of the basics on Cheley. This will help when I am speaking of places, programs, and things.

The best thing about Cheley is being surrounded by the mountains. There is Long's Peak, Twin Sisters, CCY, Twin Owls... It is amazingn to see these sights each and every day.