In response to the frequent request from parents, “We want to go to camp too,” we opened our first family camp in 1985. More than two decades later, we continue to operate this fun and rewarding program. Families with children age 4 and older can experience our 5-day camp in August after our regular summer season concludes. Family Camp activities include day hikes to lakes, waterfalls, and mountaintops, horseback riding in the ring and on trails, technical climbing, fishing, crafts, target sports and games. Evening campfires are a favorite, with family skits, songs, creative program reports, and hilarious fun. Family Camp is very popular and always fills, so enroll early.

Click here to download a Family Camp Application.

The Cheley program was expanded in 1984 to include the Cheley/Children’s Burn Camp for children who are healing from a burn injury. The 8-day camp welcomes burn survivors from all over the world. Together, they experience the Cheley magic with a group of peers. The Burn Camp program includes day hikes, backpacking, technical climbing, horseback riding, crafts, fishing, evening campfires, songs and games, and sports. Cheley staff members provide the camp program and counseling expertise while The Children’s Hospital team provides expertise in burn injuries and emotional/social issues. In addition, firefighters from Denver and Estes Park and burn nurses from other countries join the staff to help provide a spectacular experience for everyone. All campers attend on scholarship, thanks to the fundraising efforts of many compassionate groups and individuals, including The Burn Foundation, Rotary Club, Firefighters, Cheley parents and alumni, and Tahara Mountain Lodge. Burn Camp is held in August, following the completion of our summer programs. For details, visit www.noordinarycamps.org.

This special camp, developed in 2006, is a continuation of the National Leadership Camp that Cheley ran in conjunction with the National Association of Secondary School Principals for over 50 years. The purpose of National Leadership Camp is to provide four and one-half days of intensive training on how to be effective student leaders. Camp participants are middle and high school students who hold an office in their school’s student government. This year more than 60 young people will participate from August 9-14. Program activities include values clarification, goal setting, team building, conflict resolution, self-awareness, organization, diversity, communication and problem solving. For more information, visit www.nationalleadershipcamps.com

Each fall and spring, Cheley hosts an outdoor education program. We serve both public and private schools. Discovery is designed to take students out of the city and into the great outdoors where amazing things happen on a daily basis, including a special bonding among camp participants. Educational programming is a major component of the camp. Students take day hikes and study beaver pond life, biology, mountain safety, geology, and flora and fauna. Some groups go on 5-day backpacking trips. Evening times include visits from the Mountain Man, slide shows from Rocky Mountain National Park, history, games, songs, and nature walks. For more information, contact the camp office (303.377.3616 in the winter and 970.586.4244 in the summer) and ask to speak with the Discovery Program Director.

Click here to send a an e-mail to the Discovery Program Director
Click here for a description of Risks and Safety at Cheley