Blog

Where Our 2025 Campers Came From

By

This summer, Cheley welcomed campers from across the United States and around the globe, creating a community as vibrant as the mountains themselves. Each camper brought a piece of their hometown to Estes Park, and with campers and staff joining us from over 15 countries, it’s always inspiring to see how far the Cheley Spirit reaches. Here’s a closer look at the states, cities, and regions that made Cheley’s 2025 summer one to remember.

Campers by State 

Our campers hailed from 44 states plus the District of Columbia, each adding their own traditions and stories to camp life. Some states have become Cheley strongholds, year after year, sending impressive numbers of campers.

StateNumber of Families
Colorado256
Texas130
California46
New York19
Illinois18
Missouri17
Florida16
Kansas13
Arizona10
Oklahoma9

Although we welcomed families from nearly every corner of the U.S., a few states didn’t send any campers this summer (AL, DE, MI, ND, NH, WV, WY). We did, however, have staff representation from Alabama, Michigan, New Hampshire, and Wyoming. We hope 2026 brings new campers from these regions!

International Families

Cheley’s reach doesn’t stop at U.S. borders. This summer, we welcomed 22 international families from across the globe — including Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Guatemala, Mexico, New Zealand, Turkey, China, Indonesia, South Korea, France, Sweden, Spain, Ecuador, and U.S. Diplomatic families abroad. These families bring unique perspectives, traditions, and stories that enrich our community and add even more depth to the Cheley Experience. Their journeys to Estes Park remind us just how far the Cheley Spirit travels and how powerful camp connections can be, no matter where you call home.

Top 10 Cities Represented 

From bustling metros to small towns, certain cities stood out as Cheley hotspots. These urban areas not only sent large groups of campers, but also foster local connections that thrive year-round.

CityNumber of Families
Denver, CO58
Dallas, TX46
Austin, TX32
Boulder, CO27
Houston, TX27
Longmont, CO12
Fort Collins, CO12
New York, NY10
Colorado Springs, CO10
Littleton, CO9

Major Metro Areas 

In many metro areas, Cheley has become a true fixture, with clusters of families keeping the Cheley Spirit alive through mini-reunions, shared activities, and friendships that last beyond the summer. Some metros send dozens of families each year, while others send smaller but mighty groups whose impact at camp is just as meaningful.

More than ten families

Metro Area Number of Families
Denver metropolitan area 160
DFW (Dallas–Fort Worth) 53
Greater Austin 32
TriState area (NY/NJ/CT) 16
Fort Collins metropolitan area 14
DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia) 11

Between four and ten families

Metro Area Number of Families
Colorado Springs metropolitan area 10
Bay Area (San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose) 9
Chicagoland 7
New Orleans metropolitan area 7
San Diego metropolitan area 6
Kansas City metropolitan area 5
Oklahoma City metropolitan area 4
Salt Lake City metropolitan area 4

Regional Representation 

Every camper’s experience at Cheley is shaped by both personal growth and the cultural diversity of our community. From bustling cities to rural hometowns, every region contributes its own flavor to camp life.

By Regions

Region Number of Families
West 347
South 210
Midwest 70
Northeast 45

By Divisions

Division Number of Families
Mountain 287
West South Central 149
Pacific 60
South Atlantic 51
West North Central 42
East North Central 28
Middle Atlantic 29
New England 16
East South Central 10

Seeing Cheley’s reach extend across the country and around the world reminds us of the power of community. Whether from big cities or quiet towns, every camper enriches camp with their unique perspective. Together, they help make Cheley a place where connections thrive, stories are shared, and the Cheley Spirit grows stronger each summer. We can’t wait to see where our 2026 campers come from!

Disclaimer: These numbers reflect families enrolled in our 27-day Summer Camp program, not Quarter B-4 or Family Camp. For privacy, this map displays camper locations by ZIP code only. Pin markers represent general areas, not exact home addresses.