There was no shortage of ways to fill a day on the Haiyaha Hill this summer. Campers headed out with boots laced, packs loaded, bikes ready, and horses saddled, while others found their challenge closer to home at the range, in the craft shop, or alongside friends trying something new. Through all of it, the strength of Haiyaha came from the people sharing those experiences. Campers learned when to push, when to laugh, when to lend a hand, and when to appreciate just how lucky they were to spend a summer growing up together in the Colorado mountains.
The hiking program, led by Aidan Gustafsson and Collin Butler, gave campers the chance to build their skills and confidence while traveling through Colorado’s high country. Long days on the trail asked for preparation, perseverance, good judgment, and a willingness to keep moving when the miles got tough. Jackson Remley earned his Hiking Basics. David Benzecry, Grant Gonzales, and Jackson Remley earned their Hiking Patch (Mountaineers Patch).
Backpacking counselors Gary Garcia and Luke Chasse helped campers trade the comforts of camp for everything that comes with carrying what you need on your back and making a temporary home in the wilderness. Backpacking provides plenty of physical challenge, but it also creates room for independence, teamwork, problem-solving, and friendships strengthened one trail mile at a time. Congratulations to Grady Bashara, Grayson Bunzel, and Jackson Remley for earning their Backpacking Basics and Patch.
John Myers, our HGO counselor, supported Haiyaha’s out-of-camp adventures and helped campers make the most of opportunities beyond the Hill. Whether a day called for miles on the trail or another outdoor challenge, HGO added flexibility and adventure to a summer already full of both.
Our horseback riding program was led by wranglers Milo Arato and Parker Allen, who helped campers develop their horsemanship through time with the horses, practice, and experience in the saddle. Along with becoming stronger riders, campers learned the responsibility and attentiveness that come with caring for and working alongside a horse. Adrian Bours, Jude Klosterman, and Erik Solander earned their Riding Basics. The following campers earned their Riding Patch: Adrian Bours, Jude Klosterman, Erik Solander, Logan Hunt, Aiden Paul, Jackson Remley, Earnest Seale, and Roux Wood.
Mountain Biking brought another kind of challenge to the summer as campers, under Dawson Reller and Walker Garrett‘s leadership, learned to handle their bikes with greater confidence and take on the climbs, descents, and technical moments that make time on two wheels so rewarding. Samuel John Iverson earned his Mountain Biking Basics. Hudson Altwies, Samuel John Iverson, and Wyatt Steitz earned their Mountain Biking Patch. Whether a ride demanded stamina, balance, persistence, or simply the willingness to get back on the bike and try again, campers had plenty of opportunities to grow.
Outcamping counselor Jacob Meechan helped campers enjoy a different pace outdoors, where time away from the usual camp routine offered opportunities to practice outdoor living skills, spend time together, and become more comfortable making a home outside. Those experiences gave campers another way to connect with Colorado and with one another while building independence in the outdoors.
Dawson Reller and Walker Garrett also brought energy to the sports program, giving campers opportunities for movement, competition, teamwork, and plenty of fun. Sports offered a place to jump into a game, challenge a friend, cheer for a teammate, and enjoy the kind of spirited competition that makes an afternoon fly by.
Archery gave campers a chance to slow things down and concentrate on consistency, form, and accuracy. With each trip to the range came another opportunity to adjust, focus, and watch practice turn into progress. Cheley’s Arrow recognitions build from White through Gold as campers develop their technique and accuracy. The following campers earned arrows in Archery:
White Arrow
Adam Coon, Arden Klybersmith, Coleman Rice, Cruz Kimball, Dario Pastor, Jose Bours, Kale Mahorski, Lucas Hayasaka, Lucas Jensen, Maxwell Brandeberry, Parker Edmund, Samuel John Iverson, and Warren Stading.
Black Arrow
Arden Klybersmith, Coleman Rice, Cruz Kimball, Dario Pastor, Dechlan Barrow, Jose Bours, Kale Mahorski, Maxwell Brandeberry, Parker Edmund, and Samuel John Iverson.
Blue Arrow
Arden Klybersmith, Coleman Rice, Cruz Kimball, Dario Pastor, Jose Bours, Kale Mahorski, and Maxwell Brandeberry.
Red Arrow
Arden Klybersmith, Coleman Rice, Cruz Kimball, David Tyler, Kale Mahorski, Luke Kirkham, Warren Stading, and Wyatt Steitz.
Gold Arrow
Grant Gonzales, Kale Mahorski, and Wyatt Steitz.
At the riflery range, William Schnieders worked with campers on the safety, patience, technique, and concentration that good marksmanship demands. Progress often came one careful adjustment at a time, and campers had plenty to celebrate as they advanced through recognitions in multiple shooting positions. Campers achieved remarkable levels in prone, kneeling, sitting, and standing shooting positions:
Prone Specialist
Adam Coon, Adrian Bours, Aiden Paul, Charles Gordon, Coleman Rice, Dario Pastor, Dechlan Barrow, Dmitriy Sauser, Earnest Seale, Graham Wienke, Jose Bours, Lucas Hayasaka, Lucas Jensen, Luke Kirkham, Marvel Ingram, Maxwell Brandeberry, Oscar Hull, Parker Edmund, Rowen Armstead, Samuel John Iverson, Schuler Hurst, Weston Jenks, and Wyatt Steitz.
Level I, II, III, & IV
The following campers earned their Level 1 pin: Aiden Paul, Alex Hart, Charles Gordon, Cruz Kimball, Dawson Cobb, Dechlan Barrow, Harrison Brown, Jose Bours, Lucas Hayasaka, Luke Kirkham, Marvel Ingram, Oscar Hull, Parker Edmund, Rocco Calandruccio, Schuler Hurst, Sterling Knoch, and Weston Jenks.
The following campers earned their Level 2 pin: Aiden Paul, Alex Hart, Cruz Kimball, Dwight Rockwood, Harrison Brown, Kale Mahorski, Leonardo Huinac Perez, Logan Hunt, Lucas Hayasaka, McAllister Cordon, Nico Rose, Oscar Hull, Parker Edmund, and William Hart.
The following campers earned their Level 3 pin: Alex Hart, Cooper Megown, Ethan Vaughn, Leonardo Huinac Perez, Maxwell Brandeberry, McAllister Cordon, Nico Rose, and Owen Thorpe.
The following camper earned their Level 4 pin: Alex Hart and Ethan Vaughn.
Kneeling Specialist and Level I, II, III, & IV
The following campers earned their Kneeling Specialist: Alex Hart, Chase Render, Ethan Vaughn, Kale Mahorski, Lucas Jensen, Owen Thorpe, and Rocco Calandruccio.
The following campers earned their Level 1 pin: Chase Render, David Tyler, Ethan Vaughn, and Owen Thorpe.
The following campers earned his Level 2 pin: Ethan Vaughn.
The following campers earned their Level 3 pin: Henry Reis.
The following camper earned their Level 4 pin: Henry Reis.
Sitting Specialist
The following camper earned his Sitting Specialist: Robert Gordon.
Standing Specialist and Level I, II, & III
The following campers earned their Standing Specialist: Adrian Bours, Alex Hart, Ethan Vaughn, McAllister Cordon, and Owen Thorpe.
The following camper earned his Level 1 pin: David Tyler.
The following camper earned his Level 3 pin: Henry Reis.
Among this summer’s many accomplishments on the range, one deserves special recognition. Henry Reis earned his Master patch, the culminating achievement in Cheley’s Senior riflery progression. Reaching this level takes sustained focus, patience, and remarkable consistency as a marksman, with campers advancing through increasingly challenging shooting positions and standards. The final Master recognition is achieved from the Standing position, where steadiness and control are especially demanding. Henry Reis completed that final challenge by meeting the Master standard of eight targets scoring 40 or more points. It was an exceptional accomplishment built through persistence and precision!
Creativity had a home on the Hill as well, with Chandler Clothier leading the crafts program. The craft shop offered campers a chance to work with their hands, experiment with ideas, and enjoy the satisfaction of seeing a project take shape. In a summer packed with movement and adventure, crafts also provided a different kind of challenge—one where patience, imagination, and attention to detail could lead the way.
General counselors Jonathan Fermin and Wyatt Leap lent their energy throughout Haiyaha, stepping into the many places where an extra set of hands, encouragement, or enthusiasm could make a difference. Their flexibility helped support the programs and the everyday community life that kept the Hill moving.
Carter Gibson brought the unit together as campfire counselor, helping turn the end of busy days into time for shared laughter and connection. Campfires included Pokémon Go, Mafia, karaoke, and spa night—a lineup that gave the boys plenty of chances to compete, perform, relax, and laugh together. All-Camp Campfire was another highlight. First Term took on Holes (Choles), while Second Term brought Home Alone to the stage. Both gave campers the fun of creating something together and sharing it with the larger Cheley community.
The On the Trail recognition celebrates a camper’s commitment to spending substantial time experiencing Cheley’s out-of-camp programs. This summer, Jason Blalock earned his On the Trail recognition, marking a season filled with time spent embracing adventure beyond the Hill.
Haiyaha was also fortunate to have a great group of Campers in Leadership Training (CILTs) as part of the community this summer. CILTs get to experience camp from a new perspective, taking on greater responsibility, learning from staff, and discovering what it means to contribute as emerging leaders while still making the most of their own Cheley experience. First Term CILTs were Bryant Pierce, Caleb Donnelly, Cooper Megown, Dylan Robertson, John Beck Seale, Schuler Hurst, Tommy Sanders, and Wills Christensen. Second Term CILTs were Calvin Frost, Cameron Six, Emmet Lynch, Henry Reis, Shaw Brown, Walker Jaudes, and Walker Miley. Thank you to all of our Haiyaha CILTs for the energy and leadership they brought to the Hill this summer!
The Code of Living gave each term’s Haiyaha community the opportunity to decide together what values they wanted to guide the way they lived, worked, played, and treated one another. First Term chose Real, Moxy, Woven, Wanderlust, and Vulnerable. Second Term chose Interlinked, Passion, Integrity, Empathy, and Adaptability. Those words belonged to their respective communities, but their importance came from putting them into practice—in cabins, on program, during difficult moments, and in the countless everyday choices that shape a term at camp.
At the end of each term, the Gold Key provides an opportunity for the Haiyaha community to recognize campers for the way they have lived the Code of Living and contributed to their community. This summer, the Gold Key was presented to Cameron Six, Christian Carbonaro, David Benzecry, Erik Solander, Michael Sullivan, and Tommy Sanders. Congratulations to each of them on this meaningful Haiyaha citizenship recognition.
This summer also brought the opportunity to celebrate two campers with recognitions that represent years of commitment to the Cheley Experience. In Hiking and Backpacking, William Miley received the Tyrolean (4th Degree Mountaineer), one of Cheley’s rarest backcountry honors. The Tyrolean reflects far more than reaching a particular destination or completing a single difficult trip. It recognizes exceptional proficiency built over time, along with the judgment, humility, perseverance, stewardship, and leadership that become visible through many miles shared with others. A Tyrolean understands that being strong in the backcountry also means caring for the land, supporting fellow campers, making thoughtful decisions, and helping a group succeed. We are incredibly proud to recognize William Miley for reaching this remarkable milestone in his Cheley journey.
The Riding program celebrated an equally special achievement as Caleb Donnelly received the Trailhand (Horseback Riding Excellence). Trailhand represents an exceptional level of horsemanship developed through sustained participation and growth. It recognizes not only ability in the saddle, but also trusted judgment, respect for horses and the land, care and responsibility, and leadership through example. It is the kind of recognition that comes from becoming someone the riding community can depend upon. Congratulations to Caleb Donnelly on joining the distinguished tradition of Cheley Trailhands.
Summer on Haiyaha Hill is made from thousands of moments—some challenging, some hilarious, some quietly meaningful, and many that probably seemed ordinary until it was time to leave. Together, those moments gave campers room to become more capable outdoors, more independent in their choices, and more connected to the people around them. The patches and pins tell part of that story, but so do the friendships, inside jokes, hard-earned confidence, unexpected successes, and willingness to keep showing up for one another. We hope every camper carries a little of that Haiyaha spirit with him into whatever adventure comes next.
Until we gather on the Hill again,
Morgan Perrée, Director
Chance Zimmerman, Assistant Director
