Four nights may be a short time, but our Quarter B-4 campers packed plenty of Cheley into every one of them! This August, Pikas and Marmots jumped into camp life with curiosity and enthusiasm, making new friends, trying activities, spending time outside, and discovering what it feels like to be part of a Cheley community. From trails and climbing walls to crafts, horses, music, and campfires, the week gave campers a chance to stretch themselves, have a whole lot of fun, and begin making Cheley memories of their own.
With 25 campers, the Pika Boys had the chance to become a close-knit crew over the course of the week. They explored Cathedral Peak and Lily Lake, made dream catchers in crafts, worked together through team-building activities on the challenge course, climbed the rock wall, and met the baby animals at the ranch. Music became another special part of their time together, with piano and guitar being played every day. Whether working through a challenge, heading down the trail, or making music together, the boys built their community around Kindness, Creativity, Teamwork, Fun, and Bravery.
Thirty-nine Pika Girls made their homes in Rocking Horse, Quarter-B-4, and Rising Sun, quickly learning the rhythms of sharing a cabin, caring for their space, and ending their days with gratitude. Their program days were full: every Pika Girl tackled elements on the challenge course, created a personalized dream catcher, met the animals at the ranch, tested herself on the climbing wall, and hiked to either Lily Lake or Cathedral Peak. Back in the unit, gaga ball, foosball, and reading in the lodge filled treat time, while campfires brought s’mores, costumes, skits, and plenty of laughter. Their Code of Living centered on Flexibility, Creativity, Kindness, Fun, and Sisterhood. Each camper added her name to the Code poster in her own colorful way, surrounding their shared values with smiles, hearts, and stars and creating a reminder of how they wanted to live together throughout the week.
The Marmot Boys seemed ready for whatever the week put in front of them. Their days included epic hikes through the Colorado landscape, horseback riding in the western ring, archery, crafts, and sports. Along the way, they created a strong community rooted in the five words they chose for their Code of Living: Kind, Brave, Loyal, Trustworthy, and Fun. From active program days to time spent simply getting to know one another, the boys brought those values into a week filled with energy, friendship, and new experiences.
The Marmot Girls dove into QB4 with plenty of adventure of their own. They hiked, took on the high ropes course, got creative in crafts, and spent time horseback riding, experiencing many of the activities that make up the Cheley Experience. Their first evening brought everyone together for Play Day games before the group created its own Code of Living. The Marmot Girls chose Kindness, Grit, Teamwork, Flexibility, and Fun as the values they wanted to guide their time together. Those words gave them something to return to as they tried unfamiliar activities, supported one another, and got a glimpse of what a full term at Cheley can hold.
One of the special parts of QB4 is getting to experience not only Cheley programs, but also the traditions that help turn a group of campers into a community. Creating a Code of Living gave each unit the opportunity to decide together what mattered to them and how they wanted to live, play, and take on challenges alongside one another. Although each group chose its own words, there was plenty of common ground among the four Codes—from kindness and teamwork to bravery, flexibility, creativity, and, of course, fun.
Friday brought all four QB4 units together for All-Camp Campfire, where each group got its turn to bring music, creativity, costumes, and plenty of silliness to the stage. The Pika Boys transformed “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors into “Best Week of My Life,” a fitting title for their QB4 adventure. The Pika Girls chose “Shake It Off – QB4 Edition,” a Taylor Swift parody celebrating hiking, climbing, crafting, playing outside, making new friends, and having fun in Pika. Dressed in their most colorful and silly costumes, they finished their performance with a mini dance party. The Marmot Boys put their own spin on Justin Bieber’s “Baby” with “QB, QB, QB4,” including the catchy chorus, “QB, QB, QB4… Cheley, you’ll always be mine, mine.” The Marmot Girls rounded out the performances with “Lush Life – Cheley Edition,” their Cheley rendition of Zara Larsson’s song. Together, the four performances were a joyful celebration of the friendships, adventures, and fun packed into the week.
QB4 is only a glimpse of Cheley, but it is a glimpse filled with meaningful firsts: a new trail, a new activity, a new cabin community, a new friend, or the moment when something that seemed intimidating becomes something worth trying. Over four nights, these Pikas and Marmots practiced independence, challenged themselves, laughed together, and discovered just how much adventure can fit into a few Colorado days. We loved sharing this introduction to the Cheley Experience with them and hope this is only the beginning of many summers to come.
Until we meet again,
Jefferson Ratliff, Director
Kat Johnston, Taylor Rhea, Marcy Senti, and Grace Telander, Asst. Directors
