Accreditations

Cheley is a leader in the camping and youth development field. We pride ourselves on our involvement and accreditation with the American Camp Association (ACA), the only national accrediting organization for summer camps in America. We are also members of the Western Association of Independent Camps, the Camp Owners and Directors Association, the International Camping Fellowship, and a founding member of the Colorado Camps Network.

We are licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care (CDHS). While Colorado resident and day camps are required to be visited and inspected each summer by CDHS and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), ACA-Accreditation® is a voluntary process through which we undergo a review of our complete operation.

As an accredited summer camp in Colorado, we work directly with these agencies and professional organizations to establish policies, procedures, and best practices that support the camp experience. ACA standards cover everything from staff hiring and training to emergency procedures and program delivery. During the accreditation process, our written policies and procedures are reviewed, along with an on-site visit to ensure our practices align with those policies.

Accreditations & Professional Affiliations

We meet the standards and requirements of, and actively participate in, the following organizations:

American Camp Association

The American Camp Association (ACA) is a community of camp professionals who, for over 100 years, have joined together to share our knowledge and experience to enhance the quality of camp programs across the United States. ACA is a leading authority in child development, and the ACA works to preserve, promote, and improve the camp experience. ACA accredits over 2,400 camps that meet up to 300 standards for health, safety, and quality programs.

Western Association of Independent Camps

The Western Association of Independent Camps (WAIC) is a group of Western, privately owned camps that run high-quality camp programs for youth. These camps are all ACA-Accredited®. WAIC has an annual educational conference each November, which all member camps are required to attend. WAIC camps share knowledge, educate members in best practices, and provide role modeling in professional standards for camps.

Colorado Camps Network

The Colorado Camps Network (CCN) is a coalition of Colorado summer camps working together to support, protect, and strengthen the future of organized camping across the state. Through collaboration, advocacy, and ongoing relationships with policymakers, CCN helps ensure that the voices of camps are represented in conversations surrounding licensing, labor laws, health and safety requirements, public lands, and other issues that directly impact youth camps and outdoor education.

We are proud to be a founding member of CCN, and our Executive Director, Jeff Cheley, currently serves as President of the organization. As part of this collaborative network, we work alongside other respected camps and youth organizations throughout Colorado to help shape thoughtful policies, share best practices, and advocate for the long-term sustainability and positive impact of summer camp experiences.

Camp Owners and Directors Association

CODA is a group of camp professionals who own and operate private camps from coast to coast and who are ACA-Accredited®. CODA believes in education and provides services for member independent camps ranging from conferences to camp tours, templates, staffing tools, and other member-driven projects that help all camps run professionally. This national group meets once a year for a kindred event in conjunction with the ACA National Conference and almost every fall for a behind-the-scenes tour of camps.

International Camping Fellowship

The International Camping Fellowship is a worldwide assembly of camp professionals who share their enthusiasm, knowledge, and commitment to the camp experience. ICF was founded in 1987 by camp professionals with the dream of “a better world through outdoor experience.” ICF welcomes all who foster international understanding through the organized camp experience.

Recognitions & Partnerships

In addition to our accreditation and professional affiliations, Cheley participates in partnerships and recognition programs that reflect specific areas of our work and responsibilities.

Alliance for Camp Health

The Alliance for Camp Health’s MESH(+) Gold Seal is the highest level of recognition for camps that intentionally create environments where mental, emotional, and social health can thrive. MESH(+) integrates mind, nature, and community with character development and connection. As a 2025 Gold Seal recipient, we meet rigorous standards in program design, staff training, health screening, and medication and care measures, reflecting our commitment to a culture of care for campers and staff.

Colorado Horse Rescue Network

Cheley has been recognized by the Colorado Horse Rescue Network (CHRN) for the responsible retirement of our program horses. Our horses are important members of the Cheley community, and caring for them means considering their well-being throughout their lives, including when it is time to step away from camp. This recognition reflects our commitment to making thoughtful retirement decisions and helping make sure that horses leaving our program transition to appropriate care and living situations for their next chapter.

Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace pioneers science and provides proven, research-based solutions for the protection of the natural world. Leave No Trace provides innovative education, skills, research, and science to help people care for the outdoors. By working with the public and those managing public lands, Leave No Trace focuses on educating people—instead of costly restoration programs or access restrictions—as the most effective and least resource-intensive solution to land protection. As a Leave No Trace partner, we promote stewardship and contribute our voices and resources to further the important work of Leave No Trace.

Public Lands Authorizations

We hold specific authorizations, ensuring our commitment to operating within designated areas and providing exceptional services. These authorizations underscore our dedication to responsible stewardship of public lands and our commitment to providing enjoyable outdoor experiences while respecting the natural environment and its inhabitants.

National Park Service: Rocky Mountain National Park

Cheley Colorado Camps has both a Commercial Use Authorization Permit for guided hiking and backpacking and a Concession Contract for guided horseback riding issued by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, to conduct services in Rocky Mountain National Park.

United States Forest Service: Arapaho/Roosevelt National Forest

Cheley Colorado Camps is an equal opportunity service provider and permitted by the Medicine Bow-Routt and Roosevelt-Arapaho National Forest of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).