“Life here is something to remember”
Boys’ Trail’s End
Located 12 miles east of Estes Park in Glen Haven, the Trail’s Ends are self-contained. BTE is an almost 300-acre ranch bordered by wilderness land along the North Fork Big Thompson River. BTE has sixteen Conestoga wagons, its own boathouse, lodge, dining hall, and other facilities, including Barns, craft shop, and archery/riflery ranges.
The age range at the Trail’s Ends provides a strong sense of camp unity with a mature and nurturing family feel. Our campers at BTE and GTE feel the added strength of the friendships that develop in a setting modeled after the pioneer days of the rugged West. Both TEs offer a strong and loving support system that’s so important during your teen years because you’re able to rely on your peers and counselors and gain a greater sense of independence. Some campers apply to be a Camper in Leadership Training (CILT) seeking additional responsibilities and leadership experience in their final summer at camp.
For Boys 12 to 17 Years Old
The Manly but Mellow Men of Boys’ Trail’s End look out for one another, have fun together, and trade stories about trying things you’ve never done before. It’s a great feeling to know that others are eager to hear about your day’s adventures. When the group gathers for a cookout, you can feel the strength of the friendships that develop in a camp reminiscent of western ranch life.
Boys’ Trail’s End offers all the activities of the Cheley program, including hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking. A unique aspect of this camp is its horse packing program. If you choose to participate, you’ll head to the barns after breakfast to learn the fine art of packing a horse, including knot tying skills, packing for balance and efficiency, and packhorse leading techniques. You’ll learn how to read the horses’ personalities and behaviors for what they need. You’ll challenge yourself, develop and live by a Code of Living, make new friends and learn valuable life skills.
Campfires
Skit practice, Square Dance with GTE, traditional campfire, wagon night, capture the flag, trivia night, talent show, Shark Tank, Zumba, counselor pizza night, vespers, recognition campfire, scavenger hunt, skit night, Mario Kart, and more.
Wagons
Lower Wagon Yard: Triangle Lightning, Triple X, Circle Slash, Double Diamond, Cloud 9, Circle S, Barbell, Lazy 3+1, Box TE, Lazy 4, Rocking Wheel, Flying 4, Horseshow–4
Upper Wagon Yard: Standing H, Rocking C+1, Top Hat TE
Explore Our Activities
Boys’ Trail’s End campers get to choose from a wide range of activities designed just for you.
- Archery
- Backpacking
- Ceramics
- Challenge Course
- Climbing Wall
- Colts
- Crafts
- Fishing
- High Ropes
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding Pack Trips
- Horseback Ring Rides
- Horseback Trail Rides
- Lil’ Ranchers
- Mountain Biking
- Mountain Biking Trips
- Outcamping
- Rafting
- Riflery
- Solo Experiences
- Sports
- Stand Up Paddleboarding
- Technical Climbing
- Via Ferrata
- Woodworking
- And miscellaneous activities, like Finer Things, Water Wars, Random Acts of Kindness, and more!
*During the summer, campers may have the opportunity to participate in the designated activity; however, it is not a regular offering.
What is a Unit?
Our 27-day program, Summer Camp, is divided into eight units, organized according to age & gender. Each unit offers the same renowned Cheley Experience staffed by 15-17 enthusiastic counselors. Boys’ Trail’s End has a capacity of 64 campers.
Each unit has its own well-maintained lodge, boathouse, and living spaces. We are a large camp, but this setup ensures individualized attention for each camper. Six of our eight units are located at Land O’Peaks (LOP), while the other two are located at the Trail’s End (TE). Campers at Cheley participate in activities and campfire with their unit, although some cross-unit social opportunities do occur, including All-Camp Campfire and Play Day. Boys’ Trail’s End conducts its Chapel independently, without combining with any other unit.
What is a Go-To Counselor?
Each camper is assigned a counselor in their unit (typically, someone also in their cabin) who is responsible for them in terms of general camp life. They are your mentor, advocate, and “go-to” counselor throughout the term. This means they are checking in with you daily to see how your experience is progressing. They are getting to know you and what excites and scares you. They are watching you every day, and because of your relationship with them, can tell when things are going well and when they need extra attention. In essence, they are your big brother or sister. To support you and your Cheley Experience, your go-to counselor is there for you to:
- Create family! They are reading your blue camper/parent information form, encouraging letter writing home, writing weekly reports, meeting and greeting parents on visiting day, and saying good night.
- Know your program! They are advising, monitoring, and advocating for you during sign-ups to make sure you are getting the programs you want and completing your goals during the camp experience. Assisting and advising in appropriate clothing and equipment for the day.
- Encourage personal responsibility! They are helping you keep track of your belongings. Assisting in packing and unpacking, monitoring borrowing and lending, creating an honest environment, helping with lost and found, and supervising laundry preparation.
- Nurture your physical and emotional health! They are monitoring and assisting with personal cleanliness, encouraging physical conditioning and challenge, escorting you to the Health Center for medication or illness/injury, encouraging adequate sleep and rest, and more. Encouraging self-reliance and independence. Talking with you, listening to you, playing with you, and reading. Being available.