Boys’ Trail’s End had a way of making every day feel full this summer. Campers headed out from the Ranch with backpacks cinched, horses saddled and plans for adventures that might keep them away for a day or several. Back home, there were targets to hit, projects to create, games to play, and a brotherhood waiting at the end of the day. Some accomplishments came with a patch or pin; others showed up as a little more confidence, a new friendship, a willingness to try again, or the realization that a difficult day could also become a favorite memory.
Our hiking program, led by Ryan Schoolman and Dylan Meyer, challenged campers to discover just how much they could accomplish one step at a time. Days on the trail gave hikers opportunities to develop outdoor skills, practice good judgment, support their groups, and experience the satisfaction of reaching a destination they had worked hard to earn. Jack Rehberg earned his Junior Hiking Basics. On the Senior side, Benjamin Ikenberry, Edward Codr, and William Olson earned their Senior Hiking Basics, and William Olson earned his Senior Hiking Patch.
Backpacking counselors Will Chasse and Kellan Oster took campers farther into the backcountry, where everything needed for the adventure traveled along on their backs. Campers learned to manage themselves and their gear while contributing to a group, adapting to the challenges of life outdoors, and discovering the particular friendships that form after sharing miles and campsites together. Junior Backpacking Basics were earned by Arthur Baker, Hank Harvison, Mark Michaud, Sam Clore, and Sam Weimer. George Boynton, Mark Michaud, and Sam Weimer earned their Junior Backpacking Patch. Senior Backpacking Basics were earned by Benjamin Ikenberry, Brian Garabedian, Brodie Burns, Charles Brown, Chester Lull, Edward Codr, Elliot Leighton, George Reed, John Bond IV, Lukas Cyran, Morrison Bump, Teos White, William Wegner, and Wolfgang Schmid. Senior Backpacking Patches were earned by Beck Bordelon, Benjamin Ikenberry, Charles Brown, Edward Codr, Elliot Leighton, Lukas Cyran, Mark Michaud, Rory Neren, Teos White, William Wegner, and Wolfgang Schmid.
As BTE’s HGO counselor, Trevor Wilkerson helped make even more out-of-camp experiences possible. HGO gave campers another way to lean into adventure, spend meaningful time outside the Ranch, and make the most of a summer in Colorado.
Wranglers Max Kelly, Luke Watson%, and Reese Littrell kept the horseback program moving throughout the summer. Riding gave campers opportunities to develop confidence and communication in the saddle while learning the responsibility, awareness, and care that good horsemanship requires. Junior Riding Basics were earned by Andrew Young, Boden Haberkorn, Desmond Horsley, Isak Currie, Jeremiah Shimkus, Luke Jaudes, Paarth Dalal, and Waller Randle. Boden Haberkorn and Jeremiah Shimkus earned their Junior Riding Patch. Senior Riding Basics were earned by Ayoub Murphy, Desmond Leon, Gordon Deal, Henry Haddock, Luke Webb, Mason Ziegler, Micah Nordlander, Mikie Shimkus, Rory Neren, Thomas Trueblood, and Tyler Dembo. Senior Riding Patches were earned by Desmond Leon, Gordon Deal, Mason Ziegler, and Thomas Trueblood.
Mountain Biking, led by Jake Rice and Charlie Amodei, gave campers another way to explore and challenge themselves as they developed bike-handling skills, endurance, and confidence over changing terrain. Every climb demanded some determination, every technical section required focus, and every ride offered another opportunity to improve. Congratulations to Andersen Beerman, Charles Bierbaum, Desmond Leon, Finley Zimmerman, Merrick Brown, and William Tobin for earning their Mountain Biking Patch.
Outcamping counselors Jebidiah Johnston and Edward Rinehart helped campers trade the pace of the Ranch for time living together outdoors. Campers practiced the skills and cooperation needed to make a campsite work while also finding time for games, conversations, and the simple pleasure of spending a night away with friends. Junior Outcamping Patches were earned by Beau Adams, Brooks Faris, Ezekiel Luong, Malachi Luong, and Rhys Campbell. Senior Outcamping Patches were earned by Charles Bierbaum, George Cammack, Macsen Crowther, and Rhys Campbell.
Some BTE campers made variety itself part of their summer challenge, accumulating substantial time out of camp across different program areas. Junior On the Trail recognitions were earned by Arthur Baker, Brodie Burns, Brooks Faris, Connor Coady, Erik Chorine, Everett Bump, Flynn Carrico, Flynn Dahlstrom, Gustavo Lerro, Hank Harvison, Lincoln Hurst, Luke Jaudes, August Lull, Desmond Leon, Nikita Sommers, Rhys Campbell, River Polizzi, Sam Clore, and Waller Randle. Senior On the Trail recognitions were earned by Brian Garabedian, Chester Lull, Erik Chorine, George Reed, John Bond IV, Mason Mandel, Michael Yasinski, and Tyler Anderson. Merrick Brown also earned his Junior Pinecone Patch.
Jake Rice and Charlie Amodei also kept plenty of action going back at the Ranch. Sports gave campers a place to compete, cooperate, move, laugh, and discover that sometimes the best part of a game has very little to do with the final score.
Archery asked campers to bring a different kind of energy to the range, trading speed for patience and learning how small adjustments in form and concentration could make a big difference. Campers progressed through the Arrow recognitions as their consistency and accuracy improved. Recognitions went to:
White Arrow
Beau Adams, George Reed, Ian Knight, Luciano Otero, Macsen Crowther, Malachi Luong, Mason Ziegler, Nathaniel Purcell, Porter Draper, Quinn Nordlander, and Zayden Gross.
Black Arrow
Andersen Beerman, August Lull, Ben Niero, Boden Haberkorn, Desmond Horsley, Fritz Paul, George Reed, Grant Whitcher, Harrison Barnard, Rory Martin, and Zayden Gross.
Blue Arrow
Andersen Beerman, Enzo D’Agata, George Reed, Grant Whitcher, Neel Gounder, Vic Staab, Luke Webb, and Zayden Gross.
Red Arrow
Augustine Hogan, George Reed, Merrick Brown, Neel Gounder, Roman LaCrosse, Tyler Dembo, and Zayden Gross.
Gold Arrow
Charles Bierbaum, George Reed, Mason Mandel, and Roman LaCrosse.
In Riflery, Ellery Hale helped campers learn that strong marksmanship is built through safety, patience, control, and repetition. From first experiences on the range to increasingly demanding positions, campers could see their progress target by target.
Prone Specialist
Andrew Young, Anthony Couch, Ben Niero, Everett Bump, Fritz Paul, Isak Currie, Jackson Cheley, Joshua Brinker, Luciano Otero, Macsen Crowther, Mason Ziegler, Nathaniel Purcell, Neel Gounder, Quinn Nordlander, River Polizzi, Sebastian Hagg, Jeremiah Shimkus, and Zayden Gross.
Level I, II, III, & IV
The following campers earned their Level 1 pin: Brooks Faris, Charles Bierbaum, Charles Brown, Elif Ferruzzo, Finley Zimmerman, Fritz Paul, Joshua Brinker, Rory Martin, and Wolfgang Schmid.
The following campers earned their Level 2 pin: Charles Bierbaum and Fritz Paul.
The following camper earned his Level 3 pin: Charles Bierbaum.
The following campers earned their Level 4 pin: Charles Bierbaum and Ryan Rosenberg.
Kneeling Specialist and Level I
The following campers earned their Specialist pin: Santino Ferruzzo, Everett Bump, Mason Ziegler, Quinn Nordlander, and Zayden Gross.
The following camper earned his Level 1 pin: Santino Ferruzzo.
Sitting Specialist
The following camper earned his Specialist pin: Everett Bump.
Standing Specialist
The following campers earned their Specialist pin: Harrison Barnard, Quinn Nordlander, Sebastian Hagg, and Zayden Gross.
The following camper earned his Level 1 pin: Santino Ferruzzo.
The craft shop, led by Braden Bazzel, gave campers room to create after days spent tackling physical challenges elsewhere. Crafts offered its own lessons in patience and persistence as campers worked with their hands, tried ideas, solved problems, and watched their projects take shape.
When program wrapped up, Alex Stern helped bring everyone back together through campfire. The World Cup Soccer Tournament tapped into BTE’s competitive side, Steal the Bacon kept everyone moving, Immaculate Vibes lived up to its name, and karaoke gave campers and staff their chance at the microphone. All-Camp Campfire brought the entire Cheley community together, and BTE put its own spin on two familiar stories: First Term presented Churvivor, inspired by Survivor, and Second Term took on Choppenheimer, inspired by Oppenheimer. They were chances to be creative, ridiculous, collaborative, and unmistakably BTE.
BTE was fortunate to have an outstanding group of Campers in Leadership Training during First Term. CILTs experience the Ranch from a new perspective, taking on additional responsibility and learning what it means to contribute as emerging leaders while continuing to grow through their own camp experience. This summer’s CILTs were Henry Haddock, Jackson Cheley, Max Brandt, Rory Neren, Ryan Rosenberg, and Santino Ferruzzo. Thank you to each of them for the leadership and energy they brought to the BTE community.
The Code of Living remained at the heart of the BTE community. Each term, campers identified the values they wanted to practice together, creating a Code that asked more of them than simply agreeing with good ideas—it challenged them to put those ideas into action when living, working, and adventuring alongside one another. First Term chose Presence, Genuine, Carpe Diem, Maturity, and Resilience. Second Term chose Set the Table, Leadership, Present, Grit, Hakuna Matata, Brotherhood, and Accountability.
At Trail’s End, the Driver of the Covered Wagon and Top Hand recognitions are tied directly to that Code. Campers and staff vote based on the values their community has chosen, recognizing peers who have stood out in the way they lived those values throughout the term. Driver recognizes Junior campers, while Top Hand is the corresponding citizenship recognition for Senior campers. The following campers received their Driver recognition: Davis Lauritzen, Desmond Leon, Grant Whitcher, Hank Harvison, Mark Michaud, Sam Clore, Sam Weimer, and William Tobin. The following campers received their Top Hand recognition: Brandon Scott, Brian Garabedian, Edward Codr, Santino Ferruzzo, Max Brandt, Nikita Sommers, and Wesley Holmes.
Two especially significant accomplishments deserve a final moment of recognition. In the horseback program, Mikie Shimkus received the Trailhand (Horseback Riding Excellence), an honor reserved for the Senior riding program. Trailhand represents exceptional horsemanship developed through sustained participation and growth, but its significance extends beyond technical ability. It reflects mature judgment, respect for horses and the land, responsibility, trusted competence, and leadership through example. A Trailhand becomes someone the riding community can count on, and we are proud to recognize Mikie Shimkus as part of this distinguished Cheley tradition.
BTE also celebrated Charles Bierbaum as a recipient of the Gold Spurs, one of Cheley’s rarest and most respected recognitions. Gold Spurs reflect years of commitment across the breadth of the Senior program rather than excellence in only one favorite activity. The journey calls for campers to keep stretching themselves—on trails, in the saddle, on bikes, at the ranges, and through creative work—while continuing even when progress requires patience and persistence. For Charles Bierbaum, this summer’s recognitions tell part of that story: a Gold Arrow, an Outcamping Patch, Mountain Biking Patch, and advancement all the way through Prone Level 4 in Riflery were among the milestones of a much longer Cheley journey. Gold Spurs celebrate the determination to keep learning across programs and summers, and we are thrilled to congratulate Charles Bierbaum on reaching this remarkable achievement.
By summer’s end, the Ranch had asked a lot of its campers: carry the pack, make the climb, care for the horse, take another shot, try the difficult section, contribute to the group, and figure out how to live well alongside a whole community of people. The boys answered in countless different ways. They became more capable, built friendships across wagons and ages, learned when to lead and when to follow, and discovered plenty of reasons not to take themselves too seriously along the way. Long after the gear is unpacked and the recognitions find their places on Blue Kerchiefs, we hope those lessons—and the brotherhood behind them—keep traveling with them.
Until the trail brings us together again,
Joe Kelly, Director
John Henry Williams and Jim Ber, Asst. Directors
