Sending Camp Mail
Stay connected with your camper while they are at Cheley: send letters, emails, and more!
Everyone loves to get mail! So, it makes sense that one of the highlights of camp is Mail Call when mail is passed out. Nowadays, hearing from home takes on a whole new significance for kids who are used to being constantly connected to their friends. At Cheley, we truly believe in the idea of “Disconnect to Really Connect.” The opportunity to unplug from cell phones and social media is one of the largest benefits of camp, yet we know you and your campers want to stay connected.
Addresses for Sending Letters and Postcards
For unit, please write Lower Ski Hi, Lower Chipeta, Ski Hi, Chipeta, Haiyaha, Senior Chipeta, Boys’ Trail’s End (BTE), Girls’ Trail’s End (GTE), or Support Staff.
USPS Address
Name
Unit
Cheley Colorado Camps
PO Box 1170
Estes Park, CO 80517
FedEx/UPS Address
Name
Unit
Cheley Colorado Camps
3960 Fish Creek Road
Estes Park, CO 80517
Amazon Address
Name
Unit
Cheley Colorado Camps
PO Box 1170
3960 Fish Creek Road
Estes Park, CO 80517
We encourage you to stay connected with your camper by sending letters. However, please note our No Package Policy, effective this summer. While there is no limit on the number of letters you can send, we recommend keeping it to a maximum of three times a week to balance communication and allowing your camper to fully immerse themselves in the camp experience.
No Package Policy — new for Summer 2024
Effective this summer, Cheley is adopting a No Package Policy. This policy aims to enhance the camp experience by promoting equality among campers and further creating a supportive and inclusive environment.
Policy Overview
Campers are not permitted to receive any packages while at camp, including large envelopes, padded envelopes, and anything containing more than a letter. Please inform your relatives and friends not to send your camper packages while at camp. Instead, encourage them to send letters and postcards to stay connected.
In the event that your camper forgets essential items at home, such as toiletries, clothing, or equipment unavailable in the camp store, you may send a package containing these necessities. Please contact our office first to pre-approve the package. If your package contains medication or something health-related, please contact our office so we can connect you with our healthcare staff.
Any items sent will be handled with care. They will be unpacked in the office and delivered directly to your camper, rather than at Mail Call. It’s important to note that if you do not call and get the package pre-approved, it will not be distributed and will be returned to the sender unopened and/or given back at the end of camp.
Birthday Packages
An exception to the policy is made for birthdays celebrated at camp. You may send a birthday package, which we will deliver on the camper’s birthday. For safety reasons, we prohibit food (including mints, gum, and small candies) from being sent. Additionally, please do not send cash, as campers cannot use cash during the summer, and handling it creates logistical challenges. Please contact our office first to coordinate delivery.
Supporting our Camp Community
Remember, sending your camper to camp is a wonderful gift in itself! While care packages may seem fun, they aren’t necessary for your camper to have a great time. Additionally, the amount of trash and work involved in handling care packages is overwhelming for our staff. We’d much rather dedicate our time and energy to enhancing your camper’s experience at Cheley.
We understand that change can be challenging, but this policy aligns with our core values of fostering growth, community, and adventure. We encourage all campers, parents, and guardians to review this policy and to inform friends and relatives accordingly. Thank you for your understanding and support as we embark on this journey together.
Please be aware that we are in a small town with a small post office. Mail, both to and from camp, tends to move slower than usual.
Sending One-Way Emails
While a low-tech experience for campers, it’s a high-tech experience for families at home! If you would like to email your camper, please use the Cheley Connection. We print emails out every afternoon and distribute them at Mail Call. Before your camper arrives at camp, you will receive a Welcome Email with instructions to activate your Cheley Connection account. There, you can View Photos, Send Emails, and Read Weekly Reports. If you are having trouble with the Cheley Connection, please try a different browser or use a desktop or laptop.
Emails printed every day include all emails that were sent in the previous 24 hours. We ask that you limit the number of emails you send your camper and continue to send handwritten cards and letters as well. DO NOT give this option to your camper’s friends; instead, please ask them to handwrite letters. Our goal is to provide a wonderful experience for your camper and handwritten letters complement this.
We do not allow campers to call home or receive calls from home (apart from in the event of an emergency). This decision has been made in the best interest of our campers. To give you an update about your camper’s first summer at Cheley, unit directors will call 1st-year families by the end of the first week of each term. If you need to get an immediate message to your camper, we ask that you call our office and leave a message for their unit director. They will check with your camper and we will call you back with your camper’s response.
