There is a special kind of momentum in Lower Chipeta: one camper decides to try something new, a friend joins in, someone else cheers them on, and before long the whole group is caught up in the adventure. That spirit carried us through Summer 2026. Campers stretched themselves in the saddle, headed down trails with packs and plenty of enthusiasm, tested their concentration at the ranges, climbed higher than they expected, filled the crafts shop with ideas, and found countless reasons to laugh together. Through it all, Lower Chipeta became a community where trying mattered, encouragement came easily, and each new day offered another chance to discover what camp could hold.
Our horseback riding program was led by Kate Haney, Nicola Davis, and Sydnie Uphoff, who helped campers build their horsemanship through time with the horses and opportunities to grow more comfortable and capable in the saddle. The Riding Patch gave campers a chance to deepen those skills and knowledge while taking greater ownership of their experience. The following campers earned their Riding Patch: Anna Bates, Lilah Burkey, Brooklyn Dubin, Witten Fell, Annalise Fox, Holly Harvison, Madison Smith, Kate Striker, Naomi Brainerd, Emilia Croucher, Amira Crowther, Caroline Dedeaux, Hazel Downing, Charlotte Gontram, Teagan Hampton, Emerson Jung, Kenzie Kozuch, Corinna McCormick, Cecile Morton, Leighton Mossy, Quinn Peterson, and Lennon Spatafore.
With Madi Williams and Annika Jones leading the way, hiking gave Lower Chipeta campers the chance to spend their days moving through Colorado’s mountain country, learning to be thoughtful trail companions and becoming more confident outdoors. Lea Shank, our HGO counselor, also supported adventures beyond the unit and helped campers make the most of opportunities outside camp. For Lower Chipeta, the Chipmunk Patch is the unit’s hiking recognition, combining time on the trail with growing outdoor knowledge and skills. The following campers earned their Chipmunk Patch: Allison Elsener, Maddie Garvey, Charlotte Hirsch, Naomi Rankin, Mary Tallichet, and Chloe Ulmer.
Outcamping with Laurel Foster and Presley Neidel invited campers to make themselves at home outdoors. Days and nights away from the unit offered chances to take part in the many little jobs that make an outdoor adventure work, while enjoying time with friends away from the regular rhythm of camp. Campers working toward the Outcamping Patch build practical outdoor skills while learning to care for the places where they camp. The following campers earned their Outcamping Patch: Jimena Alija, Regina Alija, Thea Belzer, Nadia Bietry, Chloe Chu, Roxanne Eberhard, Annalise Fox, Charlotte Gontram, Keeley Hartley, Amelia Lee, Gabriella Mick, Virginia-Pearl Nordan, Nina Vricella, Heidi Wassmer, and Tallulah Wright.
Sports brought another kind of adventure to Lower Chipeta with Carly Neidel and Avery Thorpe. Whether campers were playing together or taking on climbing challenges, this was a place to move, practice, encourage friends, and keep going when something did not come easily the first time. The Spider Patch recognizes campers who chose to dig deeper into their climbing skills. The following campers earned their Spider Patch: Margaret Ann Boehme, Camilla Dominguez, Roxanne Eberhard, Olivia Gomez, Margaret Goldberg, Keeley Hartley, Margaret Hogan, Aja Jean, Kailee Jean, Hannah Latta, Alice MacLennan, Emelia Nordhues, Sarah Robinson, Blair Romano, Chloe Ulmer, Leane Ventadour, and Isla Zayle.
At the riflery range, Lana Persons helped campers practice the patience, safety, concentration, and steady technique that marksmanship demands. Progress often came one careful shot at a time, and campers had plenty to celebrate as their consistency grew throughout the summer.
Young Specialist
Jimena Alija, Regina Alija, Hazel Altwies, Kira Armstrong, Adelaide Barrow, Anna Bates, Thea Belzer, Madison Bernstein, Noa Breslow, Dylan Bush, Lilah Burkey, Charlotte Cox, Samantha Cox, Emilia Croucher, Eden Dahlstrom, Helen Dahm, Camilla Dominguez, Maxine Eberhard, Roxanne Eberhard, Lily Evans, Lawson Fell, Witten Fell, Annalise Fox, Charlotte Gontram, Amara Glenn, Margaret Goldberg, Margaret Hogan, Ruby Hagg, Keeley Hartley, Etta Hines, Claire Hunter, Aja Jean, Kailee Jean, Emerson Jung, Gia Kaiser, Willowa Kaiser, Harlow Katzman, Emilia Kimball, Hannah Latta, Amelia Lee, Olive Leighton, Charlotte Likovich, Harper Lloyd, Elliot Loether, Alice MacLennan, Josephine Maiurro, Rosemary Martel, Anna Belle Masters, Avery McAden, Gabriella Mick, Birdie Miller, Maddyn Montford, Delilah Moore, Cecile Morton, Leighton Mossy, Mackenzie Nanney, Josie Paterson, Quinn Peterson, Natalie Rayson, Sarah Robinson, Natalie Sanders, Madison Smith, Emileigh Smith, Lennon Spatafore, Kate Striker, Elizabeth Sturman, Mila Sugich Herrera, Tess Rayson, Chloe Ulmer, Leane Ventadour, Nina Vricella, Ashley Wallace, Heidi Wassmer, Genevieve Wessel, and Isla Zayle.
Prone Specialist
Lawson Fell, Annalise Fox, Etta Hines, Margaret Hogan, Aja Jean, Kira Kisgen, Alice MacLennan, Corinna McCormick, Avery McAden, Mackenzie Nanney, Naomi Rankin, Natalie Sanders, Amelia Schreiner, Nella Stone, Kate Striker, Ashley Wallace, and Isla Zayle.
Level I, II, and III
The following campers earned their Level 1 pin: Annalise Fox, Amara Glenn, Alice MacLennan, Virginia-Pearl Nordan, Naomi Rankin, Amelia Schreiner, Ashley Wallace, and Isla Zayle.
The following campers earned her Level 2 pin: Naomi Rankin and Isla Zayle.
Kneeling Specialist
Annalise Fox and Isla Zayle.
Archery challenged campers to bring patience, body control, and focus together one arrow at a time. From learning the fundamentals to returning to the range determined to improve, campers could see their practice turn into progress throughout the summer.
White Arrow
Jimena Alija, Regina Alija, Hazel Altwies, Adelaide Barrow, Thea Belzer, Madison Bernstein, Nadia Bietry, Noa Breslow, Dylan Bush, Samantha Cox, Emilia Croucher, Eden Dahlstrom, Helen Dahm, Camilla Dominguez, Maxine Eberhard, Roxanne Eberhard, Allison Elsener, Hailey Feasey, Lawson Fell, Charlotte Gontram, Margaret Goldberg, Stella Grove, Teagan Hampton, Sienna Harris, Keeley Hartley, Miller Hess, Etta Hines, Margaret Hogan, Linden Holsted, Claire Hunter, Aja Jean, Kailee Jean, Emerson Jung, Gia Kaiser, Willowa Kaiser, Emilia Kimball, Hannah Latta, Amelia Lee, Olive Leighton, Harper Lloyd, Elliot Loether, Alice MacLennan, Josephine Maiurro, Rosemary Martel, Anna Belle Masters, Avery McAden, Birdie Miller, Delilah Moore, Cecile Morton, Leighton Mossy, Mackenzie Nanney, Quinn Peterson, Uma Rana, Natalie Rayson, Sarah Robinson, Natalie Sanders, Madison Smith, Emileigh Smith, Lennon Spatafore, Claire Stacey, Kate Striker, Elizabeth Sturman, Mila Sugich Herrera, Anna Tschuor, Ashley Wallace, Heidi Wassmer, and Genevieve Wessel.
Black Arrow
Jimena Alija, Regina Alija, Hazel Altwies, Dylan Bush, Charlotte Cox, Eden Dahlstrom, Annalise Fox, Maddie Garvey, Charlotte Gontram, Stella Grove, Aja Jean, Kailee Jean, Willowa Kaiser, Emilia Kimball, Kira Kisgen, Amelia Lavallee, Alice MacLennan, Corinna McCormick, Avery McAden, Natalie Rayson, Natalie Sanders, Amelia Schreiner, Madison Smith, Kate Striker, Alexa Sugich Herrera, Leane Ventadour, Ashley Wallace, and Isla Zayle.
Blue Arrow
Jimena Alija, Charlotte Gontram, Kira Kisgen, Amelia Lavallee, Naomi Rankin, Clara Schosser, Nella Stone, Nina Vricella, and Ashley Wallace.
Red Arrow
Kira Kisgen, Nella Stone, Nina Vricella, and Ashley Wallace.
The crafts shop was a place to slow down, follow an idea, experiment, and make something entirely your own. With Ellie Klebe encouraging the creative process, campers had room to work with their hands, learn new techniques, and enjoy the particular satisfaction that comes from watching an idea become a finished project. Crafts has long been a favorite place for Lower Chipetans to embrace individuality rather than worry about making something “perfect,” and that creative spirit continued this summer.
Lower Chipeta campers also had plenty of reasons to explore beyond one favorite activity. The Circle of Stars celebrates a camper’s willingness to participate broadly in camp and experience the variety that makes a Cheley summer so much fun. The following campers earned their Circle of Stars: Jimena Alija, Regina Alija, Hazel Altwies, Kira Armstrong, Nadia Bietry, Noa Breslow, Harlan Bump, Lilly Cross, Maxine Eberhard, Roxanne Eberhard, Lawson Fell, Margaret Goldberg, Keeley Hartley, Miller Hess, Margaret Hogan, Aja Jean, Kailee Jean, Emerson Jung, Harlow Katzman, Emilia Kimball, Hannah Latta, Harper Lloyd, Alice MacLennan, Anna Belle Masters, Quinn Peterson, Tess Rayson, Sarah Robinson, Mila Sugich Herrera, Chloe Ulmer, and Genevieve Wessel.
Evenings belonged to Cora Price, who brought Lower Chipeta together through campfire. Those hours gave the unit space for silliness, creativity, songs, shared fun, and the kind of moments that become inside jokes before anyone realizes it. For All-Camp Campfire, Lower Chipeta put its own spin on familiar pop music by rewriting lyrics and making the performances completely their own. First Term took on a Michael Jackson Medley, while Second Term performed a rewritten version of Lush Life by Zara Larsson. Sharing those creations with the larger Cheley community gave campers a chance to be bold, playful, and proudly Lower Chipeta together.
The Code of Living gave that community a set of values chosen by the campers themselves. First Term selected Integrity, Family, Empathy, Hope, and PBJ (Peace be the Journey). Second Term chose Honesty, Family, Courage, Spirit, and Empathy. These words offered something to return to in the ordinary moments of camp: living together in cabins, tackling challenges, including others, working through disagreements, and deciding what kind of community Lower Chipeta wanted to be. The Code is central to Cheley’s citizenship tradition, and the Silver Coup is Lower Chipeta’s citizenship recognition, chosen through camper and counselor voting around the values of that term’s Code of Living.
The following campers received their Silver Coup: Witten Fell, Annalise Fox, Holly Harvison, Charlotte Hirsch, Harper Lloyd, Nella Stone, Kira Armstrong, Charlotte Cox, Samantha Cox, Lily Evans, and Teagan Hampton. Their recognition represents one of the meaningful traditions of Lower Chipeta: taking the values campers choose together and asking what it looks like to practice them in everyday camp life. The Silver Coup celebrates citizenship within the community while reminding all Lower Chipetans that living the Code continues far beyond a recognition ceremony.
Summer 2026 gave Lower Chipeta plenty to be proud of—not simply in the patches and pins that made their way onto kerchiefs, but in all the smaller steps behind them. There were first attempts and next attempts, friendships strengthened by shared adventures, skills that became more comfortable with practice, and plenty of moments when a camper discovered she could do something that had once seemed intimidating. That willingness to join in, keep learning, and make room for one another is what turned a collection of busy camp days into a Lower Chipeta summer.
Thank you to Director Emelia Nordan and Assistant Directors Taylor Rhea and Alli Williams for guiding this joyful community through a summer of adventure, growth, friendship, and fun. Wherever this year’s Lower Chipetans head next, we hope they carry a little of that courage to try, the generosity to cheer someone else on, and the happiness of knowing there will always be a place for them back at Cheley.
Emelia Nordan, Director
Taylor Rhea & Alli Williams, Assistant Directors
