Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term
Traditional overnight summer camp in the Rocky Mountains offering a wide range of outdoor activities and skill building.
▌ Editor's read Cheley Colorado Camps is an ACA-accredited overnight camp in Estes Park, Colorado, with accreditation valid through 2025. The camp has been operating for 104 years, founded in 1921 by Frank H. Cheley, and is a for-profit entity. They maintain a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:4 and explicitly state that all staff undergo background checks. Google reviews for 'Cheley Colorado Camps' show a strong rating of 4.9 stars based on 108 reviews, with reviewers frequently praising the camp's positive impact on children's confidence and independence, the variety of activities offered, and the supportive staff. The camp's website details a wide range of activities including horseback riding, hiking, climbing, and crafts, emphasizing personal growth and skill development in a rustic setting.
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ACA-accredited~300 standards audited
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Since 1922104+ years operating
Who thrives here Ages 9–17
Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term is built for middle-school campers — an age where leadership tracks, deeper specialization, and identity exploration take over from generalist day-camp formats. overnight/sleepaway programs that thrive at this age publish a clear weekly progression rather than a rotating activity menu, and the staff-to-camper conversation usually matters more than the activity list.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Overnight camp
- ACA accredited
- Yes
- Established
- 1922 (104 years)
- Operator
- Private business
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Published by camp see camp site →
Details
- Category: Overnight/Sleepaway
- Ages: 9–17
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: 3940 CO-7, Estes Park, CO 80517
- Phone: 970-586-4244
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: Total tuition is $7650 for 27 days.
Runs 24-hour residential, 1 session (0 one-week, 1 multi-week block), from Jun 16 to Jul 12.
Sessions ⛓
Bookable units published by the camp. Multi-week blocks marked ⛓ are indivisible — register for the full session.
- Session 1 Jun 16 – Jul 12, 2026 · 4 weeks · $7,650
↗ What parents like
- Located in Rocky Mountains
- Focus on outdoor activities
↘ Watch for
- Long session commitment
Logistics
- Lunch provided: Yes
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: outdoor
Frequently asked about Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term
- What ages does Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term accept?
- Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term is open to children ages 9–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term cost?
- Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term publishes $1,913/week for the standard session. Total tuition is $7650 for 27 days. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term's hours?
- Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Is Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term accredited?
- Yes — Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 104 years. ACA accreditation means the camp has been audited against ~300 health, safety, and program-quality standards covering staffing, supervision ratios, emergency response, and program design.
- Who runs Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term?
- Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term is operated by a private business, with 104 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term provide lunch?
- Yes — Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.
- How does Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term compare to other overnight/sleepaway camps in Estes Park?
- Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term is one of 7 overnight/sleepaway camps in Estes Park that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Day camp vs. overnight camp · Decide whether the format fits your child and schedule.
- Packing list and camp prep · Plan gear, medication notes, labels, and drop-off prep.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term.
- Cheley Colorado Camps · Estes Park · Ages 9–17 · $1,913/week
- Cheley Colorado Camps · Estes Park, CO · Ages 9–17 · $1,913/week
- Cheley Colorado Camps - First Term · Estes Park, CO · Ages 9–17 · $1,913/week
- Cheley Colorado Camps - Marmots · Estes Park, CO · Ages 9–10 · $2,310/week
- Cheley Colorado Camps - Second Term · Estes Park, CO · Ages 9–17 · $1,913/week
- Cheley Colorado Camps - Second Term · Cheley Colorado Camps · Ages 9–17 · $1,913/week
- Korean Heritage Camp · YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch, Fraser, CO · Ages 6–18
- Estes Park Center Day Camp · Estes Park, CO · Ages 3–13