Meet Brooke Cheley-Klebe | Camp Director and mom of three girls

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brooke Cheley-Klebe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brooke, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
I have always put my health and wellbeing as a priority from the beginning of my career. Whether it be taking 10 minutes first thing in the morning to meditate, making sure I get some form of movement at some point in the day, fueling my body with nourishing food, getting enough sleep, or doing things that bring me joy throughout the week. I strive to stay positive, practice gratitude, keep going even when things get hard, to prioritize relationships and to stay hopeful. I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to do such meaningful work. Between my job and being a mom of three, my life is demanding but keeping these habits as a priority has played an important role in my life.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Cheley Colorado Camps was founded in 1921 by my great grandfather, Frank H. Cheley. As a young man, his dream was to provide an opportunity for boys to get away from the city in a beautiful outdoor setting, to learn the ways of the woods and wilderness, and to develop a spiritual awareness from the world of nature. His work with the YMCA convinced him that youth learn best through firsthand experiences, particularly under the direction of dedicated adult leaders. A century later, these basic principles are still the foundation for our work with young people.

In 1921, Frank put his dreams into action when he opened the Bear Lake Trail School – “An Alpine Summer Camp for Boys.” Nine adventurous boys journeyed high into the Colorado Rockies to a rustic summer camp on the shores of Bear Lake inside the newly minted Rocky Mountain National Park. The Bear Lake Trail School was located in what was still in many ways a wilderness. This leadership training summer camp became very popular and in 1926, “vigorous girls” were welcomed to Chipeta, named after the Queen of the Utes, wife of Chief Ouray.

Cheley moved to the Land O’ Peaks Ranch in 1927, now “main camp,” and is comprised

of three separate units for boys and three for girls. Beginning in 1937, Frank opened the Trail’s End Ranch for Boys (BTE) and Trail’s End Ranch for Girls (GTE) near Glen Haven. Since then, the massive lodges, cozy cabins, and covered wagons have been carefully maintained, providing a legacy rich in tradition and memories.

For 4 generations we have been steadfast in upholding the philosophy of camp life that Frank envisioned. Following Frank’s death in 1941, my grandfather, Jack and my grandmother Sis, led Cheley for 40 years before entrusting its leadership to my dad, Don and my stepmom, Carole. In 1997 I came back to join the business as the Program Director, Jeff soon followed and now here we are pressing forward.

Over the years, Cheley has been featured in a number of local, national, and even global publications. We’ve survived a few floods, fires, pandemics, a World War, the Great Depression, and more. We’ve employed countless staff, provided a life-changing camp experience to over fifty-thousand campers, celebrated 102 summers of Fun Plus®, and have made incredible strides in youth development and the preservation of nature.

I think our rich history is one thing that sets us apart. We have generations of families that expect the best from us, and I think it is one of the things that keeps us always striving to improve. From the beginning, at the heart of it was providing a place that created better people. Our mission states, “We build the lasting character and resiliency of young people, creating unique life experiences in a challenging and nurturing natural environment.”

We have gotten to where we are today because we are mission driven, have had amazing, talented and passionate people on our year-round and seasonal staff and have a tightknit camp community that comes together to support each other. I am proud that we have pushed through barriers to keep this important mission and organization thriving especially during the past couple of years. We continue to work to know and partner with our families in helping to raise resilient and kind children.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am thinking a summertime, active visit. First, I would enjoy a cup of coffee on my porch looking over the Mummy Range. Then I would have them get ready for a hike into Rocky Mountain National Park. I like to leave out of the Wild Basin Trailhead because the river is beautiful, and it is easy to get to from camp. After a relaxing hike I would take them to dinner at The Bird and Jim. The next day a bit of a repeat with a cup of coffee on my porch and onto the Homer Rouse trail for a mountain bike ride and then into town for a bite to eat at Ed’s Cantina. If they are lucky to experience a mountain afternoon rainstorm, then I would suggest an afternoon nap.

Alright, so let’s jump right in! The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there a person, group, organization, book, etc. that you want to dedicate your shoutout to? Who else deserves a little credit and recognition in your story?  
No doubt it would need to be dedicated to members of my family. My mother has been a great example for me throughout my life. I always knew I wanted to be a mom because I watched her so selflessly give everything to this role. I also knew that I wanted to work in the 100-year-old family business that I watched my dad so proudly do. Having these two seemingly competing goals needed some important things to fall into place. First, I did not want to carry the weight of being the fourth-generation camp owner on my own. My brother and I have always gotten along very well. I am grateful that he took the same path and we have been able to work alongside each other, complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses and offer support throughout our careers. Having the camp director lifestyle is probably trickier than most would imagine and finding a spouse that can roll with camp life was a key part in having it all work. My husband Kurt has been there for me and our girls every step of the way as he has navigated his own successful career and fatherhood. Our life would not be the same without him. To my girls Ellie (16) Kate (14) and Sammie (10) who patiently wait for the crazy summer season to end so that I can be present for them. They take pride in the difference camp makes in the lives of young people.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheleycoloradocamps/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-cheley-39999a29/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheleycamps

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CheleyColoCamps

Image Credits
photos Elizabeth Kruetz Quinn Toomey