Our Year-Round Team

Jeff Cheley, Director
Favorite Meal: Sunday Granola, blueberries, strawberries, yogurt, and cinnamon rolls
Favorite Activity: Mountain Biking
Favorite Campfire: Teambuilding games or Human Video Games
Favorite Song: "Sixpence"

Jeff is part of the fourth generation to operate Cheley Camps. Jeff works with his sister to oversee the operations of the business and continue the traditions established by Frank Cheley. He is a graduate of the University of Texas and a proud Longhorn. Jeff and his wife Erika live in Englewood during the winter months with their three sons; Jackson, Harrison, and Hayden. When Jeff is not chasing his boys around the house, he enjoys playing golf, skiing, cycling, coaching youth sports, or taking a Sunday afternoon nap. During camp, Jeff can be found walking around camp, driving around in his Bronco, or carrying Audio Visual equipment somewhere around camp.

Brooke Cheley Klebe, Director of Camper and Parent Services
Favorite Meal: French Toast
Favorite Activity: Backpacking
Favorite Campfire: All-Camp Campfire
Favorite Song: "Netherlands"

As part of the fourth generation of camp leadership, Brooke, daughter of Don, is the Director of Camper and Parent Services for Cheley. She lives in Denver in the winter months where she lives with her husband, Kurt, and their daughters, Ellie, Kate, and Sam. Brooke graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in Communications. As a former competitor in freestyle skiing, an Ironman triathlete, and a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School in Patagonia, Brooke brings a wealth of knowledge to the backcountry program of Cheley. Brooke was a camper for nine summers and on staff as a counselor for three before joining the year-round team. She is a devoted, fun mom and treasures the camp experience.

Shawn Ness, Director of Operations
Favorite Meal: Anything cooked over a campfire!
Favorite Activity: Horseback riding
Favorite Campfire: Recognition/Final campfire
Favorite Song: "The Gambler"
 Shawn first found Cheley in the summer of 2003 and he has been back every summer since. He has been a wrangler, assistant director, and unit director. He has a B.A. in Social Science Secondary Education and M.S. in Counseling, both from Eastern Illinois University. Shawn was a high school counselor in Northwest Suburban Chicago for 10 years before joining our year-round team in 2013. He lives in Denver in the winter and when he's not eating he can often be found running!

Alyse Averdick, Program Director / Staffing Coordinator
Favorite Meal: Sunday's Roast Beef
Favorite Activity: Rock Climbing
Favorite Campfire: All-Camp Campfire
Favorite Song: Unit Songs + Taps

Alyse has been associated with Cheley since 1999 when she was a riflery counselor. She has also been a hiking counselor and a director. Alyse is a graduate of the University of Iowa. Before returning to camp in 2006, she was a teacher in Chicago. Alyse and her husband, Drew, live at camp year-round with their children Stella and Leroy. She is involved in the Estes Park community with other parenting and mom groups.

Clint Ouellette, Food Service Manager
Favorite Meal: The last one
Favorite Campfire: All-Camp Campfire (after All-Camp Cookout is cleaned up)
Favorite Song: Taps

Clint grew up in Northern Maine and graduated from the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont. He came out to Colorado for six months in 1997 and never left! He has worked in a variety of foodservice operations including camps, restaurants, and private country clubs. When he is not in the kitchen, he enjoys the outdoors doing a little fly fishing and shooting vintage recurve bows.

Mike Supinski, Facilities Supervisor
Favorite Meal: Grilled Cheese and tomato soup
Favorite Activity: Riflery
Favorite Campfire: All-Camp Campfire
Favorite Song: "Walk the Line"

Mike has been with Cheley since 2005. Mike immediately become part of the team. Mike toured the world playing bass guitar and singing with a rock band before settling in Estes Park. When Mike is not busy remodeling our cabins or keeping our turf plush and green, he can be found playing the guitar, rafting, or pouring over boatbuilding books. Mike lives in Estes Park with his wife, Elise Booth (former camper and staff member), and his daughters Zoe and Cameron. Don't miss Mike's performance at All Camp Campfire.

Peggy Haynes, Enrollment Manager
Favorite Meal: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Favorite Activity: Horseback Riding
Favorite Campfire: Vespers and All Camp Campfire
Favorite Song: "You'll Never Walk Alone"

Peggy has many years of experience with Cheley Camps. She was a camper(1965-1974), a CILT in 1975, the AD in Lower Chipeta in 1980, a year-round office employee in 1980 and 1981, and a camp parent. Her son Devon was a camper from 2000 to 2009, and he was on staff in 2011 and 2012. She is a graduate of Indiana University and brings over 25 years of office experience and great customer service skills to the position.

Abbey Hickey, HR Manager
Favorite Meal: Sunday Breakfast
Favorite Activity: Hiking
Favorite Campfire: Girls' Camp Sing-Along
Favorite Song: "Night Rider's Lament"
Abbey grew up in Illinois and has been on summer staff since 2015. She studied at Indiana University and recently earned her MSW from the University of Denver. In previous summers at Cheley, Abbey has been an online editor, unit director, travel coordinator, Lower Ski Hi “Camp Mom”, and first-year staff liaison. After a year at the Estes Park Mountain Shop, she is excited to join the year-round team! Outside of camp, she can be found biking up Fish Creek, hiking on the divide, and learning how to backcountry ski.

Brian Hawf, Facilities & Maintenance
Favorite Meal: Anything that Clint makes for lunch
Favorite Song: Anything that Mike sings

Brian grew up in Illinois and has lived in Estes Park for over 25 years. He has a background in plumbing, heating, construction, and mechanical experience, and has done work at Cheley over the years. Brian has completed two safari off-road triathlons and climbed 22 14ers. Brian and his wife, Naomi, have two sons and a daughter.

Nicole Wilson, Ranch Manager
Favorite Meal: King's Ranch Chicken (over an open fire)
Favorite Activity: Duh, Horseback Riding
Favorite Campfire: All-Camp Campfire
Favorite Song: "Home on the Range"

Nicole joined the Cheley team in 2019 after working at Tollgate Farm in Novi, Michigan for 3 years. She was born in Virginia. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Animal Science. She loves animals and manages a small farm on the ranch including chickens, goats, pigs, cows, cats, ducks, and horses. In her free time, you will have to check the trails for her as she will probably be on one of her three horses.

Ryan Wilson, Facilities & Maintenance
Favorite Meal: Curry Chicken
Favorite Activity: Archery
Favorite Campfire: One that doesn't require repairs the next day
Favorite Song: "If I Had a Hammer"

Ryan joined the Cheley team in 2019 when his girlfriend (now wife) came to camp as the Ranch Manager. He was working for his family’s construction business in Michigan before moving to Colorado. He was born in Michigan and attended community college in Michigan. Ryan brought a bunch of his toys to Estes Park including dirt bikes, four-wheelers, and a bunch of skis. Ryan was a high school ski coach so he is excited to tackle the amazing skiing in Colorado.

Dylan Lederer, Marketing Specialist
Favorite Meal: Jambalaya or Choco Taco
Favorite Activity: All of them (especially Campfire!)
Favorite Campfire: Pokemon Go! or All Camp Campfire
Favorite Song: "When You Come Back Down"

Dylan grew up near Chicago, Illinois, and has been a camper and summer staff member at Cheley since he was ten years old. Dylan has been a campfire counselor in Ski Hi and Haiyaha and assistant director in Haiyaha. He graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in Communication. Dylan also studied Spanish in Argentina for four months. When he’s not in the office, he can be found with his camera and an iced vanilla oat milk latte in hand exploring the outdoors. 

Don Cheley, Director Emeritus
Favorite Meal: BLT for Lunch
Favorite Activity: Using anything with a motor (blower, chainsaw, vacuum)
Favorite Campfire: A big, blazing campfire
Favorite Song: "(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life"

Don is part of the third generation to operate Cheley Camps. Don attended Colorado College and graduated from Menlo College in California. Don can tell you anything you want to know about Cheley Camps. He has dedicated much of his life to Cheley and the camping industry. During the summer, you can find Don driving around camp in his pick-up truck checking on activities, campers, and the facilities. He may be sweeping a porch, cutting down a tree, or fixing a vacuum. If you can’t find him, just hang out in the kitchen while a fresh batch of cookies is baking and he will be around soon.

Carole Cheley, Director Emeritus
Favorite Meal: Mandarin Chicken Salad
Favorite Activity: Hiking with Cheley campers
Favorite Campfire: Skits, singing, and vespers
Favorite Song: Unit Songs + Taps

As a former Director of the camp for 25 years, Carole continues to offer her expertise, wisdom, and love to Cheley and the world of organized camping. She is still involved with the American Camps Association and the Western Association of Independent Camps. She remains a great resource for Cheley and many other camps throughout the country. When she is at camp, you can find her connecting with campers, staff, and alumni. When not at Cheley, she'll most likely be traveling with Don to her three remaining continents, practicing yoga, taking pictures, reading, or just hanging out with her many treasured friends.