Pass the Mashed Potatoes, Please
Nothing triggers an appetite like fresh mountain air, which is why quality food preparation is so important to us. It's a known fact that food tastes better at camp and elevation. Maybe it’s our terrific cooks or the fact that we love good food! Who knows? The food at summer camp is beyond yummy. And there’s lots of it.
We serve our meals family-style, which yields many benefits. Family-style meals are when the components of a meal are put on the table in bowls or plates so everyone can serve themselves. The bowls and/or plates are passed around and put back in the middle of the table where more can be eaten if desired. Not only does family-style enhance the experience of mealtime by mimicking a large family meal, but it also promotes responsive feeding and encourages better self-regulation of intake and positive weight-related outcomes. It goes without saying that mealtime is one of the best opportunities to connect with friends before heading out for the day and again over dinner when you return. Tales of daring and fearless adventure fly across the tables as our food keeps a consistent smile on each of our campers' faces.
Land O’ Peaks Ranch has two large dining lodges, Ski Hi Dining Hall and Chipeta Dining Hall. Girls' Trail's End and Boys' Trail's End each have their own dining hall. Each dining hall has an extraordinary kitchen staff team (complete with a head cook, cooks, and kitchen assistants) so you’ll have incomparable food regardless of your unit. For those who prefer or require a milk substitute (whether for your cereal, coffee, or glass to drink), soy milk, almond milk, and oat milk are always available. At every meal, we also serve a vegetarian and/or vegan option.
We try our best to accommodate most dietary preferences and restrictions, including allergies, vegetarian/vegan diets, dairy-free or lactose intolerant, and gluten-free. When enrolling, you will provide information about any of your camper's allergies and/or dietary considerations in the Medical Form/Health History Form and the Health Care Provider Form. Please contact us in advance if you have any concerns.
An Apple a Day...
At Cheley, we focus on youth development and providing the nurture and care necessary to assist our campers in their quest for adventure. Whether it be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, camper wellbeing is one of our priorities. As such, we have four health centers at camp with a registered nurse on duty. Our nurses in Boys’ Camp and Girls’ Camp at LOP, BTE, and GTE are always available to help campers with any scrapes, bruises, or blisters that often occur on adventures in the Rocky Mountains. Accompanying our nursing staff for most of the summer, we have a volunteer doctor on site or teledoctor on call.Our RNs administer medications periodically throughout the day. While most of our campers receive their medications before or after a meal or before bed, our nursing staff will work to accommodate your camper’s needs. Our health centers and First Aid Kits are stocked with the standard over-the-counter medications, so there is no need to send these items. Counselors have current certifications in Medication Administration, First Aid, and CPR. Additionally, our out-of-camp counselors (hiking, backpacking, outcamping, horseback riding, and mountain biking) are certified in Wilderness First Aid (WFA). If additional care or treatment is needed, we are also four miles from Estes Park Health (Emergency & Urgent Care).
As part of the enrollment process, you will be asked to complete various wellness forms, including our Medical/Health History, Health Care Provider, and Immunization Forms. These forms give our Health Professional Team access to a camper’s health history, allergies and Epi-Pen use, medications and treatments, and more. All medications sent to camp must be in original packaging with prescription and must be listed on the Healthcare Provider Form. Over-the-counter medications, vitamins/supplements, along with dosage and time taken, must also be listed on the Healthcare Provider Form. While campers may carry inhalers and Epi-Pens with them, other medications are not allowed in cabins. If they require these items, please send a spare to be kept in the health center. If campers wear contact lenses, they should bring an extra pair and/or a pair of glasses. If there are medications or supplements your camper can do without while they are at camp, please refrain from sending them.
If your camper has been taken to the doctor/hospital, receives a prescription, or spends the night in the health center during the summer, you will receive a call from us. In the event of an emergency or if your camper requires external medical care, a phone call home will occur the same day (unless it is after 9:00 p.m. in the camper’s home time zone) or the following morning. Cheley has risk management, emergency, and crisis response plans in place to endeavor to prepare and respond in the event of incidents or events occurring on or off Cheley property. Parents and guardians will be notified within a reasonable length of time after an event, as our priority is the well-being of all campers and staff.
If your camper requires any special assistance or if there is anything you would like to discuss with our medical staff before or during enrollment, we invite you to designate that on your forms and/or call our office if you have any questions.
