We Ride Because Camp Matters!

Established in 1989 in the memory of Jack Cheley, owner/director of Cheley Camps, the John Austin Cheley Foundation advances low income, underserved youth towards a successful future through transformative residential, nature-based summer camp programs.

Through an established national network of individual volunteer mentors and high quality youth mentoring/school programs, JACF recruits and provides financial and personal support to underserved youth who would thrive from the opportunity to enjoy sustained summer camp experiences. The Foundation pays for tuition, travel expenses and equipment for the lifespan of a camper’s years at camp as long as the camper continues to comply with JACF Eligibility Guidelines and is in good standing with the camp attended. Families are also asked to contribute to the best of their ability to the full cost to incentivize their commitment to the experience.

JACF associates currently with six high caliber American Camp Association accredited summer camps whose programs make a positive difference in the lives of children. These include:

Cheley Colorado Camps, Estes Park, CO
Colvig Silver Camps, Durango, CO

Camp Kawanhee for Boys, Weld, ME

Camp Thunderbird, Bemidji, MN

Friendly Pines Camp, Prescott, AZ

Sanborn Western Camps, Florissant, CO

We think it was said best back in 1920’s by Dr. Charles Eliot, a trailblazing educator and president of Harvard University. He understood that camp offered so much more to youth than summer fun and time away from home. In fact, research from Richard Louv, Paul Tough, Angela Duckworth and others is now indicating that outcomes like the development of character skills, leadership skills and affinity for nature have a lasting, positive impact into adulthood and create a strong foundation for life success. It’s why our tagline says: “Because Camp Matters”.

We also know that these evidence-based camp outcomes mirror many of the necessary skills that have been identified by the Partnership for 21st Century Learning for today’s youth to thrive in a world in which change is constant and learning never stops. The original founders of JACF understood this in their hearts that camp had a profound effect on the trajectory of their lives and desired to carry this powerful opportunity forward to others. It’s why we have a vested interest in the success of young people, particularly those who face significant barriers in our society.

The truth is that the benefits of camp are available only to a very small population of youth around the United States. Working closely with the American Camp Association whose “20/20 Vision” calls for an increasing number of children, youth and adults of all social, cultural and economic groups to have a camp experience, we aim to serve as an organization uniquely positioned to support ACA’s national vision. In its 26 year history, the Foundation has impacted over 900 campers and has invested approximately $2.1 million in campership awards.https://www.cheleyfoundation.org/