CLIMBING FOR CAMPERS

As a kid, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend my summers at Cheley Colorado Camps. I am a 4th generation camper as my Great-Grandfather, my Grandmother and her siblings, and my Dad’s cousin’s all attended Cheley before me. Camp had a MASSIVE impact on my life. I dreamed of climbing Everest as a kid, but I NEVER would’ve thought it was possible if it weren’t for the opportunities I had at camp and the confidence I grew in myself over the course of those summers I spent at Cheley. I am incredibly grateful to have had loving grandparents to help pay my tuition as a camper. Without them, I probably would not have been able to attend.

One of the most important parts of camp was the friendships. The relationships built in that environment are difficult to describe. You see each other’s most authentic selves before you even know who you are yourself. You meet people from different backgrounds and experiences, learn from one another, and share memories of hiking, camping, climbing, biking, horseback riding, goofing off, and being free outdoors. I love and adore the friends I made at camp, and I’ll never forget the impact they’ve had on my life.

On December 31, 2021, my best friend from camp, Rowan Meredith, passed away. She was someone I spent seven beautiful summers with and continued that friendship for the remainder of her life. She was a bridesmaid at my wedding, and anytime we visited each other, our friendship felt completely effortless. Our relationship was something truly special—so profound that I still struggle to put it into words. She was my soul sister, and her influence remains a positive light in my life. Rowan was a camper at Cheley for nine summers and a counselor for three. She loved camp, and she loved providing that camp experience to the next generation of campers she cared for.

In Rowan’s memory, and in gratitude for everything camp gave me, I created Climbing for Campers. I want more kids to have the opportunity to build confidence, form lasting friendships, discover what they’re capable of, and create memories that stay with them for a lifetime.

In 1989 the John Austin Cheley Foundation was launched by friends of John Austin (Jack) Cheley to honor his legacy and help fulfill his dream of making the summer camp experience available to kids whose families could not otherwise afford it. Founded to honor the vision of Jack Cheley and the dream that sparked A THOUSAND SUMMERS, which helps provide children with access to summer camp.

A month-long camp experience can cost thousands of dollars, putting it out of reach for many families. My long-term goal is to help fund ten camp scholarships—a total of $50,000—through Climbing for Campers. I support this mission through my outdoor photography, donating 10% of my fine-art photography earnings each year to A Thousand Summers. I may also organize additional fundraising efforts around future climbs and adventures. Any money raised specifically through those efforts will go directly to A Thousand Summers, with my own climbing expenses covered separately.

If you’d like to support the campaign, you can explore and purchase fine-art prints. Ten percent of my fine-art photography earnings goes toward helping more kids experience the kind of camp that shaped my life. You can also contact me if you’d like to discuss making a donation.

Our Impact:

Together we’ve raised $2,200 since 2022!

Counter last updated: 10/13/2026

Camp shaped who I became, and Rowan will always be part of that story. Climbing for Campers is one way I can carry that legacy forward: helping give other kids the chance to find their people, discover their potential, and experience the kind of belonging that made camp so important to both of us.