Jun 30, 2021
This year’s fire season has been incredibly devastating for Arizona. Beginning with the Backbone Fire still burning at over 40,000 acres, and now five more in the Coconino National Forest that erupted just days after Backbone began, tens of thousands of acres of fires have caused a Stage 3 closure of the national forest. Dangerous levels of air quality, state road closures limiting access to Camp Colley, and no additional available firefighting resources have culminated in a very fraught camp season. Camp Colley, nestled squarely within the national forest, has been directed by National Forest Service experts not to host children at camp until the Stage 3 closure is lifted, currently scheduled for September 1, 2021. With this information top-of-mind, we made the grueling decision to cancel the remainder of the Camp Colley 2021 season. There will be no further sessions of camp this summer. For the past two weeks we closely followed the AZ Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Transportation, and Coconino National Forest updates in order to make the most informed decisions about regarding Camp Colley and the safety of our campers. We had hoped that it would be possible to resume our season, but after being directed not to bring children to camp by the national forest service, we were left with no other choice. We are heartbroken. We have notified parents and program partners about this season’s cancellation. All registration fees will be refunded to the parents or caregivers of this summer’s campers in the coming days. Additionally, all campers have been referred to low cost or free day camp programs operating in Phoenix to mitigate...
Jun 23, 2021
The Backbone Fire, now at 38,321 acres with 1% containment, has continued to create potentially hazardous air quality at Camp Colley and state roads leading to camp from Greater Phoenix remain closed. Three additional fires started nearby earlier this week, including the Snake Fire which is burning slowly at 74 acres just 17 miles from camp north of Clints Well. Monday officials with the Coconino National Forest declared a Stage 3 closure to the forest to the public and individuals there will need to vacate by Wednesday morning. Camp Colley, private property owned by the City of Phoenix, will remain accessible only to staff with permits issues by the National Forest. Because of this, Session 5 (June 28 – July 2, 2021) of our season will be cancelled. We have continued to follow the AZ Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Transportation, and Coconino National Forest updates in order to make an informed decision about resuming Camp Colley for the remainder of our season as soon as possible. We will make all efforts to provide campers with alternative program arrangements in the event camp is cancelled through the summer. We have notified parents and program partners about next week’s cancellation. All staff are safe off property, and we are working with them to create a mid-term plan for housing for those who are from out of town. We will continue to share more information about these fires’ impact on Camp Colley as more information becomes available. Take care, -Camp Colley...
Jun 19, 2021
It is with great disappointment that we are postponing the June 21 – June 25 Camp Colley session scheduled to begin Monday due to the Backbone Fire, which is encroaching on Strawberry, Arizona about 30 miles southwest of camp. We have been following the AZ Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Transportation, and Coconino National Forest updates and together with our City of Phoenix partners and onsite staff, have determined that poor air quality and limited road access to Camp Colley due to the Backbone Fire prevents us from providing a safe and enjoyable week at camp. Weather projections show wind pushing smoke North/Northeast from the fire, currently uncontained at 17,000 acres as of June 19, 2021. This puts Camp Colley on the direct path or where the smoke is most likely to go in the coming days. The good news is there is currently no threat of fire on camp property. We know how much our children were looking forward to camp and we are inviting them to attend either session 5 (June 28 – July 2) or session 6 (July 5 – July 9), as long as conditions permit these sessions to take place. We have notified parents and program partners and will ensure this news is handled with care and concern for the disruption it will likely cause families. We will continue to share more information about the Backbone Fire’s impact on Camp Colley as more information becomes available....
