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...
Dec 29, 2016
Goals for 2017: Letter from the Director Friends of Camp Colley Foundation, The time-honored tradition of making New Year resolutions speaks to the promise and optimism we feel as we approach a new year. Camp Colley Foundation has identified two strategic goals that will provide greater support for our campers in 2017. In 2017, our goals are to expand counselor training and strengthen strategic partnerships to better meet the needs of the marginalized, minority, and struggling youth we love and serve. Many of our campers deal with the effects of complex trauma. By expanding our staff and counselor training to include a basic understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences and how they affect children, our staff will be better able to meet the needs of our campers. Part of this goal is to include the counselors and chaperones from our partner organizations who attend camp with the kids. Our summer camp provides the space and time for youth to strengthen relationships with peers and adults. Title I schools, after school programs, and other youth development programs have weekly, and sometimes daily, contact with the kids they serve, making them the ideal complement to the services Camp Colley provides. The teachers and adult mentors at these organizations come to camp with the youth as chaperone-counselors and then return to daily lifewith a stronger relationship and understanding of the kids they work with. This helps provide the network of positive peer and adult relationships that youth urgently need to navigate their daily challenges. Camp Colley will better address the issues facing youth in our community through expanding our staff training and further developing partnerships with community organizations that serve youth year-round....
Dec 12, 2016
Meaningful Connections Happen at Camp Colley Camp Colley is all about connections. Our program is designed to connect kids to nature, self-confidence, and relationships. These are protective and promotive factors for youth. Nature is inherently fascinating and challenging- providing space to learn both cognitively and emotionally. Many of our kids have never been outside of their urban environment. At Camp Colley, they feel the connection to something larger than themselves and can envision larger possibilities for their lives. Camp Colley intentionally provides recreation that our campers have never done before. Mountain biking, canoeing, or archery become healthy risk-taking opportunities- a crucial component for youth to develop decision-making skills and self-confidence. Connecting kids to their ability to make good decisions and try new things builds self-confidence that leads to success in other areas of their lives. Learning new things, trying something for the first time, and meeting new people stretches campers out of their comfort zone. This opens the door for campers to connect with their peers and camp counselors in meaningful ways as they face the unknown together. The messages we receive from kids after their time at Camp Colley indicate that they are feeling these connections, even if they don’t know what to call it. This is what they tell us: “I love Camp Colley. Next time I want to stay longer!” -KM “My favorite part was canoeing- even though I tipped over the first time! Next time I want to canoe for the whole day.” -AR “I want to come back and have my same counselor next year.” -JC “Next year I would love to work in...
Dec 5, 2016
Why Does Camp Colley offer Family Camp? We’ve all heard of risk factors that contribute to negative outcomes for youth and problems within families. Living in low socio-economic (low SES) circumstances is a persistent risk factor with far-reaching negative impact. Families living in poverty, or low SES circumstances, not only have the “normal struggles” that raising children brings but must also combat the harmful impacts of poverty. Parents and children often have increased feelings of stress and alienation from financial insecurity, food insecurity, lack of time and energy for positive parenting, and very often the sense of being different and less worthwhile. For children, the negative impact of stress and unhappiness may be indirect and direct as they experience the impact stress has on their parents as well as themselves. Protective Factors are the positive counterpoint to risk factors. Relationships with caring, responsible adults (including parents), strong family connections, healthy recreation and hobbies, and resilience are among the most impactful protective factors. When present, they increase positive outcomes for children, families, and communities. Weekend Family Camp at Camp Colley provides the time, space, and nurturing environment for families to connect and build these protective factors in their lives. Time away from the daily stressors in their lives provides opportunity to interact and relate with each other in meaningful ways that strengthen relationships. The natural, “wilderness” environment of Camp Colley provides solace and improves mental and emotional well-being. The activities and outdoor recreation are opportunities to try new things and accomplish “hard things.” The struggle of these challenges and experiencing success upon completion is the foundation for building self-confidence and resilience. Camp Colley is...
Nov 28, 2016
Perspectives from Youth in the Camp Colley Job Training Program In Phoenix, 1 in 5 of our young adults ages 16-24 are neither working nor in school. It is the highest rate in the nation. This demographic is referred to “Disconnected Youth” or “Opportunity Youth.” In 2015 Camp Colley partnered with ACYR to provide job training and work experience to disconnected youth as a continuation of our mission to help youth transition successfully into adulthood. There are three main aspects to the Camp Colley Job Training and Social Emotional Learning for Disconnected Young Adults Program: “soft skills” training, on-the-job training, and life-enriching experiences in nature. Soft skills training, such as preparing a resume, learning how to interview for a job, and basic communication skills are taught at ACYR before the intern goes to camp to have on-the-job training. The third component of the work experience program is the life-enriching experiences that come from time spent in nature. The outdoor activities and immersion in nature is available to the work-training participants during off-work hours. For many of the young adults in this program it is the first time they have been exposed to outdoor recreation and the transformative effects nature has on mental and emotional wellbeing. Included below are the experiences and perspectives of several interns from Camp Season 2016. “I learned how to communicate better with my peers, and I made many new friends.” -DD “I felt I grew more as a person there to be able to finally mature and see why it’s so important to follow and lead.” -CB “Going to camp was a good experience for...
