Camp Matters--Fall 2015

John Austin Cheley Foundation Fall 2015Table of Contents Buffie's BlogVolunteer Opportunities Buffie Berger, Executive DirectorUpcoming EventsAssociate Camps High on our list is to meet and establish a supportive connection with as many ofCommunity Partners our JACF campers as possible. After all, the work we do is all for and about theFeature TitleCongratulations to Our Camper Leaders many wonderful youth we serve through JACF. We want them and their families toBranding, Marketing and know that we care about them and are invested deeply in their futures. BetweenCommunications me, Karen Smith, our Campership Program Director, and Tim Lucas, our DirectorYou are Invited to JACF Reception in of Programs, we can account for engaging with over 50% of our campers whileChicago on October 3 visiting camps and assisting campers in various airports around the country with connecting flights. I think that's a record!Quick LinksOur Website As a Capstone Advisor this past year, I wanted to make sure that I met JACFDonate Now camper, Brittney Ciciliato, since our work together tookContact Us place by phone, email and text. My plan was to find her at the Girls Trails End/Boys Trails End Horseshow atVolunteer Opportunities Cheley Camps. When I arrived at GTE, mother natureCapstone Advisors called so I rushed up to the \"Boathouse\" first beforeCampership Application Review setting up the Foundation information table. As I cameTeam out of the stall, I bumped into a Cheley camper just entering the Boathouse. I apologized, continued on my way because I had things to do, of course. As I walkedUpcoming Events by, however, I noticed the girl's nametag on the back of her blue kerchief and guess what? It was Brittney! IJACF 2016 Campership Application called out her name, she turned around and I said,Opens \"Brittney, it's Buffie from the John Austin Cheley Foundation!\" Imagine this moment--an unknown, middle-aged woman in a campSeptember 1 bathroom excitedly calling out as if she has just encountered her camp BFF. Rather than this being a moment for total adolescent embarrassment, BrittneyCheley Camps 95th Reunion turned around, we embraced, laughed, and jumped up and down like old friends, while her camp pal looked thoroughly confused.September 4-7JACF Chicago ReceptionOctober 3Cheley in the Community--Zuma Ranch In early June on the first travel day for Colvig Silver Camps, Tim Lucas headed toOctober 3 Denver International Airport bright and early to assist campers making connecting flights down to Durango, Colorado. The Denver weather forecast for the dayCheley in the Community-- seemed ominous, but we were hopeful that we would be able to get all our kidsJeffco Action Center Food Bank flying to Colvig out of Denver by early afternoon. Unfortunately, a flight from Chicago with three of our great new campers, Damia Martin, Estefanie Trujillo andNovember 7Associate Camps Hetsia Leon, all from our community partner, Midtown Educational Foundation--who, byCamp Kawanhee for Boys the way, had never flown previously--was delayed with mechanical issues. By the timeWeld, Maine the girls arrived in Denver, they had already missed their connecting flight, the weather inCamp Thunderbird Denver had closed down DIA temporarily, and they were potentially stranded in DenverBemidji, Minnesota through the night. Tim, however, gathered up the girls, worked with the airlines to try toCheley Colorado Camps get them on a new flight to Durango and tended to them for almost twelve hours straight. They got out on the last flight ofEstes Park, Colorado the night, grateful to Tim and JACF for helping them in extreme circumstances that they had never faced in their lives.Colvig Silver CampsDurango, ColoradoFriendly Pines CampPrescott, ArizonaSanborn Western CampsFlorissant, ColoradoCommunity Partners Why are these stories important? The impact we aim to achieve, building pathways towards a successful future, doesn't happen if our campers choose not toBig Brothers & Big Sisters attend camp or find themselves in a difficult, perhaps even traumatic situation. While our associate camps provide positive and life-changing opportunities for ourDallas, Texas JACF campers, JACF as an organization is deeply invested in, both on a personal and financial level, to the campers we have selected. Making meaningfulDaniel Murphy Scholarship connections with our campers and families and supporting them through their journeys to, from and while attending camp is critical to helping them realize theChicago, IL positive outcomes and impact of the camp experience.Escuela de GuadalupeDenver, ColoradoDenver Kids, IncDenver, ColoradoMidtown Educational Foundation Congratulations to Our Camper Leaders

Chicago, Illinois Congratulations to Our Camper LeadersMile High SquashDenver, ColoradoREACH PrepStamford, Connecticut McCarthy Fitch and Alex Moulton, 2nd and 3rd from right Congratulations to JACF campers, McCarthy Fitch and Aex Moulton, who served as CILTs (Campers in Leadership Training) this past summer at Cheley Camps. When we ran into McCarthy up at camp and asked him about his summer, he replied, \"I've got my legs and this beautiful blue sky and natural surroundings around me to keep me going. What could be better?\" By all reports, both boys were outstanding CILTS. We are excited to report that Kais Padamshi, first year JACF camper, has been invited by Camp Kawanhee for Boys to return in 2016 as a paid counselor. Kawanhee has also asked JACF camper, Cherokee Sperry, to return for his second year as a Junior Counselor. When notifying us about these accomplishments, Liz Standen, Camp Director of Camp Kawanhee, wrote, \"Many thanks to all of you for giving us the opportunity to work with these fine young men.\" We have also just learned that ten of our campers attending Sanborn Western Camps are eligible to return to Sanborn in 2016 as Junior Counselors. Congratulations to all for representing JACF so admirably and for demonstrating that our campers are developing life-long leadership skills through the camp experience. Branding, Marketing and Communications Survey Results Thank you to everyone who completed our Branding, Marketing and Communications Survey which we sent out to over 1400 of our community members last spring. The overall return rate was 18%, which was a little over the benchmark of 10-15% for this type of survey. What were the key take-aways for us? We were pleased to learn that 98% of you reported that we have done an excellent or good job on delivering on our mission. As for knowing the purpose of the JACF, 55% of the respondents indicated that it is \"to advance low income, underserved youth through the summer camp experience.\" There is strong perception among our respondents that our messaging about the Foundation is focused on impact. 78% of you responded favorably to the question about this topic. Finally, we found out that in order of preference, the website is the most preferred method for our community for JACF communications, followed closely by email and then by the Camp Matters E-Newsletter. Analyzing the results from several other questions and through reading your helpful and in depth comments about JACF in general, we detected that there is brand identity confusion about whether we serve Cheley Camps only or multiple camps.

We will post the survey results on our website if you are interested in seeing the results from all of the questions. Using the survey results, our Branding, Marketing and Communications Committee has been working this summer to develop a \"Brand Statement\" for JACF that will drive our messaging, communications and graphic representation in the future. You are Invited to JACF Reception in Chicago on October 3 Come and join us in Chicago on Saturday, October 3, 4:30-7:00 p.m. for \"Expanding Our Impact\", a reception and fundraising event for the John Austin Cheley Foundation. We will have several of our wonderful campers and their families attending to tell their stories about the impact of camp on their lives. If you live in or close to Chicago, watch for an invitation in the mail just after Labor Day. Information can also be found on our website, www.cheleyfoundation.org.Please visit our website at www.cheleyfoundation.org Donate www.cheleyfoundation.org/donate