Message Board
Send us your favorite camp memory and we'll post it here... chiefouray@ymcarockies.org
Squirrel here.....
Hi everyone, my name is Erica but better known as Squirrel! I attendedCCO in the late 80's and ended as an S.I.T in '93 or '94. I LOVED every minute of camp. It was so hard not to be able to return. Would love to hear from some Alumni.
70's CCO
Curious about others, about 50 yrs old now, that enjoyed CCO. I'm not certain exactly which year it was 70 or 71 I guess I've fond memories but until now didn't realize the number of lives affected...... 98 yrs of them
16 Years Later
Well its 16 years later and I still think about CCO. It was a great time in my life and I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to work with so many great people. I'm now the director of Parks and Recreation in Jacksboro, Texas and have a 3 year old grandson. Man time fly's. So this is a call to all staff from 1990. Whats up and how are you doing. Remember Egg Bake is evil and kids are a lot like cattle. Merry Chirstmas and God Bless.
Thinking of CCO
It's now been 6 years since I last worked at camp. Not a week goes by that I do not think of CCO. I miss the friends, the scenery, the culture, and the outrageous and wonderful moments that tend to happen in that magical world. I am only able to visit camp these days instead of spending entire summers living at the Wolf, but I value the time I spent there above any other period of my life thus far.
I'm excited to be starting a new phase in my life now and heading back to college all the while remembering what I learned at CCO. Stop and smell the sage, watch out for moose, and believe in magic.
I remember too!
Hey G,
That lightening storm on the continental divide. It's funny but I think about that a lot. How did we live through that? By the way, The Eagles are looking tough this year!
Ouray 1979 "The Wild Bunch"
This was the last year that Chief Ouray was going to be alive one more time before it was going to moving to its new camp location. "The Wild Bunch" was born. And the staff was going to make this camp session a special one. The first week a snow storm moved in chilled thing off for a day or two. But the bond fires that we had during the first week of camp dry and warm up the campers sprits and moral. Toga party was just the start of wild and crazy time ahead. Capture the counslor (Capture the flag). Mud wrestling at the pits. Colorado River dipping (Ice water) on hot days. Cant tell you what we realy did to heat thing up at camp on that summer of 1979, but the campers from the at period of time will recall "The Wild Bunch" and the memories they were left with!!!!....
I Love CCO
CCO 2005 was my first year at camp and i absolutely loved it!im going back this year for two weeks this time, sessions 5 and 6. ive been excited about going back since last year ended! cant wait to you all again!
The best summer of my life...
I have been reminiscing the Summer of '98 off late. Can't believe Aaron Brown convinced me to cross dress... TWICE. And Eric R and Tex, I can't believe we lived to talk about that lightening storm on the continental divide that we got caught in. Never in my life did I think I would be sharing a little shrub as protection from lighting with an elk. But I think I was a little more terrified than it was.
Update from the Hanover crew.
Nick Wolf and his wife are expecting twins in a month or so. Spencer is a responsible, married attorney. And I continue to be as weird as I was that summer.
Miss all of you '98 crew. Drop me a note if you get the chance.
CCO is the cooliest!
My first year was last year session 8, 2005. It was the best week of my summer. I am going to camp session 8 this year, 2006, tomorrow. I can't wait to make new friends and maybe see some from last year.
98-99 Staff
How the heck are you doing? I'm calling you out:
Aaron Brown
Gaurav Pani and the Hanover U crew
Eric Rothermel
Chris Miggity-Miller
Everybody else!
A lot of the names are fuzzy, but that doesn't mean you rock any less.
Anyone chilling on the East Coast? I'm now in Fairfield, Connecticut working at Sacred Heart University as Area Coordinator for First Year Experience.
Give me a shout if you find the time!
Peace out-Mark Pittman
Love CCO
Last summer was my second year at CCO, and it was absolutely amazing! The counselors are only the best and they're so funny and caring! I met so many new friends and I keep intouch with a lot of them too. I love the rafting trips, they're always wonderful, even in rain and hail! Thursday night dances are so much fun with Cotten Eyed Joe, dancing with 10-year-olds, rockin out, hippie dancing and ofcousre, the YMCA! CCO really makes you grow as a person, themost rebellious child could learn to cooperate. And the girliest of all girls will be able to go a few days without a shower and lie down in the dirt. I love camp and I aspire to be a counselor there in years to come.
Looking Back
Wow! 7 years in a row at camp and then its over. i probably wont see the sun rising on the peaks for a few years. as a member of the armed forces, you quickly realize that you have to cherish the beauty and wonder that is the outdoors. Camp taught me so many things, and it will always have a special place in my heart, keep the camp spirit, keep the memories
SR Jake Howard
United States Navy
Can't wait for summer 2006!
wow too much to say about cco all in one paragraph...all i can say is that last year was the best year of my entire times here. First i went to sherpa a raft and wow there are way too many memories to say about that, all i can say is "it was sarah". well ya no one else is gonna get that. but then i did a week of regular camp and no joke that was the best cabin in the world. It turns out my best friends simone, who i hadnt seen since preschool was in the cabin. The two best conslers in the world were totally Julia and Marcy mad props. but i did sherpa backpacking the 3rd week and al i can say was it challenged me physically and mentally but in the end it was a good and weel appreciated experience. CCO is no joke my favorite place in the world to be, there is no drama and just about everyone gets along. I cant wait till 2006 summer
What's Happening! Mark Pittman
You called me out? Well I'm here. Great to hear from you. What's new. It feels just like yesterday that we were at camp. What a summer that was in 98'. I'm still working at the YMCA if you can believe that. I am the Director of Outreach Services at a small branch of the Harrisburg Area YMCA in Pennsylvania. It all started at CCO. I've been with the YMCA every since that summer going from a Camp Director to a Youth Program Director and now a boring desk job. Oh well, I guess you have to grow-up sometime. I'll never forget that summer.
excited
ok, so i haven't actually gone to CCO but i'm going this year with my friend jerri, and i'm super exctied! My brother has gone before, and he said its really fun!!!! can't wait to go!
Old Camp Chief Ouray
Old Camp Chief Ouray was located north of Granby, Colorado at what is now a private fishing club.
I attended camp in the early fifties and than worked as a barnboy and wrangler from about 1955 to 1961.
When working we would take packtrips to Strawberry Lake, Crater Lake, and over Buchanan Pass and to Pawnee Pass.
One of the horses we had was a paint named Gee-Boy, who if my memory serves me right was donated by a Bill Gee. Allegedly this horse had been on the capitol steps of all the western state capitols. My understanding he was buried and old Camp Chief Ouray and there is a marker for him.
Dwight Johnson was the Camp Director durings my years there.
My fond memories are of all the people I met and became friends with.
If any read this please get in touch.
E-mail: joswibo@sbcglobal.net
12 years later...
...and there is not a summer that goes by that I do not think of the fun summers that I had at CCO. I start to wonder as my children grow up if they will get to experience all the fun that I had while I was within the grounds of CCO. (as a camper, LIT, CIT and counselor) The pictures bring back great memories and I still use skills that I learned in my sessions there. For those of you looking to attend for the first time I encourage you to try it, for those that have I encourage you to return over and over.
CCo rox my sox
CCO is the bestest camp in the entire world!!!!! I always enjoy coming and seeing all of my friends. This will be my 6th year returning and i plan to be a counsler when i am old enough. Me and my friend Steph and my friend Eva have been counting the days until camp since 150 days....We all used to live in colorado but then they moved away to different states...CCO is the one thing that keeps us all connected.....CCO is the best place in the world they should make the camp year round!!!
WIT rocks!
This past summer was my fifth year at CCO. My summer wouldn't have been the same without CCO. I did the Wrangler-In-Training program this year and loved it. Though the hike up to WIT village was a bit much, I loved not sleeping in cabins again and loved being able to walk out of my tent and see a deer. We had some visist from Balls the bear but we never actually saw him. Well, I hope to do the advanced WIT program next summer because I would LOVE to someday work on barnstaff!!
I can't describe CCO!
I love CCO...its the greatest! I love all the people and the fun, wow words cannot explain! It my home away from home! I have been going for the past 2 years and am going again next year! I love all W.I.Ts!
I LOVE CCO!!!!
I love cco soooo much. i am going 4 2 weeks this year with my friend Rachel. it is gonna be sooooo much fun. i just love everyone at cco. the food is good, the counselers are so cool, and the cabins are AWESOME!! I LOVE CAMP CHIEF OURAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cco my home for the summer
sas i love you so much!! cco is the best place ever. the past 8 summers i have spent there and every minute i am home i wish i could be at camp and i spend it thinking about the fun i will have next summer. cco is a place too wounderful to describe in words, you have to experience it your self, and even then it cant be described because it is so wonderful, yet so different for every person who goes. cco has been such a part of my life teaching me lessons and helping me descover who i am and who i want to become. the peolpe are life long friends and encouraging me to do the right thing. i will always remember somthing unique about each summer and the friends i still call and am very close with. dont forget the butt pillow dakota session 5 '04 babe
CCO my home for the summer
i am an alumni of 8 years to cco. i have been in cabins that are not even used as cabins anymore. i love cco it is the highlight of my summer. i leave crying and it makes me cry to even think about it. i love cco some of my best friends i have met at cco. i have learned some of lifes most important lessons there. camp also lets me discover who i am and who i want to become. it gives me guide lines to being a good person and some where i can always turn to. my summers spent at cco are something that i will never forget. it is the best place ever i can imagine anything any better. the camp fires and waking up cold!! the songs and just the best time ever!!!!!
Bestest Buds
This past summer was THE best summer of my entire life, and I've had a lot of good summers. I miss and love everyone from CCO (Where all the kids come from their homes...). I couldn't resist. No one back here in Texas knows about my Running Man abilities. But then again, they wouldn't understand.
I miss camp!
I have been coming to CCO for six years, but this past summer has been the best camp experiance of my life. I met amazing people and made some memories that are indescribeable. I will remember this summer throughout the coming year, and i hope to return again. Thank you CCO, for giving me an awesome summer.
CCO ROCKS MY FACE OFF
I love anything and everything about CCO. It's the love of my life.
An echo in time
I was 12 when I first went to CCO. I'm 35 now. I remember at that age children were so cruel to each other but I found at this camp, everyone was different. I came in as a kid used to being teased, and left with several pen pals and many happy memories. It was certainly worth the trip from TX. I came back to Snow Mountain with my family in 1999 and was pleased to see so much was still the same. Keep on, keepin' on, CCO, and continue to give kids wonderful memories!
CCO is the best
I have been a camper at Camp Chief Ouray
since i was 8 years old. Each summer I have
done the CCO horse program. These past
experiences in the horse program have enriched my life like no other.This year I participated in the Wrangler-In-Training program which has
taught me lead as well as teach. Camp has
been the best thing in my life and without it
I would not be the same person I am today.
I have come away from camp with some of
my best friends as well as skills and
knowledge that will surely help in life.
Thank you very much Mad Dog and Marty!
Excitement!
Well, first off *Does the Marty salute*. Ahem, now then, I just wanted to say that last summer at CCo was the best I've ever had! I've been attending CCo for 5 years, this comming summer will be my 6th. Last summer I went on the Sherpa-M session horse packing trip with Cami Eastman and it was the best experience of my life! I learned so many valuble skills about camping and packing with horses. I was in the trail rider horse program for two weeks after I got back from that, and the second week I was accepted into High Rider! I am so excited to be able to participate in that this coming summer! Peace out guys!
P.S.To all you Sherpams who are reading this-I love powdered chicken! And yes, ham comes from cows! :P
Life in Nebraska - It just isn't the same!!
I have never hated corn as much as do right now and the summer hasn't even started and the corn hasn't even begun to grow. After spending the last 2 summers out in Colorado working at camp, who could be happy looking at the corn fields instead of the divide? It truly was the best time of my life thus far. Miss you all.
wow...so many people
Hey! i luv the sheer number of people that go to camp! i went this past summer (with daniel Beihl) and i luved it! i was there sessions 1,2,and 3 and i luved everyone of those sessions.......i made so many great friends and i will (and i am still) keep in touch with everyone i met and i miss every single part of camp...so i'm going next summer
The most Magical Place on Earth
After being a CIT in the first 4 sessions of camp, I truly realize the magic that exists every single day and night at CCO. Waking up this morning in my own bed felt nice, but there is NOTHING like the morning air at CCO, waking up with the most amazing people on earth, and knowing it.
Everyone keep in touch.
Peace, Love, and MUCH HAPPINESS.
Jaime Wacker
CCO ROCKS
I love CCO there's nothing better to do with your summer!! CCO builds character and alot of other things that are essential to growning kids... I Love CCO!!!
CCO Memories
Hello campers and past staff,
CCO truly was a mesmerizing place and will continue to have a place in my heart. I worked there in 97 and 98 as a cabin counselor and ropes facilitator. If only the summers lasted forever and the bills stopped coming. For all the kids I led and the lives we touched, continue to believe in the power of CCO and summer camp. The role models and heroes you gain by going to CCO will continue with you for decades to come. Never forget camp out night, rowdy campfire, the dances, and most importantly the time spent with friends. CCO and the Y's message should be an inspiration to us all.
past camper session 6&7 95-98
I just want to tell all my old camp friends hi and i miss you all. the time i spent at camp was probably the best summers of my life, and i wouldnt trade them for anything. I met two of my bestfriends there and i am so grateful. I just want to say to all my mohawk girls of session 6 96 that when we put egg in our hair and went to dinner with mohawks, it was great (and do you remember the look on CIT Jordans face it was priceless). And to all my session 6&7 challenger buds of 97 and 98 dressing up as the spice girls and performing at breakfast is one of my fondest memories, and i miss you all.
~Oh and hi to GURU! i dont know if you would remember me, but me and my bestfriend bridget came and sat on your lap at lunch in like 97 (i think) and quoted something from Romi and Michelle's High School reunion. If you remember i just wanted to say hi!
CAMP IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!
camp is so fun it rules the world!! my cousin pete, my best freind alton and i have been coming for years and were still exited!! hooray for camp!!
sheer love
at the end of the week we all sit togather and say sad goodbyes and it really gives the thought that you are loved at camp too.cco is a perfect experiance for anyone from the wild life to the wild kids.
we luv cco!
hey hey homies! thanx cco for a really great camp exprience. we had sooo much fun. it really brought me and my younger sister michelle closer. we bonded with our cabins and counslors Lindsay and Mollie! we luv u!
camp is so cool
hello camp chief ouray! cco is a really fun cool place to hang out with friends and meet new people. i thought it was very cool. see ya next year!
old cco in the 70s
hey all you 40-50 somethings. my cco memories are the best. i still stay in contact with as many of the group as possible. speak to keith & ken schmelzer and tim quinn all the time. wondering abot the harts, browns and onifrios and everyone else.
i have taken my sons to the new cco a few times, and always check out the old camp site.
one of these days we need a reunion.
hope to see you all someday soon.
jim levine-chicago
Good Times
I went to camp for two years and i am really bummed i cant go this year!!! I met some of the best people that i still stay in touch with and some advice for so new campers... or even if your going back for your second year...BE YOURSELF AND FUN WILL COME!!! My fisrt year i was so shy and i met one of the best people in my life...but my second year i was open and i was just willing to try new things and i met tons of new friends!!!! ALSO DONT FORGET TO GET PEOPLES ADDRESSES AND E-MAILS AND PHONE #S YOU WILL REGRET IT IF YOU DONT!!!! LOVE ALWAYS
Camp Magic
People at CCO talk a lot about camp magic, you'll hear all about it when you're there. But what makes camp magic so magical is that its never the same for any two people. I can't even put my finger on what makes CCO such a wonderful place. All I know is that at camp, its like time stops and you are just surrounded by people you love, doing great things and making memories that will last forever- and that doesn't happen to everybody. Camp magic is the best feeling in the world. Its like bottling up every good emotion you've ever felt and carrying that bottle around with you. And something might spark a memory about camp, and that bottle just explodes and you're totally overcome with this great feeling- every time. Camp Chief Ouray was the best thing that every happend to me.
memories
I had sooo much fun when I went here!! It's been at least 8-9 years. I remember some names...of course "Smarty"(Marty) was one of our Counselors and "Super Yeasta"(Lisa) was also one for the LIT course. I remember Erin and Missy and I remember seeing them shopping one day in Ross...which is really odd...because I'm from Nebraska, and it's tough to just run into someone when you're in the city. We had so much fun at camp! Awww...I wish I could do it again. Instead, I'm in Ramadi, Iraq right now...thinking about life in the mountains. If anyone recognizes me, feel free to email me.