Rotary Club tours Camp Cho-Yeh expansion project

Guy Bratton, vice president of operations for Camp Cho-Yeh, leads members of the Rotary Club of Livingston on a field trip Thursday to view the various improvements and expansion projects that are underway at the Christian camp and retreat center. (l-r) Mark Waters, Barbara Waters, Ron Boyce, Mindy Ellis, Richard Gilbert, Blake Thornton, Rick Oliver, Ray Gearing, Kole Puckett, Cho-Yeh Vice President of Operations Guy Bratton, Andrew Boyce, Brandon Wigent, Bev Reed, Pam DeBlasio, Steve Fowlkes, Trina Fowlkes, Judy Cochran, Heidi Barnes and Judson Pritchard. Not pictured: Guylene Robertson, Cho-Yeh Vice President of Advancement Joy Lester, Pat Pritchard and Cho-Yeh Executive Assistant Beth Bratton. Photo by Emily Banks Woote

By Emily Banks Wooten
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Guy Bratton, vice president of operations for Camp Cho-Yeh, along with Vice President of Advancement Joy Lester and Executive Assistant Beth Bratton, treated the Rotary Club of Livingston to a firsthand view of the tremendous expansion that is currently underway at Camp Cho-Yeh, the local Christian camp and retreat center.

The word “Cho-Yeh” comes from the local Alabama-Coushatta language and means “land of tall pines.”

Comprising 650-700 acres in Livingston with 950 beds, Cho-Yeh also has Boxwoods, the shipping container camp on Lake Livingston with 300 beds, and embarked on a massive expansion the last couple of years in which 250 beds will be added to the property in town.

Founded in 1947, Cho-Yeh hosts 4,750 campers each summer. However, its retreat ministry is what happens the remainder of the year and brings in numbers just shy of 27,000, Bratton said.

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“We want to increase the number of campers, so we have about 15 cabins in some form of construction right now. Ultimately, we’ll be building 16 treehouse cabins,” he said, adding that the expansion will open the summer of 2025.

“This is Phase one, a $22 million project. Once it’s completed, we’ll slow down the pace for a few years and build two cabins a year and then ramp back up,” Bratton said.

Cho-Yeh has about 45 year-round staffers. They were at 52 before COVID, got down to 22 during COVID and are building back now, he said.

“Our mission is to be a place where Jesus Christ transforms lives through meaningful relationships and outdoor adventures. We want forward motion, also known as challenge by choice. Outdoor adventures help overcome fears and build confidence,” Bratton said, adding that the camp has a one to five ratio of counselors to kids.

“Cho-Yeh is profoundly blessed with a supportive community, and we give several hundred thousand dollars of scholarships every year. Financial assistance is available, and we offer a cut rate for Polk County kids,” Bratton said.

For additional information, go to cho-yeh.org.