Eberhart's first director was a prolific writer and a great storyteller. Fortunately for Camp, some of Frank Howbert Cheley's writings were of Camp Eberhart. During his tenure as Eberhart director he wrote three books: Buffalo Roost (1913), The Three Rivers Kids (1914) and Camp and Outing Activities (1915). Six years after leaving Corey Lake, he wrote a short story about Eberhart called "The Yellow Streak" (1921). Altogether, he wrote more than 40 books and edited two 20 volume sets. When Buffalo Roost came out in the Spring of 1913, the South Bend Tribune ran a book review on April 19 saying it was the first book ever published "in which the plot was centered around the activities of a YMCA with a real live leader at its head." The title came from the name of a cabin in Buffalo canyon near Pike's Peak. The review, entitled "South Bend Man Writes Book On Boy's Camp Life," described Cheley as head of "what is recognized as one of the best summer camps in the middle west." It also mentioned his second book (in progress) set at Camp Eberhart. "In writing a book centered around association activities," said the review, "Mr. Cheley has, according to the views of men prominent in these circles, met a long felt need." More than 100,000 boys nationwide were currently being served by the YMCA and "this will be the first published about their sports," according to the review.

The "Chief" wrote The Three Rivers Kids about the early camping days of Eberhart with highlights of specific events of the 1911 season. He dedicated the 255-page book to Harris Eberhart "who was a boy among boys and whose ideals are the living spirit of Camp Eberhart." The main characters in the book were real people from that season, with Cheley as "the Chief," Coop, and the boys for whom the book is named, Harold, Vincent and Leonard Botting of Three Rivers. A host of other campers and leaders are mentioned throughout the work. Shrimp Warren (the bugler), Love Collins, Bill Ruthford, Longley, Johnnie Johnson (Don C. Johnson), Mr. Verne, Mr. Blaine (physical director), Jimmie Vanden (tent leader), Deak (office worker and the Chief's assistant), Porter, Durbin, Studley, Red Goodwin, Portage, Stellner, Rocky (skipper of Dingbat), Fat, Specks, Cow's Tail and Martin. In the story, the Chief, Mr. Blaine and Coop are mentioned often and are cast as the top three men in charge.

Cheley takes the reader through one camping period by tracing the adventures of the two twins of the three Botting boys, Harold and Vincent, from their arrival to Camp on Mr. George's (Mr. Knevel) wagon through the end of Camp. The twins are model campers and are contrasted with Dale Worth -- a camper who starts off as a troublemaker, but who finally makes good. Cheley refers to himself throughout the book as the "Chief," except for one mention where a camper addresses the Chief as "Mr. Howbert," Cheley's real middle name.

Mr. Knevel is a key character and tells the boys the stories of the area. The tale of Hesikia Thomas is told along with stories of area Indians. Cheley describes the digging up of Hesikia's treasure chest, digs at nearby Indian mounds, and the burning of "the grouch," which was burning a dummy at a campfire to ward off camper's bad attitudes.

While developing the plot, Cheley paints a wonderfully detailed picture of what Camp was like during that time. An entire chapter discusses Sunday in Camp and other routines of camp life abound:

Reveille broke on the morning air, and in a moment the beach was fairly swarming with naked figures of every size and build; some as brown as berries, some all tender with sunburned arms and shoulders, and some still white. When the "All in" signal came there was a joyous shout, a splash, and every figure disappeared in the water, only to appear again sputtering and spitting, with teeth a-chatter...

The nightly camp fire was one of the most attractive events of all camp life. There had already developed a great deal of rivalry between the tents as to which one could build the best fire until it had become a fine art. One night it would be built in the woods, another night upon the sandy beach, and perhaps the next over by the cattail swamp on Little Corey. But wherever it was, it always held its hour of enchantment and good fellowship, for no camper was ever too tired, no matter what the activities of the day, to enter heartily into every yell and song and stunt.

Cheley's 19-page story about Camp Eberhart, "The Yellow Streak," appeared in The Boy's Own Book (1921) in the Father and Son Library series, for which Cheley served as editor-in-chief. The story consists of two main characters -- Larry Evans and Donnie Boyle. Larry stole $70 of Camp money and wrestles with his conscience about it. The Camp leaders suspect Donnie of stealing the money, but as Larry starts to runs away from Camp he rescues Donnie from drowning. Larry returns to Camp a hero but before receiving the Distinguished Medal for saving a life, he confesses his yellow streak to the campers. The campers give Larry a second chance and Larry and Donnie become great friends. While freshman at college, Larry has to drop out because of financial problems resulting from his father's death.

Donnie sees his chance to repay Larry and gives him his college savings. "As you give me back life," said Donnie in a letter, "I know give you back hope." The story ends with Larry, now a successful engineer, being summoned by an ill Donnie, a homesteader in the Southwest, to help with his design to bring water to a million acres of desert land.

The story contains some interesting observations of what Camp Eberhart was like during Cheley's tenure: the little ice cream parlor across the lake; the little country store outside of Camp; the "peaceful camp nestled among the sturdy oaks on the Point;" the Indian war dances; campers sleeping in their canvas cots; the evening ball games and visitor's day. In the story, the director of camp is named "Mr. Thorn."

Cheley, a member of the class of 1912 at Colorado College and a charter member of Phi Delta Theta, could not finish college due to financial restraints. The lack of a college education certainly didn't stifle his success as a leader and writer. There were several years that saw the publication of several of his books within the same year. His publishers included The University Society, W. A. Wilde Company, Halcyon House, Abingdon Press and Jennings & Graham. Books include:

Buffalo Roost, 1909
The Three Rivers Kids, 1914
Camp and Outing Activities, 1915 (written with G. Cornelius Baker)
The Adventure of a Prodigal Father, 1916
A Big Brother Investment, 1917
The Boy Scout Trail Blazers, 1917
The War and the Boys in My Town, 1918
Overland for Gold, 1920
Old Mr. Fifty-Minus Speaks, 1920
Stories for Talks to Boys, 1920
Little Leads to Leadership, 1920
Scouting for Leadership, 1920
Camp Fire Yarns, 1922 (illustrated by Frank T. Merrill)
The Job of Being a Dad, 1923
Climbing Manward, 1924
Mystery of Chimney Rock, 1924
Little Loose-Leaf Library for Boy's Workers Everywhere, 1926
Boy's Book of Campfires, 1926
Boy Riders of the Rockies, 1928
The Practice of the Oath and Law (Boy Scouts of America), 1928
Take it from Dad, 1930
Bettering Boyhood: Boystuff, House Life and Leadership, 1931
The Will to Win, 1931
Little Leads to Character, 1931
Marked Trails for Boys, 1931 (with David C. Cook, illustrated by H. Hartke Houy).
Camping Out and Woodcraft, 1933 (Edited by Cheley and Philip D. Fagans)
Camping Out: A Handbook for Boys, 1933
The Boy's Book of Pets, Hobbies and Collections, 1933
After All, It's Up to You, 1935
Boy Days and Boy Ways, 1935
Our Social Assets, 1936
Our Leisure Time, 1936
The Business of Living, 1936
By Emberglow, 1937
These Boys of Ours, 1938
Little Camp-fires: Intimate Chats by the Firelight at the Day's End, 1938
Yourself Inc., 1939.
Letters from God (reprinted in 1995 by the Cheley Colorado Camps)

In addition to this impressive list (which is not complete) and his editorship of the 20 volume Father and Son Library, Cheley also edited the 20 volume Modern Boy Activity series.