A Colorado Christian camp is suing the State of Colorado over licensing requirements that the camp claims violate its religious beliefs. Camp IdRaHaJe is located south of Evergreen off Highway 285 and has been operating since 1948.

A camp tucked amongst the mountains holds summer memories for Leah Rohwer.

“I actually worked there as a horse wrangler in 2001 over the summer,” said Rohwer

When her two daughters were old enough to go, Camp IdRaHaJe once again became a part of her family’s life.

“They love it,” said Rohwer. “They’ve gone since after the pandemic. They’re set to go this year.”

In less than a month, campers will return to Bailey, Colorado, and kick off the summer at Camp IdRaHaJe, including Rohwer’s two daughters. However, families like hers also wonder what will happen to the future of the camp in the wake of a lawsuit challenging new state licensing guidelines that the camp says do not align with their religious beliefs.

“I fully support the camp in this decision,” said Rohwer.

The new rules, issued by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, outline requirements for camps to allow campers in attendance access to toilets, bathroom facilities, rooms, and other spaces that align with the person’s gender identity.

“This regulation requires it for bunking, for bathing, for changing, for anywhere where they would be separated biologically,” said Rohwer.

The camp resisted those changes and initially asked for an exemption from these new regulations based on the camp’s religious ideologies.

When the state refused to grant this exemption, the camp’s defense team filed a lawsuit against the CDEC.

“Camp is in jeopardy that they’re going to continue operating in what they believe is consistent with freedom of religion and what they should be allowed to do as a religious organization,” said Rohwer.

The executive director of the camp released a statement in response to their lawsuit filed:

Camp IdRaHaJe has faithfully served and ministered to Colorado children of all backgrounds and faiths since 1948 and has successfully maintained its resident camp license since it first received one in 1995. The new policy of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, however, is asking IdRaHaJe to choose between upholding its Biblical beliefs about biological sex and risk losing its license or abandoning its beliefs and mission by forcing girls and boys to shower, dress, and share sleeping quarters with campers of the opposite sex. We are asking the court to allow us to operate consistent with our beliefs and protect our campers from a gender ideology agenda.

 ADF Legal Counsel Andrea Dill, representing the camp,  also released a statement:

The government has no place telling religious summer camps that it’s ‘lights out’ for upholding their religious beliefs about human sexuality. Camp IdRaHaJe exists to present the truth of the Gospel to children who are building character and lifelong memories. But the Colorado government is putting its dangerous agenda—that is losing popularity across the globe—ahead of its kids. We are urging the court to allow IdRaHaJe to operate as it has for over 75 years: as a Christian summer camp that accepts all campers without fear of being punished for its beliefs.

The CDEC did not respond to a request for comment pending litigation.

For Rohwer, she says the state’s policy is overreaching, especially when it comes to an institution that’s had the same values instilled for nearly 80 years.  

“They feel like they’re honoring god in what they’re doing, and I feel like they should do that, to operate in a way that’s consistent with that,” said Rohwer.

Having a family member that is transgendered, Rohwer says she empathizes with children who may identify outside of their biological gender, but she says she does not support a change that forces an organization to change its religious values.

“I have a heart for the kids that feel like they don’t fit in their body,” she said. “I love those kids and I’m not saying anything bad about any of those kids or family members, whoever it might be, but I feel like we shouldn’t stomp on someone’s religious freedom to try and help those folks.

A man guilty of recording women in dressing rooms last year will be spend time in jail thanks to the actions of one of his victims. CBS Colorado spoke to the woman who caught the suspect, who on her own was able to hold him for police and ultimately hold him accountable. She shared her journey as an advocate for her fellow victims, which she explained has also led to personal growth for herself over the past year. 

Paul Gonzalez was sentenced to 60 days in the Jefferson County jail after he was found guilty of filming multiple women without their knowledge in a dressing room at a Nordstrom Rack in Lakewood back in May 2024. 

The 19-year-old suspect was ultimately caught by Michelle Chandler, who spoke to CBS Colorado about her experience. Gonzalez and Chandler went viral when she caught him filming her, and a recording showed her stopping him from fleeing in time for his arrest. 

“I had a lot of anger I have had to work through,” Chandler told CBS Colorado. “It was like all of this rage … You can’t do this to me.” 

Chandler spoke at Gonzalez’s sentencing Wednesday. She said she waived her victim compensation and hopes Gonzales will use the money to get the help he needs. Under a plea agreement, Gonzalez was found guilty of invasion of privacy for sexual gratification. 

The day before sentencing, Chandler was taking a self-defense class at Gracie Jiu Jitsu Aurora. She never thought self-defense classes would be a part of her weekly routine. She also never thought she’d catch a man filming her without her knowledge.

It was the day before Mother’s Day last year when Chandler, a mother of five, visited the Nordstrom Rack in search of a Mother’s Day outfit. Instead, she found Gonzales filming her from the changing room next-door. 

“I bent down and looked underneath the stall to make sure what I was seeing was correct, and he was still squatted down. He had his pants at his thighs,” Chandler explained. 

Michelle grabbed the culprit as he tried to escape, which bystanders recorded on their phones at the scene. Two employees also intervened and initially helped to hold Gonzalez from escaping.

“He started trying to take off,” Chandler said. “There was a fight.”

Chandler had help until, she says, managers told the employees to let the suspect go, leaving her alone to restrain the man who violated her privacy. 

“I looked at them, and I said, ‘You let people get away for shoplifting. What’s next? Where does this end?” Chandler explained. 

Nordstrom did not respond to questions from CBS Colorado, but its “Customer Bill of Rights” online says, “Nordstrom requires its employees to respect the basic civil and legal rights of any person suspected of shoplifting or other crime committed on store property.”

Investigators later confirmed three additional women were recorded that day, including a victim who was fully unclothed. However, Chandler says Lakewood Police Department never pursued their identities. In the criminal case against Gonzales, those three women are listed as “Jane Doe.”

“I was told, ‘If this had happened to you and you had not known, would you want to know?,’” Chandler shared. “Suddenly, every woman would wonder, ‘Is it me?’ And it could cause panic and a sizable number of people trying to contact like flooding Lakewood PD. Will they get peace or closure? There’s two sides to every coin.”

In a statement, Lakewood PD told CBS Colorado, “If we were able to identify these women, we absolutely would. Unfortunately in this case, we were unable to identify who they were.”

Still, Chandler wants to be an advocate for those women.

“I want all women and girls to be protected. I also feel like I am the only voice for three other women that have no idea,” Chandler said. 

Nordstrom Rack in Lakewood has since changed its dressing rooms, so the partition walls now touch the floor. Chandler believes all companies need to put public safety first and construct their fitting rooms accordingly.  

A year later, Chandler gained a strength she says she didn’t know was possible.

“I would not take back what I’ve been through for who I am today, the resilience, the strength, the interchange in me and the confidence that I have,” Chandler said. “I just feel like I have my strength and my dignity back.”