The Rattlin’ Blog
News and Ideas from Camp Foley
With contributions by Campers, Staff, Directors, Parents and outside sources, the Rattlin’ Blog is your one-stop-shop for all things camp. See videos, read what kids have to say about camp and find out about camp culture.
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Upper and Lower Treehouses: The Perks of Both
Treehouses are a special night that two and four-week campers have the chance to experience. Each treehouse is located in the woods across the road from the center of camp. Cabin groups hike, cook...
Top 9 Smart Summer Camp Packing Hacks for a Stress-Free Adventure
Summer camp is a rite of passage for many kids, but packing for it can feel like scaling a mountain. How do you fit a summer’s worth of items into one bag? And how do you ensure your child will find...
Deciding When Is the Best Time to Go to Summer Camp: Beginning or End of Summer?
Are you wondering, “When is the best time to go to summer camp beginning or end of summer?” Is it the start of summer, when the warmth of June is just beginning to unveil its charm? Or is it better...
A History of Clothing at Camp Foley
We have a particularly fun one today! We are going to travel through history and check out how the clothing trends have evolved over the last 100 years of Foley history. We are bringing some of them...
The Highest awards of 2023
Our Campers showed real Grit this summer! Read below to learn about the highest awards you can earn at Camp Foley and who achieved each one this past summer! Gold Birchbark Congratulations to the...
Explore the Great Outdoors: Your Guide to Premier Minnesota Camps for All Ages
Welcome to the wondrous world of Minnesota camps, where each summer, countless children embark on unforgettable journeys of discovery, adventure, and personal growth. From the tranquil lakeside...
Most Recent Posts from Camp Foley:
It is so cold the ground is quaking…
A sudden cold spell has graced Foley with its lovely presence. We don't know about your feelings on the cold, but we were sure enjoying the 25°F days that we were fortunate to see during most of...
E is for Engage
There’s a place for everyone at Foley, regardless of interests or skill levels. We believe that every camper deserves to be engaged with camp life in their own special ways, whether it be...
D is for Dog
Nike & Norm in Staff Uniforms Norm on a Boat Two common sights around Camp Foley are Norm and Nike, the camp dogs. While Nike is known for her fluffy, teddy bear appearance (she is a mini...
Ssssome people are ssscared of usss, we are jusssst misssundersssstood…
Salazar, The Classic Corn Snake Joining our Camp Foley family this past month was a beautiful Motley "Motley" Corn Snake and her best friend, Salazar, a Classic Corn Snake. These two were captive...
C is for Considerate
Summer camp is a great opportunity to develop one’s own skills and grow as a person. What sets Foley apart, however, is our emphasis on growth while simultaneously helping others to grow. Consistent...
B is for Breathtaking
Summer camp campers and counselors at Camp Foley come from all over the Photo by Camper Genevieve S world (last summer 24 states and 11 foreign countries to be exact), a fact of which we are...
Find a porcupine, pick it up. All day you’ll have good luck.
According to the Minnesota DNR, “the porcupine is one of the most interesting and unusual wildlife up to 30,000 sharp quills definitely makes them a bit unusual. Let us have a look to see what else...
A is for Appetite
At Foley, our campers and staff have a special kind of hunger. Maybe it’s the rumbling in their bellies after a tough afternoon spent canoeing on Whitefish Lake, twisting in and out of yoga poses,...
So what do I, as a parent, get out of this summer camp thing?
One of the most popular questions we get in our camp office is: "What will my kids gain from their time at camp?" Our answers always touch on ideas such as independence, resilience, socialization,...
Can we turn failure in to motivation?
In the January edition of Southwest The Magazine (from Southwest Airlines), Heidi Stevens In Criticism of Praise.” The article discusses the effect of too much or insincere praise on a child’s...
What’s in a Letter?
Parents! You drop your child off at camp, say your goodbyes and then you leave that child in the care of these certain amazing individuals we call, camp counselors. Those counselors are going to be...
Blue Jay Stumpers
photo by Alli Faricy Take a look at a common bird and then ask, “How much do you know about the Blue Jay?” Let me try to stump you! What tree nut do they favor? Acorns What other birds do...
Free Range Kids
When a news story started circulating in the Washington Post last week entitled "Parents investigated for neglect after letting kids walk home alone", it made me (Marie) think about my parenting...
The Office Dogs
Are you ever curious as to what Nike and Norm do at camp all winter? They have pretty extraordinary lives. Up in the morning to chase a few squirrels as they trot to “work” and then a long morning...
My kid is 8. She doesn’t need to think about getting a job right now. Or does she?
Picture this: you walk into the living room and your 8-year-old child is grasping an iPad or video game controller or remote control. You cautiously approach and try to suggest some other...
Motherlode
Foley parents are the best and we are so grateful that you entrust your children to us. As Directors, we are continuously educating ourselves on the many trends of youth development and of raising...
Gratitude
grat·i·tude ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od/ noun noun: gratitude the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Each day at Camp Foley brings an over-abundance amount...
Camper Creations: Aline
This is an original story written by one of our campers... Aline By: Crystal L. Artwork by: Crystal L. Two Years Ago - Prologue - Aline's Point of View "I will defeat you!" I shouted through...
What Parents Should Know Before Summer Camp
It's that time of year again when parents begin the very important camp search. For families that haven't found their children's "summer home," this can be a very daunting task. While parents that...
Camper Creations: Drawings
Just for Fun Drawings! By: Celina M.
Camper Creations: The Magical Cupcake
The Magical Cupcake By: Tessa S. Artwork by: Tessa Stephenson Once there were three girls. Their names were Jennifer, Caroline, and Lily. They worked at a cupcake store. One day they made a...
Camper Creations: Spy Camp & Stories
Spy Camp By: Genevieve S. Imagine if Camp Foley was a spy camp. Imagine the costumes and disguises. Instead of Crafts, you had "Creative Escapes." Imagine that every time you get hit by paint in...
Resilience, Grit and DURABILITY.
Something recently caught our attention on the Children & Nature Network website. The title of the post, "The Importance of Being Durable: Building Natural Strength in Our Kids" immediately made...
No Electronics Means New Skills
Campers work together and work on skills they don't even know they are gaining! One of our campers said that she was really proud of herself for “learning how to survive nature with no electronics.”...
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It’s Never Too Late or Too Early to Plan for Summer!
We’re so excited to meet you, and we’d love to answer any questions you have about Camp Foley and how much fun we’ll have this summer!