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.
Our Most Popular Posts:
Join Our Newsletter
Countdown To Camp:
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
Camp Foley Hosts 2022 High School Bass Championship
Time to catch some fish! This blog is from an article write up in the Northland Press, the local Crow Wing County Paper... On September 10th and 11th, Camp Foley was host to over 90 school...
How Camp Foley got its Name…
This week we are looking at the History of Camp Foley's name and how it has changed over the years... Did you know that our beloved Camp Foley was not always called that? Camp has had a few...
A Halloween Spectacular!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to celebrate the major holidays at camp? Christmas, New Year’s, Thanksgiving, Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day? Well, this year we found out. We lit up camp...
A Captain’s Perspective
One of the most unique things about my experiences working at Camp Foley is something I am only finally able to reflect on after completing my third year on staff. By putting multiple years into...
2, 3, 5, or 6 weeks?
That's right, the 2 week session is back in 2024! Along with our extremely popular 3 week sessions and 2 very special 5 and 6 week options. But which session is the best choice for your family?... 2...
Camp is about Connection
Why do you come back to Camp Foley?" We ask the questions and we get the same answer every year... "The people!" We pride ourselves here at Camp Foley with having over 30 different activities for...
Most Recent Posts from Camp Foley:
Throwback Thursday: 1983
30 Years Ago in the Summer of 1983... Below are some interesting things I found out about camp in 1983 after reading some old newsletters. Sailing in the 80s. So many different boats! A...
Camp Creature: Trumpeter Swan
Do you know what the heaviest bird native to North America is? Here is a hint, this bird is also the largest waterfowl native to North America. If you answered the Trumpeter Swan, you would be...
What’s Your Grit Grade?
Find your grade on Duckworth's site. The American Camp Association (ACA) recently spoke with Paul Tough about his book, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character. In...
2013 Preview: Foley Records
How far can you spit a raisin? If you're a Fox/Coyote girl and can spit one further than 20 ft, you're the new record holder! How long can you stand on/roll the log without falling? If you're a...
Foley, Futbol and Friends of the Orphans
What is the number one most important piece of equipment around camp? It's the one thing that gets used every day, rain or shine? You can't play GaGa, 4-Square, Tennis, Basketball,...
Donate a Soccer Ball Today!
Hopefully, you've already read a bit about why Foley is encouraging its families, friends, and alumni to donate a soccer ball to the organization Friends of the Orphans. Now you just need to know...
Camp Creature – the Beaver
Quick, name the largest rodent that lives in North America and even populates the lakes around Camp Foley. If you guessed the beaver you are correct! It may come as a surprise, but yes the beaver...
Get Crafty!
Crafts has a fairly long history at Camp Foley. One of the first mentions Campers getting crafty in the 50s! of crafts in a newsletter was back in 1957 when Red Dawn, a full blood descendant of a...
TBT – Memorable Moments of 2012 (Part 3)
What better day than Valentine's Day to throwback to 2012 and hear what some of our campers LOVED about last summer. Sofi Guzman (1st & 2nd session): "Camp this year was the best year. I loved...
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Wishing our entire Foley Family a wonderful Valentine's Day filled with lots of love!
TBT – Camp in 1993
OLS: Cooking over a fire in 1993 For this edition of Throwback Thursday, we're going way back (20 years!) to summer 1993. After picking through some old newsletters, I found some pretty interesting...
Just Keep Swimming
2012 at the Swimdock on the mat. What's the one activity that absolutely everybody does at Camp Foley at one time or another? Swimming! With 4,000 acres of fresh, clear water right outside...
TBT – Heard it at the Pizza Parties!
We were so happy to see so many great people in St. Louis and Minneapolis this year at our Pizza Parties! At both of these Camp Foley get-togethers, we asked those who attended to share some things...
Camp Creature – The Common Snipe
The Common Snipe Is it possible to meld a Throwback Thursday and Camp Creature blog into one? Well in this segment of the Rattlin’ Bog we are certainly going to try. Who remembers going on...
Throwback Thursday: 2012 Octos
For this Throwback Thursday post, I reached out to some of the 2012 Octos. I asked them to answer two questions: What was your favorite part about being an Octo, and what did you learn from the...
Can You Canoe?
Perhaps one of the best ways to capture the serenity of any waterway in Northern Minnesota is by canoe. The quietness of the canoe is what enables Camp Director Alli Faricy to snap all those cool...
Camp Creature – Common Loon
Photo: Alli Faricy As the evening waves break across the shoreline of Whitefish Lake, a beautiful yet haunting sound can be heard echoing through the tall pine trees that guard the grounds of Camp...
Throwback Thursday: 2005
The youngest campers at Camp Foley in 2013 will be eight years old. That means, they were born in 2005, which happens to be the year we’re going back to for this Throwback Thursday. First summer of...
Sail into Happiness!
One of Camp Foley's JYs. Who doesn't love a good sail around Whitefish Lake on a warm Minnesota summer afternoon? As one of Foley's oldest activities, and certainly most popular, we decided to dig a...
Throwback Thursday: The McGuire Sisters
Summer 2012 with the McGuire Sisters Megan, Molly and Emily McGuire from Des Moines, IA. There always seems to be a McGuire at camp. In 2012 three of the many McGuires were the Des Moines McGuire...
Throwback Thursday: Top 12 in ’12
As 2012 comes to a close, Camp Foley is counting down the Top 12 in 2012! 12. Norm came to Camp Foley! 11. The LIT morning and evening programs of relays, races, and large-field games were fun for...
Local Minnesota Teen Does Good!
Did you know that the most popular water sport at Camp Foley was invented by two teenagers from Minnesota? That’s right! In 1922, 18-year old Ralph Samuelson theorized that if it was possible to...
Throwback Thursday: 2004
Did you know that Camp Foley tuns 90 in 2014? We're already starting to plan Foley's 90th birthday so it can be as big a success as its 80th birthday back in 2004. For this edition of Throwback...
Camp Creature – The Minnesota Black Bear
Are there bears at Camp Foley? Possibly... While we certainly don’t see them wandering through camp every day, one species of North American bears is indigenous to the North woods. It’s the...
Get Started
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!