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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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:
Your Child’s First Sleep Away
Make no mistake that a child’s first sleep-away at a summer camp can be a scary and nerve-wracking experience – for both camper and parent! We have seen time and time again that anxious separation...
From New to Cool
When I spoke to Maggie H on the phone the other day, she was happily on spring break and enjoying sleeping in and laying low. That being said, the moment I started talking about the camp you could...
Crafts has a new home…
Shop class - before the move. If you follow the blog and remember what I blogged about the last time I signed in, well this is Part 2! Okay, so now that the shop class is moved into its new building...
In The Woods…
“In the woods, a man casts off his years, like a snake its skin, and is always a child. In the woods is perpetual youth. In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel like nothing can...
Let’s hear from a Camp Foley Camper
Ellie Mahoney Ellie Mahoney, an 8th grader at Our Lady of Grace in Edina, MN shares some of her highlights at Camp Foley. This will be her 6th year at Foley! Ellie resounds what many campers say...
BEST. CAMP. EVER.
A few months ago, we heard from Claire Benton; a Foley camper from 1987-1992. Claire is currently the Assistant Director at Cornell University’s Engineering Co-op & Career Services Office,...
Stand Back, I’m a Professional
I recently interviewed a Foley vet named Spencer W. from St. Louis, MO. We talked about his experience of the past 7 years at Camp Foley, what he has gained, and where it will take him. Spencer...
Foley Encourages Wellness and Healthy Living
There’s no denying that childhood obesity is becoming a bigger and bigger problem. An alarming study by Olshansky et al., 2005 reports that the current generation of children may have shorter life...
Back in the day…
Alli here, reporting in about reunions and gatherings with campers, staff, and alums. This month we have a great example of how camp friendships hover around like that last beam of sunlight when you...
A Life Changing Experience
Imagine me as an extremely shy seven-year-old spending my summers at Camp Foley which in the ’60s was all boys. I was also sandwiched between two brothers. So down the lakeshore, I went for 4 weeks...
Take A Closer Look At The Shop
Hello! For this Rattlin’ Blog, I thought I would take a slight step back in time to a previous building project that has had a great impact on Foley. Back in the winter or 2009-2010, Marie and I had...
Gaby Carries That Foley Feeling Into Adulthood
The following blog submission is written by Foley alumnus, Gaby Driessen. Gaby is the daughter of, Martha Lopez, who was among the first “class” of female Foley campers back in 1974! As a...
Let’s Get Physical
The beginning of the new year always has an increase in one’s desire to become more physically fit. I always find that people have the desire to start working out but lack the knowledge to develop...
A Serious Need For Free Play
“When I was a kid, we played outside with no adult supervision, we didn’t need electronic gadgets to amuse us or coaches to tell us how to have fun”. I personally remember on many occasions my own...
Chris & Kyle Revamp the Wabi
Look at what we’ve done…or, should I say…"Look at WABI DONE!" During the spring of 2011, I was faced with the reality that Camp was in need of extra space! What with extra activities and increasing...
The importance of playing with your children
I am totally happy as a parent when I am outside “playing” with my children. A highlight over Christmas vacation was the adventures on frozen Whitefish Lake! We walked, we skated, and we played with...
4 City Tour
Hi everyone! Once again it is time to check in on all those great Foley reunions happening around the world. This month we are going to focus on the ones that Foley sets up...the beloved Pizza...
The Unexpected Visitor
I have been at camp Foley for many years, and I often hear amusing camp stories floating around the office, but my quest to bring you blog-worthy tales of happenings from around camp brought me in...
We are ready to be wolves!
When I agreed to interview Helena Hickok (2 year Foley Campers) and Riley O'Connor (1 year Foley Camper) for "The Rattlin' Blog", I was immediately struck with two thoughts - 1. This is going to be...
Meet Mr. Nick St. John
They say you have just a few seconds to make a good impression, and it's almost impossible to ever change it. Well lucky for me the first camper at Camp Foley I met was Nick St. John. Nick tells me...
We probably needed a bigger table
The best part of camp…..reunions! Oh! Surprise! You thought I was going to say soda bread or maybe waterskiing…well…I didn’t. While those things are of course way fun and more importantly actually...
Foley helps parents with ‘Child-Sickness’
Is the single most important thing about camp the fact that the child’s parents are not there? I’m sure for most campers this at least makes their top five. So why is it becoming so increasingly...
Tackling the trees…
"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" Well, what do you think about the opening quote? Does it make a noise? Does it not? Well, all I know is that the...
The Happiness Project
As a parent and a relatively new blog follower, I experienced profound joy when following one of my favorite blogs, The Happiness Project, and its author Gretchen Rubin had a wonderful, camp answer...
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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!