Missing your favorite camp food right about now? Check out these easy recipes.

If you've ever eaten a meal at Camp Foley, you know that what goes in your belly also gets locked in your brain as a sweet, sweet memory. Whether it be a hearty breakfast before a morning on the lake or the dinner that keeps you going through 6th period soccer, Camp Foley meals are bound to be some of the things you miss the most when you leave. But don't worry -- we've got you covered.

1. Breakfast Burritos

Ah, breakfast burritos. These are a Foley classic and perfect for getting your day started on a spicy note. This recipe has all the good stuff, from eggs to pico de gallo, ready to be thrown on a warm tortilla. Dress these bad boys up or down as you wish for a protein-filled breakfast on-the-go that'll keep you awake in class or at work all day long.

      2. Overnight Oats

Some of the best breakfasts at Foley are the simple ones. We love our yogurt, oatmeal, and fruit, especially when we're running off to archery first thing in the morning. Having a bit of trouble making it out the door on time even when you're not at camp? Us too! Overnight oats are a cool twist on some of those Camp Foley staples, and you can prepare them the night before. All you need is plain yogurt, rolled oats, your favorite berries, and 12 hours. Voila!

       3. Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese and tomato soup make a magical pair, and Camp Foley does it right with mountains of the delicious sandwiches for each table as lines of campers and staff form to get their hands on a bowl of tangy-sweet goodness. You can taste it right now, can't you? Keep it classic with just the basics or check out the link for some fun and easy ways to make it special.

       4. Mexican Lasagna

There's no doubt that Foley kids all went home begging for mom and dad to whip this one up. Mexican lasagna is a camper favorite that's just full of flavor and great texture. The good news: it's easier to make than it looks! And, like many of the recipes on this list, it's something you can adjust to your personal taste with no trouble.

       5. Skillet Brownies

You were hoping for this one, weren't you? Skillet brownies are tree house favorites, especially when the nights get a little chilly. We won't be using an open fire for this recipe, but it's just as quick and easy to customize it to your chocolaty preference. Dig in -- no plates allowed!

It's time to give these recipes a try! Show us how yours turned out and share a picture.

F is for Faith

Camp Foley was originally founded by Father John P. Foley in 1924 and has proud roots in the Catholic faith. A lot has changed in 91 years, but to this day, campers sing grace before each meal and attend Catholic or non-denominational services every Saturday evening. We know that faith, Catholic or otherwise, is an integral part of each child’s personal development and well-being. We aim to help kids foster their own faith through careful guidance and by encouraging independent and group exploration.

Catholic campers or campers desiring a more traditional service on Saturday nights can experience mass in the stunning Our Lady of Snows Chapel, singing songs and celebrating their beliefs together. This gives campers the ability to take a break from the hustle and bustle of camp life to reconnect with themselves and others spiritually.

Foley counselors also offer a non-denominational service that is open and designed for all campers. Topics explored during non-denominational services include happiness and caring for others, and counselors illustrate these concepts with poetry, books, and hands-on activities. The goal here is to help campers achieve that spiritual connection through a better understanding of the world and people around them.

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 through intense activities like wakeboarding and archery or through the creative arts activities like photography or guitar. We know that growth occurs when counselors and staff engage campers in activities that allow them to gain confidence and receive helpful feedback.

Never should anyone at camp feel bored or uninvolved; with days and nights packed with fun opportunities to form friendships, learn new skills, and see themselves in new, positive lights, kids are always a piece of the Foley puzzle. Like any team, we need the unique strengths of each and every person in order to be at our best. With that in mind, we seek to give and receive that constant and varied engagement.

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 Golden-doodle), excitability and overall carefree nature, Norm is a bit more serious, fiercely loyal (you can always tell where Alli is as he will be waiting outside of the whatever building she is in or following close at her heels) and lovable in a one on one situation.

The two dogs are best buds, often laying in the sun together or harassing chipmunks. However, just like human best friends, they have lots of differences. At any picnics you have to watch your plate if Nike is out, she is stealthy, fast and always in the mood for a good Sloppy Joe or peanut butter sandwich, but Norm will sit by you whining for a snack, however he rarely goes in without an invite. While Nike loves to swim, Norm prefers to chase squirrels. Norm is happy to sit quietly at campfire, Nike, not so much. Norm hates rain boots, Nike hates thunderstorms.

Nike "helping" with Docks

While they add entertainment and smiles to everyone (and sometimes just annoy us), we have found that from time to time, kids feeling a little down or missing home have loved to have Norm or Nike to talk to or pet for a few minutes. A little reminder perhaps of their pets.

Dogs really do make the best friends.

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 acts of caring and consideration are typical for the Camp Foley camper or staff member; on a daily basis, we see people looking out for others even when help isn't requested.  People aren't the only ones being cared for at Camp Foley either. The Camp Foley community is committed to protecting, honoring, and playing in nature, whether it’s by throwing a ball for one of the camp dogs or making a point to pick up trash when we see it. Every day we are reminded of the importance of being considerate towards everyone and everything at camp.

The feeling you get in your stomach when you go out of your way for the well-being of someone else is one of the best feelings you can have. The only better feeling is the one that comes when you know that you matter to someone else. As 2015 Foley counselor Peter has said, "we should strive to not have to watch our own backs because we know that our friends, cabin mates, and counselors are."

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 immensely proud. On the first day of each session, one can hear tales of the bright lights of New York, the beaches of Cancun, and smooth Parisian accents drifting through the air, and it is often wondered how we all ended up on the same piece of land in northern Minnesota.

After a few strokes of a canoe paddle through the Whitefish waves or a night of stargazing on top of the marina, it’s easy to see why Camp Foley is so magnetic. Campers fall asleep to singing loons and wake up to crystal blue skies peeking through the pines. They look out over the summer camp from the top of the climbing wall and wave to the sailboats as they skip over the Minnesota water on wake boards. And on quiet afternoons walking the trails, they can look straight ahead and see nothing but trees.

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, and ringing the cowbell at the top of the climbing wall. Perhaps they’re especially ravenous dreaming of soda bread on Sunday mornings. But anyone at Foley, from the youngest fox campers to our oldest veterans, will tell you that the real appetite at camp is a true desire to be more, do more, and most of all, grow grit and investigate independence.

Campers wake up in the morning wanting to push beyond the boundaries they may have previously set for themselves. They try new activities, open their hearts to new friends, and discover new talents they never knew they had. They are not afraid of failure because they know that even the clearest path to success is riddled with it.

At the end of the day, after the dinner grace has been sung, food has been shared and eagerly eaten, and the last activities have come to a close, the counselors put their campers to bed knowing that their biggest challenge for the next day will be to provide them with the best opportunities for growth. The Camp Foley experience is a multi-course meal, the meat of which is the confidence kids have after seeing that there is no end to what they can accomplish. This is why the appetite here can never be fully satisfied; the possibilities are endless, and the growing never stops.

A camper works hard to get up on water skis for the first time.

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, new experiences, or lasting friendships. We could go on for hours. And, if you talked to any of the parents of kids who have attended camp before, they could too.

The question we don't generally hear (because let's face it, parents are awesome, selfless people) but may be interesting to consider is "what do the parents of campers get out their child's time at camp?"

All parents want the best for their children and watching them mature, learn new skills, experience great feats, and make new friends can be just as rewarding for parents as is for campers. Many camp parents tell us that their camper comes home standing a little taller or being a little more helpful. All of sudden making their beds or cleaning up after a meal doesn't seem like quite as big of a task.

New camp parents often speak about how they feel guilty for "sending their child away for 2 or 4 weeks" or  "for having fun with their friends, in a kid free environment."

We understand. But, we are here to say - don't feel guilty!  Instead of thinking you are "sending them away to camp" think instead that you are "giving them camp". The best gifts in life are the ones that you can take with you wherever you are. The ones that never seem to go out of style. The ones that no matter how old you are, you can think back to exactly what you were doing when you were given that gift.

Camp is a gift that you can literally never lose. The value in that feeling you will have as a parent when you realize you have just offered your kids something to last a lifetime is incalculable.

Parents work hard to provide the best for their children and when they give them the gift of camp, they hope their hard-earned money is going towards a great cause. We talk a lot about how to prepare kids for camp but how much do we talk about how to prepare as a parent?  

So parents!  Don't feel bad for taking a vacation, relaxing, getting a massage, or just sleeping in for a week straight. You deserve it! And while you are doing all those wonderful things, you can rest assured that your child is in great hands and having an experience that they will be proud to share with you when they get home!

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 style. Would I have done the same thing?  Who is responsible for making those independence choices for my kids?

I started to do some Google searches and found the Free Range Kids website.  There were some thought provoking articles with unique prospective. Here is quote from Lenore Skenazy, who wrote Free-Range Kids - How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry: 

Any risk is seen as too much risk. But if you try to prevent every possible danger or difficulty in your child's everyday life, that child never gets a chance to grow up. We parents have to realize that the greatest risk of all just might be trying to raise a child who never encounters choice or independence.”

If you are not a “helicopter parent” are you a “free range parent”?  Or do you fall somewhere in between?  We believe that camp is all about giving children choice and independence in a safe environment. Maybe we can be part of their "free range".  Thank you for allowing your children to grow each summer with us.

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 nap in the office – and yes, Nike has an office chair!  

Afternoons are the filled with treats from Mary and occasionally the FedEx man or some basking in the sun.  And they have a lot of reading to do as well!  Then they run and run and run in the late afternoons and evenings clocking well over 3 miles out on the lake.  Chasing snowmobiles and deer are a couple of their favorite sports.  Foley is not only a very kid friendly place, it is a dog friendly facility as well!

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 children.

While googling a keynote speaker, I came upon a blog, Motherlode; Living the Family Dynamic  and became immersed in many of the posted blogs.  Lead writer and editor, KJ Dell’Antonia, refers to the blog “as a source you can count on for information about family life, news coverage of family-related issues and research, and a smart, informed discussion of all of the above.”

As a parent of four myself, I found some great information about how to relate to my kids and a fresh look at some of the things they may be going through. Likewise, I was able to take many snippets away for use with the campers at Camp Foley.

After reaching my limit of 10 free articles per month without having a subscription I was booted out – until next month...

~Marie Schmid, Executive Director  

Camp and Social Entrepreneurship

Campers taking initiative to complete a task during
the Final Banquet activities.

We recently came across an article on Huffington Post Education that was a great read and something we’d like to share with our camp community. If you call up any camp profession, they can tell you one million and one ways summer camp can be a benefit to your child. The article “A Consequence of Character” that we came across provides yet another excellent, less commonly touted, benefit of summer camp.

The Center for Adolescent Research and Education (CARE) at Susquehanna University conducted a study that confirmed that “life lessons” learned during adolescence help inspire social entrepreneurship. The character traits of social entrepreneurs include motivation, initiative, sociability, adaptability and optimism and are outgoing, flexible and assertive people. 

Ask any camp professional what character traits campers leave camp with and the previously listed traits will be high on the list.

Participants in the study that attended a summer camp were significantly more likely to state an interest in social entrepreneurship than those who had not attended camp. Learn why by reading the full article.

How Camp Prepares Children

Campers interact with a variety of other children to help
prepare for a successful future. 

"Ready, Set, Go: How Camp Prepares Children for Lives of Success" was published in the 2013 November/December issue of Camping Magazine. In the article, Stephen Gray Wallace, MS Ed, writes about how camps play a role in promoting "readiness" (how prepared children are to be productive and successful adults) and reducing risk (the likelihood of children to participate in risky behavior).

He says that at camp, children "build for essential pillars." These essential pillars include: Sense of Self, Rites of Passage, Positive Risk Taking and Mentoring Relationships. Read the full article on the American Camp Association's (ACA) website to see how these four pillars are linked to positive youth development, reduction in risk and overall mental health. 

Once again, the ACA is providing examples as to how "Camp Gives Kids a World of Good." We at Foley love the fact that one of the things we help promote is readiness and that we can help reduce risk. 

Check out our work...

Now summer camp is well and truly under way, we would like to cast your minds back a month or so to our Outdoor Education program this spring. We had such a blast teaching our sixth-grade visitors about the beauty and value of earth, and we believe they had a great time too!

Take a look at this short video which shows some pages of the students' workbooks, along with audio clips of the kids talking about their favorite memories of visiting the center.

We want to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who took part in our Outdoor Education program this past spring! See you next time...

- Marie and Alli, Directors

Why the world needs summer camp

It is not easy for parents to make the decision to send their child away into the waiting arms of strangers who promise to take care of them – people who promise to show them the wonders of nature, fun, new skills, and friendships.

Jeff Merhige, executive director of YMCA Camp Kern, believes the world needs the next generation to be more tolerant of each others views, ideology and beliefs. Summer camp is an opportunity for children to be exposed to the best of human character. Trends show that children are making more friends online than at any other time in the past. This in itself is a startling statistic because it lends itself to children to desire to spend more and more time online and therefore away from a healthy real-life social environment.

Camp Foley... where kids can be KIDS!

Camp Foley enables campers to meet kids and staff from all over the world - from many races, cultures and socioeconomic cultures! Foley teaches children valuable skills, including social skills and challenges in a wide range of physical activities. These skills could never be taught from a computer screen.

Camp is a place where kids interact with people face-to-face, and at the same time, learn about themselves and others around a camp fire.

Growing up in the UK, summer camp was simply not an option for me as a child. Unfortunately the United Kingdom does not offer these kind of precious opportunities. I believe that the youth of the UK would benefit greatly from being able to attend summer camp much in the same way that American kids can. Personally I would have loved the opportunity when I was young. My advice: truly embrace this opportunity!

- Ricky Searson, Assistant Director

Spring to Summer

Camp Foley is proud to bring to you their first ever Video Blog!

Regular summer campers Lauren B. and Ellie S. came to Foley a little earlier than usual this spring to partake in our Environmental Education Center. These two 6th graders came to Foley with the rest of their grade from Our Lady of Grace school, and were dying to share their thoughts of our Outdoor Education program and memories of past summers. Take a look...







- Marie and Alli, Directors.

Living Room In The Woods

I recently read a great article written by Richard Dolesh which really highlighted the need for places for kids to play - "A Living Room In The Woods".

An outdoor living room, created by kids in Dayton, OH.

Dolesh tells us “A park manager from Five Rivers MetroParks in Dayton, OH, Todd Catchpole, recently told me about finding a secret nature place built by kids in one of their parks.” “The tableau was constructed from grape vines, stones, and other natural materials gathered from the nearby stream and populated by small dolls and toy furniture and decorated with fresh daffodils.”

Five Rivers MetroParks has designated a number of Nature Play areas in their parks, and this discovery was more than the creators could have wished for. “It was a delightful place, full of the imagination of children at play.”

This “Living Room in the Woods” highlights an important truth – the immense value of parks and places of recreation for kids. “Parks are one of the primary places that kids – and parents – can connect to nature and the outdoors. This got me thinking...this is also true of summer camps! Like parks, they’re a source of true nature and the perfect place where kids can play safe and learn. Summer camps offer a haven for children to explore the great outdoors, away from stranger dangers, and they offer an environment that is tailored towards their positive development. In today's fast-paced world, it's all too easy to overlook this essential necessity that is so important to the growth of tomorrows leaders. 

- Ricky Searson, Assistant Director.

The noise of more than just kids.

Wailing, hooting, yodeling and laughter are all fairly common noises to hear around Camp Foley in the summer months. This year, all that noise has returned about 3-4 weeks early according to the Minnesota DNR. Why would the DNR be listening to campers you ask? Well they aren’t talking about campers, they are talking about the loons!

According the Minnesota DNR, unseasonably warm weather has brought this state bird back earlier than expected. Loons migrate to warmer climates in the winter months, but I guess like most people who visit Minnesota, they just couldn’t come back soon enough!

A beautiful Common Loon pictured on Hidden Lake.
(Photo by Alli Faricy)

Loons are named for their clumsy appearance on land and need about 100-600 feet of “runway” space before taking off for flight. But, once they get going in the air, they can fly up to 75 miles per hour! I guess that speed comes in handy when making the long trek back and forth from the Gulf of Mexico! Here in the United States, loons are protected by the Migratory Bird Act which prohibits the hunting or harassment of the birds. It is even illegal to have a loon feather! But, down south where the birds live in the winter time, they are hunted and even eaten.

Known for their striking red eyes, black heads and necks and little white speckles on their bodies, loons can weigh up to 12 pounds feeding on all the delicious fish of Minnesota lakes. Those red eyes help the loons see deep into the dark water....they can dive up to 250 feet in search of food and stay under water for 5 minutes!

Minnesota has more loons (about 12,000) than any other state except Alaska and the coolest thing about about them is that they bond to their lakes! That’s right, in the spring loons find their way back to the same lakes as the previous years. It is thought by experts that loons bond more to their lakes than they do to their mates. So, if you see the same nest year after year, you most likely have a permanent neighbor.

Nearly everyone who visits Camp Foley, or any lake in Minnesota for that matter, knows and loves the loons. It is part of the atmosphere and experience here at Foley. Don’t forget to watch out for, and listen for, the loons!

- Carrie Stageman, Assistant Director

Hey who's that guy?

Ryan (right), playing Hockey.

This month I had the chance to meet new to Foley camper, Ryan A. Ryan is from Maryland and has attended summer camps in his area previously, but this year will mark the first for coming to Camp Foley. I asked Ryan how he heard about Foley and his response was, “I found it on the internet.” Ryan has family that lives in Minnesota so he has seen the beautiful landscape before, and that is partly what drew him to begin looking for a camp in Minnesota. Ryan has had to the chance to visit Minnesota with family before, but he is excited for the chance to make this voyage on his own.

Maryland holds activities that he participates in which he is also excited about trying at Foley like sailing. I asked him what things he will try as a Foley First and he is excited for paintball. The competitiveness of paintball seems to be a popular topic with most of the campers that I talk with. We also talked about our new boat and the chance to try water skiing and wakeboarding. We got a little off subject and started talking about wake surfing behind a boat, that was a fun topic for me to venture off on.  Ryan also enjoys playing Hockey, as you can see from the picture above, he looks perfectly at home on the ice. My hope is for Ryan to try his hand at floor hockey during his first stay with us!

I can tell within the brief time I had to meet Ryan that he will be comfortable in the Camp Foley setting and I can’t wait to see how many new friends he will make. It’s exciting for me to know that kids from across the world will be coming to my new home at Camp Foley and I can’t wait for the opportunity to learn something new from each of them!

- Adam Ashley, Assistant Director

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 pictured with some of his camp friends

Spencer first heard about Foley from his Aunt and Uncle. They had a great experience and encouraged him to attend. “I was a little nervous at first.” This was the first time that he would have to adapt to a new environment. When he first arrived what he noticed is that everyone around him had high energy and was having a great time. A little shy at first, it took only a short time for him to just let loose and have fun. “You can just act silly, be yourself, and nobody judges you.” We talked about the friendships Spencer has made at Camp Foley. “It’s sad to say but I feel like I have a closer relationship to the people I see for two weeks in the summer than with my friends back home.” In fact, he and his friends hate going a whole year without seeing each other so they try to plan reunions to get by until summer!

I asked Spencer if there was anything that he hasn’t tried in the past seven years, and that was probably the hardest question. After a brief pause, he said bare foot skiing. “I really want to try that, but I think when I do it will have to be at camp.” Spencer and I discussed his plan for the future, I wanted to know what his thoughts were on college. “I think college will be just like the first day of camp, I’ll have to adapt to a whole new environment, only this time it will come naturally and easy.” In the next few years Spencer is excited to possibly continue his journey with Foley as a counselor. I think it’s great that his experience has changed him in a positive way and he wants to return what he has gained back to the next group of campers.

So in closing I asked Spencer what his words of advice would be to someone first coming to camp, and to think back to seven years ago. “Be open to new things, step out of your comfort zone and just have fun, act silly, act goofy, just be yourself cause nobody is going to judge you.”

If you would like to be interviewed for "The Rattlin' Blog" email us!

- Adam Ashley, Assistant Director