Camp Moves Me has BEGUN!

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN!!!

If you follow Camp Foley on social media (specifically Facebook or Instagram) then you have probably seen Foley Directors, Staff and Campers participating in an event called Camp Moves Me over the past few years during the month of October.

Camp Moves Me is a fundraising campaign run by the American Camp Association (ACA). Camp Foley is accredited through the ACA and in doing so is eligible to set up a scholarship fund to raise donations that help more kids come experience a summer at Foley!

The campaign is one focused on exercise and fundraising. Participants dedicate their October exercise and log the miles as they run/walk/hike/bike etc. while friends, family, co-workers and the like can donate to support their efforts which ultimately supports the Camp Foley Scholarship Fund.

Click here to Donate Today!

Participants are usually folks passionate about Camp Foley and passionate about helping other kids experience a life changing summer at Camp! We have 11 participants at the moment who are excited about getting out and moving for the kids, and 28 contributions!

Shout out to these campers who are moving this year..

• Maisie M.
• Emma M.
• Aria M.

It's not too late to join the team and be a participant yourself! Register HERE. 

For additional information on this campaign click here.

I tried Vlogging Everyday for Money...

Camp Moves Me is officially over and GOOD NEWS! We achieved our goal and then some!

Hi everyone, Ally Daily here, and I just completed my first ever Camp Moves Me campaign. As a camp we reached our goal of over $12,000 raised from a whopping 211 donors! The money raised from this campaign goes straight to the Foley Scholarship Fund to help send more kids to camp. Here is a recap of my first time experience with this fundraiser.

Now I'll never claim to be a runner but walking a mile and a half a day seemed achievable. This was my first try at fundraising, and I was nervous! I couldn't stop thinking about all the bad things that might happen... Now don't worry, this story has a happy ending. But in the beginning I had no idea where to start. So like every good millennial I looked to the internet for answers. That's where I discovered the not so new phenomenon of "Daily Vlogs". Making up large parts of YouTube, these videos catalog a person's everyday life and show that they are just like us. Idea found! I went ahead and started filming myself taking a mile and half walk everyday.

While I never got a call from Ryan Seacrest to create my own show, I got a lot of great response from the videos. After I got over the nervousness of asking for money, the sky was the limit, the trick is that unlike most pleas for cash, this cause was super important to me, getting more campers to come to Camp Foley.

I walked 46 miles this October and made more than my $500 goal. Sure it was fun pretending to be a social media starlet, but this campaign is about so much more.  I got donations from family members who had only every heard about camp because of my many years of boasting as a kid, I got donations from cabin mates I had grown up with but hadn't spoken to in years, and I received tons of encouraging messages from people, telling me to keep going FOR THE KIDS!

What this month of fundraising taught me is that anyone can do it, with some hard work and persistence. I would encourage everyone who loves camp to participate next year. Make your own videos! Or find out what will work for you. Walk, run, bike, skateboard, just get out there and move. Because like everything here at Foley, we do it for the kids.

If you want to check out my vlogs, they are on my Facebook page.

~Camp Moves Me Update~

This Fall is flying by! We are 24 days into October and that blows our mind. Do you know what else blows our mind? That over 160 people have donated and raised over $6,300 for the Camp Foley Scholarship Fund! Thank you to everyone who has donated and is helping to make it possible for more kids to experience a summer at Foley.

Donate Today!

Hear from some of our participants on how their individual efforts are going for this campaign!

Krista Strobel

"This view (to the left) has been my view for 130+ miles this month. I've been taking spin classes three to four times a week to hit my goal of 150 miles. I cycle quite often, but I'm usually only getting 80-100 miles a month. So 150 is no small feat.

The highlight of my month was the support I've received from my coworkers at The Lacek Group. Not only have they donated over $400 to Camp Moves Me, they continuously ask about my progress and provide a lot of encouragement. The hardest part about my Camp Moves Me participation? Offering up a five-song playlist to people that donate $25. It's so much more difficult than I thought it would be. (Poem writing though for $10 has been surprisingly easy.)

I've never been a participant in Camp Moves Me; in the last I’ve only donated. This year I chose to participate because I wanted to try something physically outside my routine. But more importantly, I chose to participate because I love camp and wanted to find a way to support more kids having the chance to go to camp."     

Kieran O'Connell and Emily McGuire

"Camp Moves Me this year has inspired me to be active all month long, even while adjusting to a new city and a crazy new schedule. There’s no better time to explore a new place than in October, and luckily I have one of my best camp friends, Emily McGuire, to show me how good fall looks in Omaha. 

Our passion for camp will never fade, and being able to pass on our love of Foley to more campers is reason enough to get moving and raise donations. Camp Foley has provided a summertime paradise for myself, my sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles and mom for the past 3 decades. We can’t go one holiday without talking about some memory sailing on Whitefish, trekking up to Upper Mosquito Treehouse, or laughing about old camp songs that have been taught to us over the years.

Camp doesn’t just give you something to do for 2 weeks in the summer, it gives you skills to use more than you think you will, stories to tell in new places, and lifelong friends to rely on and reminisce with. If every kid could go to summer camp at least once, I believe the world would be a better place." 

Kevin Beltz

"For camp moves me, I’ve been moving in three ways: biking, hiking, and running. I decided to include three activities this year because I doubled the miles from last year (from 100 to 200) and last year in October I ended up going on two backpacking trips that I couldn’t count because I was only counting biking miles. In addition to these movements, I’ve surfed three or four days, rock climbed a ton, and done yoga a ton!

My highlights have been the two days I mountain biked. Good times, got some air time, threw some dirt around. The mental “ highlight” was when my friend challenged me to run a 5k for $20. I HATE running and only included it because I thought it would be easier to do while traveling for work. I ran the 5k in a downpour!

I participated in CMM to encourage get my friends to donate to summer camps, make them realize that camp is important to me, and then me selfishly setting goals that I don’t want to do and proving to myself that I still have the grit I developed at summer camp."

Joe Harrington 

"This is my third fall participating in Camp Moves Me, and while the focus remains the same my experience has been vastly different. Since I am living in Guatemala right now, not only are my runs a great deal more beautiful than the boring streets of Nebraska, but what I see every day reminds me how great summer camp can be for a child. 

Every day here in Guatemala I see kids playing outside and exploring instead of sitting inside and playing Fortnite. While a child back home may spend hours a day in front of a TV, I have seen kids spend hours climbing trees or exploring the jungle. I am constantly reminded of how great spending time outside is, and it makes me even happier to be running every day for such a great cause.

I have seen first hand many times what a positive impact camp can have on a child’s life and how it will positively impact them for life, which is why I am so happy and proud to be raising money for Camp Foley this October."




Kylie Beltz

"I don’t know where to begin to describe my attachment to Camp Foley. It has been such an influential part of my life, and has given me a valuable set of skills I continue to use every single day. Constantly, I find myself thinking about camp and wishing every kid got the opportunity to go. 

Which is why, this October for Camp Moves Me, I decided to hike, hike, and hike some more to raise money to make that happen. I have always loved the outdoors, and Foley has always fueled that passion. Along with that, camp has helped shape me to be independent and adventurous. Hiking allows me to be active (which I love) and just revel in the beauty of nature, and this month it’s for a good cause!

I have hiked 130 miles of my 150 I pledged. I’ve gotten to explore Jasper National Park in British Colombia, I hiked in Montana, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. I’ve connected with friends from Foley along the way, and we all know those are the most special friendships. I’m rambling now, but I will say Camp Moves Me is important to me because I love camp and I just really want every kid to have the opportunity to experience it.”

Donate Today!

Learn more about our October fundraiser here.

Foley's 5K Runs

Each Session at Camp Foley provides the opportunity for campers to partake in a 5K run (or similar event) within an hour radius of Camp Foley.

1st Session Foley 5K Runners!

First Session there was the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Run at Pequot Lakes High School in Pequot Lakes, MN. Second Session the annual Lori’s Walleye Run 5K was in Crosslake, MN. Third Session had 14 campers go to the Muskie 5K for the Nevis Public Schools in Nevis, MN. Fourth Session saw another trip to Pequot Lakes this time for the Dru Sjodin Memorial 5K.

2nd Session Foley 5K Runners!

Running days start early. Campers wake up around 6:15 am for a 6:30 am breakfast and a 7:00 am departure. Once breakfast is done, the campers hop in the van, driven by one of the counselors. They get the opportunity to all drive together while talking and getting hyped up for the run! An awesome team (camper) bonding time.

3rd Session Foley 5K Runners!

Once arrived, everyone hops out of the van and prepare themselves for the run. Each 5K is run by volunteer staff and each 5K usually offers some free swag for all registrants, such as t-shirts and water bottles. The shirts are often fun and stylish and the campers love them! Other light refreshments are given, such as oranges, granola bars, and water bottles. This is also a great time for local communities to be introduced to the Camp Foley community! Especially if they haven’t met anyone from Foley before.

4th Session Foley 5K Runners!

The 5K Race typically starts at 9:00 am. Runners may take anywhere from 17 minutes to 1 hour to complete. We wait until all runners are finished and stay for the awards ceremony. Foley had an awesome showing this summer as many campers finished in the top of their age group and divisions. The campers surely showed off their medals to their parents when they returned home!

Campers return to camp tired but smiling after a busy morning. We look forward to these Minnesota philanthropic runs and events, and encourage campers to take part in the 5K's for Summer 2020! To get your name on the early list of interest email Mary with an inquiry and what session your camper is attending!

Lastly, check out how we are keeping the running going this October with Camp Moves Me!

Camp Moves Simon. Participant Spotlight!

This October we saw our highest number of Camp Moves Me participants yet! 20 wonderful members of our Foley family dedicated their October exercise (running, biking, swimming, hiking, walking, kayaking/canoeing, etc.) and asked family and friends for donations. Donations go directly into the Camp Foley Scholarship fund, thus directly impacting our campers. 90% of the money raised will be deposited into our fund so we can help get more kids to camp next summer (the other 10% goes to the American Camp Association). We are ecstatic to say this Camp Moves Me campaign was our most successful yet! Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all of the participants and donors. You are incredible. 

We recently had a conversation with one of our campers who participated for the first time to get his thoughts on the Camp Moves Me campaign. Simon was a first year participant and raised over $400 during the month long campaign. The heart and drive this young man displays to help make this world a better place is inspiring. 

Featured Participant: Simon M.

Age & Years as a camper: I'm 12 and next summer will be my 6th summer at camp!    

                 

Simon racing in Vail, Colorado, while repping a
Camp Foley sweatshirt! 

Hobbies Outside of Camp: football, lacrosse, downhill ski racing, hanging out with family and friends, and helping people in need. 

Favorite Camp Meal:  Pancakes! They are so good!          

Favorite Camp Song: Down By The Bay

Why did you choose to participate in Camp Moves Me? I chose to do Camp Moves Me because I wanted to help raise money for people who couldn’t go to camp and experience the awesomeness of it so that they could go and experience it. 

What mode of exercise did you choose and how many miles did you complete?  I chose biking and I biked 100 miles. 

Completing 100 miles of biking is quite the accomplishment! What motivated you to complete your miles? My motivation was like I said before, because I like to help anyone in need. Also, I love to be outside and biking. 

Do you feel that all kids should have the opportunity to go to summer camp?  Yes, I do think that all kids should be able to go to camp, especially Camp Foley, because it changes your life. It makes you a better person and you have the most fun of your life. 

Would you recommend others participate in Camp Moves Me? Yes, I do think that more people should participate in Camp Moves Me because they are helping other people and it’s a good, healthy choice for them to push themselves to be active.


Way to go, Simon! We are proud of your accomplishments. Thanks again to all of the donors and participants - you help make camp great!