Giving back to Foley

Foley. It’s amazing how a simple five-letter word can not only bring back so many memories, but it is also a place I call home. In my life, I have been so blessed to have Camp Foley as a part of my life. From soda bread Sundays, to rainy day lip syncs, every day at Foley is a special day. Special because there is no place in the world like Camp Foley. Special because there is no one like the friends at camp anywhere else. And special because each individual, camper, staff, administrator, or director makes it special.

Having fun at camp during my CIT year.

Sitting outside over-looking the icy, slushy Whitefish Lake on a beautiful day during my spring break, special memories come to mind. Tessa Lee’s first summer here and our seven year old selves sleeping in the Tipi. Making endless friendship bracelets. Singing camp songs. Looking up to the Tek girls and wanting to be one of them. Soon enough, it was my last summer as a camper and I was a CIT along with Parker Poche’, Matt Carney, Eric Newman, and Dan Suchsland (most of whom will be back as counselors as well). I wasn’t ready to say good-bye to the only summer I’d ever known, and the best possible summers anyone could ever ask for.

Some of you who know me might be thinking, “She lives at camp, so she never really had to say goodbye,” or something along those lines. But what you don’t know is how hard it was to hear camp songs through my bedroom window, or to see people running around Foley Green or splashing in the water, and to know that I could never be a camper again.

Me and Tess, 2001.

Going away to college out near Boston, Massachusetts, made me realize more than I already knew of how an extraordinary place Foley is. Being there all the time, I think I took the experience, the friendships, and the summers for granted. The last couple summers haven’t been the same without camp, and that is why I decided to be a counselor this summer. I want to give back to camp because camp has given me so much, and has made me who I am. Whenever I am coming back to Minnesota from school, I pause at the top of the big hill and look at the lake, and I know I am home. No matter how near or far, Foley is always with me, as it is for most of us who have been blessed with being a part of the Foley Family.

- Kylie Beltz, Counselor.