Camp Foley vs. Camp Rock

 

Want to talk about Disney? Good, me too!

Most of us are familiar with those classic Disney Channel movies that played throughout the early 2000s. Musicals became the popular thing across disney after the success of "High School Musical". But after a movie about kids singing their way through high school, Disney took it one step further! A movie about kids singing their way through CAMP! I present to you all... CAMP ROCK!

Camp Rock is a 2008 American musical television film directed by Matthew Diamond and starring Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas, Meaghan Martin, Maria Canals-Barrera, Daniel Fathers, and Alyson Stoner. It is about Mitchie (Demi Lovato), a young girl aspiring to be a singer, and her time at Camp Rock, a summer music camp, where she will discover friends, adversaries, romance, and her voice. Pretty standard Disney stuff, but after watching this movie, kids might be left with some pretty unrealistic ideas about what summer camp actually is. I am here today to set the record straight!

You can watch this movie right now with a Disney+ subscription. 

What is the same?

Because the movie takes place at a camp, there will of course be some similarities to Camp Foley...

1. Camp Rock is set on a beautiful, picturesque lake. Camp Foley is set on Whitefish lake and the waterfront is a place where many of campers love to go, although there is more sailing and skiing done, than singing. 

2. 

   Campers helping in the kitchen

   Mitchie’s parents discuss at the beginning of the film that they can’t afford to send her because it’s too expensive. This can be a reality for a lot of families who want to send their children to camp. Camp Foley offers many different options for financial assistance, from scholarships, to helping with dish washing. Our octo and our dishwasher program looks a lot like what our main character Mitchie takes part in at Camp Rock. 
3. At Camp Rock, the character Tess is the diva of the camp. Prepare yourself to be shocked, but all camps have diva’s (both campers and counselors). But this isn't always a bad thing, and camp divas can come into their own and embrace the amazing experience they are apart of. Camp brings out the best in people. Just like what happens at the end of the movie. 
4. The campers (and counselors) break out into random synchronised songs without any advance warning – especially during meal times. While Camp Foley may not have the production value of Camp Rock, we do end up singing an awful lot. Any of our opening and closing campfire skits would look right at home in a Disney Musical. We even sing before every meal in the dining hall, perhaps with less choreographed dancing. 

What are the differences?

There are many differences between a movie about camp and camp itself. Camp Foley, in my opinion, is just as magical as Disney, but we don't the Jonas Brothers... not yet anyway. 

Big and little kids come to Foley

1. The campers at Camp Rock are all practically borderline adults. At Camp Foley, campers ages can range from around 7 to 17 years old.
2. Our diva Tess rocks up to Camp Rock in a limo, without parents. Campers usually get dropped off by their parents or take the bus up from the Twin Cities. We do have some parents picking up campers by boat, and even sea plane, but I’ve yet to see any campers arrive by limo!
3. I never saw anyone on Camp Rock lugging HUGE duffels out of the cars on Camp Rock, or counselors sweating while helping to trek them to the boys and girls end in the midday sun. Real camp is a little less glamorous, and a lot more hard work on opening day!
4. The campers at Camp Rock seem to spend a lot of time unattended, whether in their rooms rehearsing or while eating their lunch in the dining hall. At camp, it’s rare the campers are ever alone without a Counselor in sight. Counselors are always available around Camp Foley, and supervise all activities. Campers may find themselves without a counselor right next to them during free time, when they can lounge on Foley green or hang out in the hammocks. But our staff are never far away. 
5. Although campers often break into spontaneous, synchronised song, it’s rare that a complicated dance ever accompanies it unlike at Camp Rock. Sure we have movements that go along with songs, like Wisconsin Milk, The Damper song, The Banana song and more, but nothing quite as polished as the kids have going on in this movie. Also, I’ve never seen anyone dancing on the dining hall tables at Camp Foley! Lets keep it that way!

   

   We sing at campfires!

6. The Counselors at Camp Rock (minus Shane Grey aka Joe Jonas) all seem pretty old to me. The majority of Counselors at Camp Foley range from 19 to 25. I see your age bias Hollywood!
7. At Foley, generally you will find that the campers spend their free time making friendship bracelets and playing Tetherball, rather than rehearsing laboriously for an upcoming talent show Although this has been known to happen during our Founder's Day celebration, but that's only one night of the session, not the whole point of camp. 
8. The cabins on Camp Rock look pretty cosy with a few single beds dotted around, rugs on the carpet and curtains on the windows. If you have been to Camp Foley you know our cabins definitely don't look like this. We have beautiful cabins here, but having carpet and curtains would make them a lot harder to keep clean and a lot harder to keep fresh air flowing in and out.
9. Camp Foley is technology-free zone. The kids at Camp Rock have cell phones and laptops, which for me defeats the whole point of going to camp and getting away from the real world!
10. The campers at Camp Rock all look very clean and presentable with brushed hair and ironed clothes. Half the fun of camp is that you don’t have to worry about mud on your clothes, or wearing the same outfit twice in two days.

At the end of the day Camp Rock is a fun movie. It has some heart warming moments about kids finding their passions and true selves. This is exactly what we hope will happen for all our campers when they come to Camp Foley. But I think we can all agree, the real deal is always better than a movie. 

Happy Campers are WE, Here at Camp Foley!

Hey Parents! Benefits of Overnight Camp

What's up parents! Still wondering if an overnight camp is right for your kid? This summer is looking better and better, and after a year of isolation and virtual learning, camp is the perfect solution. We'd like to make the case that summer camp should be at the top of your list!

Check out this article written by Jennifer O'Donnell. Jennifer mentions the benefits to going without technology and the development of strong social skills that will follow a camper through into adulthood, along with many others. In it she highlights 8 reasons why an overnight summer camp can benefit your child for the long haul.

 

These 8 reasons are...

1. Independence 
2. Learn to work together
3. To slow down
4. Appreciate the small things 
5. Learn new skills
6. Make new friends
7. Learn how to make choices
8. Appreciate parents 

Here at Camp Foley, we can say with confidence that we in some way offer every benefit listed in this piece, Check out the article here and then head over here to register your kid for Camp Foley today!

Happy Love Day

 This Sunday is Valentine's Day! We here at Foley are always full of love for our campers, parents, alumni, and for Camp Foley itself! We think it is very important to take the time to show your friends you care, and Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity. This Day doesn't just belong to couples and romance, it is also all about friendship. Here are some Foley ideas of how to show your friends some love this weekend on Love Day...

1.

Think about how excited you get at Mail Call

Write a letter and send it snail mail style! With all the technology we have at our finger tips we sometimes forget how fun it is to receive real actual mail. Sending a heartfelt note to your friend in another state is a great way to remind how much you love their friendship and care about them. Bonus points if you have any Riflery paper at home, what a cool Valentine note that would be!

everyone loves friendship bracelets

2. Make them a friendship bracelet. This could go along with number 1 or you could make and hand deliver a friendship bracelet to a camp friend who lives close by. You could use Valentines day colors like red, white, and pink, or make one that is completely your own. Add beads or special knots and make it entirely unique. 

3. Make them a collage of Camp pics. Depending on your skills and time frame you could do this physically or digitally. But who wouldn't want to get a grouping of pictures from your time at Camp Foley with your best friends. Instagram has great story features for this as well as apps like Canva and Picsart. You could also print the pictures off and decorate them in a frame or on a corkboard and have it delivered. This takes a little extra time but can be really extra special. 

I know you have some great camp pics!

4. Bake them a Camp Foley treat! Candy and chocolate hearts are so over done. This year why not bake your friends some awesome Camp Foley treats. This could be anything from soda bread, to oatmeal bake, skillet brownies, rice krispies, or even corn bread! You can find the soda bread recipe here and if you got one of our "Camp in a Box" kits, you'll find lots of fun camp recipes in there! If you want to snag one of kits, head to our camp store.

Tag us on instagram @campfoley if you make any of these cool valentines for your camp friends! And remember you don't need one day of the year to send some love out into the world. Enjoy your weekend and from all of us here at Camp Foley, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY. 

Luca made his own soda bread at home

It's Lego Day

Today is International Lego day! 

We here at Camp Foley love Legos! And in 2016 we made this love permanent by creating a whole building designed for using and storing Legos! So today I'd like to take some time to talk about our Lego Room.

The Lego room has a very interesting history. It was once Father Foley's ice house. Back before freezers were very popular around Minnesota and the midwest, people would build ice houses. An ice

house would hold large chunks of ice that people would cut from the frozen lakes around Minnesota. The ice would be put in a very air tight ice house and would keep frozen for many months after winter had ended. Ice houses were used to hold ice for cooking and drinks, and also for meat and perishable food storage, just like a freezer would be used today.

In 2016, the Foley Ice house was transferred from our Echo Lake property to the east side of Foley Green, in the spring time. Maintenance Mike and a camper dad did a lot of work on the building before it was ready for Legos. They sanded, chinked, caulked, stained, built a window with old fashioned cranks, built a screen door, built a deck, downed trees for lumber, and added a pop of red to the door to get this new Lego Room prepared for campers. 

The Foley Lego Room is a favorite among many campers! It is usually open when the kids have free time through the day. It is a great place for campers to come unwind and destress. It is perfect for any campers, of any age or gender. You can see 16 year old boys building things right next to 11 year old girls and on, on any given day. 

A special aspect of the Lego Room are all the collectible and limited edition builds on display on the shelves within the building. We have sets ranging from Medieval Castles, to Harry Potter at Hogwarts, and even star wars Jedi! Most of these sets were donated or loaned to camp by our campers and alumni. With some very special sets coming from our director Alli Faricy herself. 

We can't wait for this summer to hear the Lego room full of campers again, and if you ever stop by for a tour, we'd love to show you inside this awesome building. Happy International Lego Day everyone! 

The Foley Round Up!

 Next Thursday is our very first Virtual Foley Meet Up! 

This year we are excited to announce that we will be doing a Virtual Meet and Greet this very night! We have dubbed this first ever Virtual Meet up The Foley Round Up! You have seen us post about it and now is the time to get excited. 

This will be a virtual Zoom Meet Up. We will have Foley families from all over the country joining us next Thursday to learn about the 2021 summer. Camp changes every year and we want the opportunity to show some of these changes up close! We are very excited about what is to come!

What you can expect...

• First and foremost we are here to answer all your questions and concerns about this upcoming summer. We understand that some of our parents have registered and some are still waiting until it feels like the right time to make the decision to come to camp. We hope tonight will give people some of the answers they have been looking for about about Camp Foley in 2021. 
• Info about lots of new things! We have some exciting announcements tonight about new things we are bringing into camp this year. You will have the exclusive opportunity to learn about these additions before any of our other families or alumni!  
• A personal touch and real live conversations with the year around Foley staff. Our Directors Marie and Alli, along with the ADs Ally Daily and Joe will be present for the entire Meet up and will speak directly to all of you and be available to answer questions. 
• Some FUN! It wouldn't be a Foley event with some fun and laughs, we've got some great presentations prepared that will hopefully bring a smile to your face and give you a good laugh. We will be bringing you a Foley Update News cast and some never before seen videos!  

The Foley Round Up is on Thursday Jan 28th, at 7:00 pm cst.

Click HERE to learn more about it.

Click HERE to register for the event!

An Open Letter to Father Foley

 

Dear Father Foley,

I often walk around camp and think about what your reaction would be to the Camp Foley that exists today. Are you surprised little Marie Schmid, who would make you your favorite burnt toast, is now The Director of Camp Foley along with her own daughter? There are so many things Marie and Alli would love to be able to show you. 

Lets start with some positive changes I am excited to share. Girls can come to Camp Foley now! It's the reason I have a job at all, as the girls assistant director, my job is to help all the female staffers be as successful as possible. Girls started coming in 1974, and they actually hold a campfire every session at your old cabin. They roast marshmallows and give out a very special award. 

We also use the old ice house as something totally different. It is now "The Lego Room" where kids can go and build things and have a nice safe place to play. We have paintball now! A sport that involves campers trying to hit each other with paint, using markers and hiding behind different obstacles. 

Some things have also stayed pretty much the same, we still eat soda bread and have mass in the "Our Lady of Snows" chapel. All the cabins still bear the names you gave them, even if a few have been remodeled over the years. I think you would find that Mic Mac and Sacajawea look very different from what you remember. 

The most important thing that has stayed the same is the joy Camp Foley brings to each individual. You started Camp to get children outside and into nature to learn to socialize, gain new skills, and become leaders in their own right. Our mission is still very much the same today. We partner with parents to drive campers to grow, gain grit, investigate, and build independence. 

The reason I and so many other people keep coming back to camp is because of the community built here and the skills that shape us into the people we become. So I think the biggest thing I want to say to you, Father Foley, is thank you. Thank you for creating a place that feels like home no matter what else is going on in the rest of the world. Thank you for creating a place that challenges us to be the best people we can be. The lessons we learn and the peole we meet here will never be forgotten. 

Love,

Ally Daily 

Thanksgiving this Year

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Camp Foley! I thought it might be fun to be grateful this year is almost over. Today in this blog we are going to focus on things we are grateful for when it comes to CAMP FOLEY! Read below to see what the office staff say they are Thankful for...

1. FOOD!

You just can't beat camp food! From spaghetti on the first night, soda bread on sleep in mornings, and great dishes like Mexican Lasagna and Tater Tot Hot Dish. Lets take this moment to be thankful that we can have such great food at camp and that we have access to healthy well made food all the time. 

2. THE LAKE!

Camp wouldn't be camp without the great Whitefish Lake! Can you even imagine Camp Foley without skiing, sailing, or the water mats? Take a second to picture that beautiful body of water in your mind and be thankful it is there. It is pretty frozen right now but will be good as new by the time you get back to camp.

3. THE CABINS!

The cabins are so important to us all here at Camp. They become our home away from home for weeks! Do you remember your bunk beds from years past? That show show much of an impact these cabins made on you throughout the years. Lets be thankful they are here at camp and keep safe and warm while we get to experience Camp Foley. 

4. FRIENDS!

The #1 response to the question "Why do you come back to camp?" is "THE FRIENDS!". You
and I both know that one of the best aspects of
Camp is meeting new people and creating bonds that could last a lifetime. Here is a challenge for you... Take 2 minutes and reach out to a camp friend and wish them a happy Thanksgiving. It could be a camp friend you text everyday or someone you keep meaning to reach too again. Tell them the Ratlin' Blog sent you! 

5. CAMP FOLEY!

Yes I know, this one is pretty obvious. BUT I know we are all thankful for Camp Foley. It gives us all a community that continues to flourish long after summer has ended for the year. Camp goes beyond just activites or programming, and allows us to come out of our shell and experience new things we might never have gotten to otherwise. 

The core staff here at Camp Foley are so thankf ul for each and everyone of you! All of our campers, staff, and alumni make Camp Foley possible and because of you we have the opportunity to bring Camp back in 2021 stronger than ever. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

A History of Sailing

Welcome to the latest of our Historical Blogs... Today we are taking look at Sailing through the years here at Camp Foley!

It's one of the most popular activities at camp, and is the only activity at camp you can take two periods of. Campers have a choice of using our big Hartley boats or the smaller bics. The bics work better for younger campers, as they are smaller and easier to control when on the water. The Hartleys are the newest version of true sail boats offered at camp. They are bright blue and impossible to miss when the campers are sailing them out on Whitefish lake.

Sailing has been offered at camp since 1946, with camp having a variety of sailing crafts over the years. Lets check out some of these BOATS...

1940s

We start off in the 40s. We don't have any pictures of the first sail boats that were acquired in 1946, but that is the year we believe Sailing first came to Camp Foley. Here instead is a hilarious picture of some counselors being lazy on a motor boat! 

Just two staff enjoying the Lake

1950s

As we enter the 50s, the sailing program at Camp Foley really starts to take off. In the year 1950, sailing is offered to only intermediate and strong swimmers. In the same year, a new sailboat is added to Camp under mysterious circumstances. The caretaker Esti insisted it was a mistake and we no record of actually buying the sail boat, SPOOKY! Also in 1950, the sailing program adds its first awards that campers can earn. They are Able Seaman, 2nd Class Skipper, 1st  Class Skipper, Boatswains Mate, and Boatswain. In 1956, Camp adds a new fiberglass sail boat, bring the grand total up to three boats. Also in 1956, Camp Foley participates in its first Inter-camp Sailing Regatta against Camp Lincoln. AND FOLEY WON!!!! 

One of the first Sail Boats

A look at a sailing class at Camp Foley

1960s

And we arrive in the 60s! Throughout this decade camp gets some new boats and participates in mpre sailing Regattas! In 1960, a Stamm fiberglass sailboat is added and camp begins rebuilding the old plywood Miller-Haxton boats. In 1963, the  First “C” scow is  purchased, measuring 20 feet. It has a checkered pattern and cost $1720.00, what a deal! Later on in 1967, camp purchases a new Johnson X Boat, made of fiberglass, that replaces old wooden Miller-Haxton boat, They got it for $1070.00!

One year later camp also replaced the C boat mast, which had snapped in two, during the summer in 1967. 

The C scow mentioned above

Camp Foley in a sailing regatta 

A sailing class

Rare colored picture from the 60s of the Marina and campers Sailing

1970s

We made it to the 70s! We now see girl campers sailing right along with the boys! We also see color photography become more widely used, giving some gorgeous pictures of these sail boats on the Lake. MInor improvements are made to the C boat and 4 more sail boats are purchased in 1970 and 71. In 1978, spinnaker sailing is added to camp. And at the end of the decade we see 2 more sail boats added to camp, an E boat and Thaloc. 

Campers getting ready to set sail!

It's the 70s, which means girls can come to camp now!

Ride the waves!

A perfect shot!

1980s

Now we arrive in the 80s! In this decade we see again the retiring of certain boats and the purchase of new ones. In 1980, sailboarding offered for the first time, as is Sil Racing clinic. The Sampset boat is retired and replaced by a boat called Foxfire. In 1981, we also say goodbye to the checkered sail boat and add a new boat to the marina called the Hobie Cat. In fact over the next 6 years several new boats are added to Camp Foley, including 1977 Melges C-Scow, Vanguard 470, White Lightening, Shatzee, Tanzer 22, and 2 sunfish sail boats. In 1987, after only 5 years with camp, the Hobie Cat is sold.

Camp is stocked up on Sailboats

Check out that old buoy!

An 80s sailing class

Normal day at the Marina

1990s

Rolling right into the 90s, we see more boats transition in and out of Foley. Right in 1990, a new X-Boat replaces the boat Windsong, and a C-Scow is donated by Chrissy Burnett. In 1996, a new award system is put in place and a shift in teaching style to smaller boats is done to focus on all campers learning to sail. It is not until 1997, that camp finally makes it mandatory to wear water shoes or aqua socks when sailing in the sail boats. Also in 1997,  the Sunfish boats are sold and replaced with 6 Optimists.

Anyone can learn to Sail!

Campers Rigging a boat

I spy an Alli Faricy!

Campers sailng two different boats

2000s

We are almost to the end but first we have to contend with the early 2000s! Sailing looks very familiar at this point with only a few exceptions. In 2002, two new capri sailboats are purchased for camp. The next year in 2003, Camp Foley starts to offer another sailing class besides sail racing, called "Sailing for Fun", which had a less competitive edge to it and allowed older campers to sila the big boats without having to focus on racing or take the class for two full periods.  In 2004, Mangos become a huge hit, when the optis are sold and replaced with these yellow boats. These yellow boats are used by the younger campers who want to try sailing. In 2007 and 2008, camp aquires 3 more sail boats, including 2 JYs for campers. 

 

Do you know how to rig a sailboat?

Sail Racing on Whitefish Lake

The Mangos!

Capsize!

2010s

And here we are a the finish line! We arrive to the current years of camp and see that sailing is just as popular as it has always been. To catch everyone up to the present, in 2014 4 new JYs are purchased and live at camp until 2016. In this year the JYs are retired and replaced with 5 Hartleys, which are still the current sail boats today. We also say goodbye to the Mangos and say hello to ur Bics! The Bics are the smaller sailboats used by our younger campers. Sailing is an amazing activity here at Camp Foley and we can't wait to get back on the water in 2021!

Bicity Bicity Bic!!!!!!!

Kids sailing in 2012

All Together on Whitefish!

Check out that blue Hartley!