The LITs focus on Social Justice

The University sponsored the event

 This summer our LITs (Leaders in Training) participated in The Maverick Social Justice Camp. This camp is part of Minnesota State University Mankato programming and was completely virtual. The Maverick Social Justice Summer Camp aims to promote awareness of social justice issues and help cultivate secondary education (9th - 12th-grade) student leaders, especially in multicultural communities. The camp exposes participants to various topics relevant to social justice, especially as they pertain to multicultural groups. Topics our LITs focused on included racism, sexism, and classism. 

The camp took place from Monday, June 22 to Friday, June 26 and was free to participate in. This camp took the place of what would've have been two weeks of leadership classes and programming here at Camp Foley, and campers that participated in this camp will move ahead to the next level in the Foley Leadership program. 

Here's what our LITs had to say...

What are your overall thoughts on the experience and what you learned?

"I thought the camp was very interesting and an experience that has shaped my opinions and thoughts on so many different forms of injustice today. It was fun talking to other people from different backgrounds as well and learning about their stories/journeys with social injustice."- Meghan Jurgens(15)

"I think it was a great opportunity to learn more about the racial discrimination that many minority groups have faced and still face today. It was a great way to start a dialogue, especially with students my age who are also passionate about social justice. I had a blast meeting people from different states and it was fun seeing familiar camp faces." - Betsy Fries(16)

"I thought the social justice camp was really cool experience during the time of covid and George Floyd's death. Those situations helped enhance the meaning and importance of these conversations we were having regarding climate change and systemic racism." - Gregory Forsbreg(16) 

"My main takeaway from Social Justice Camp were all the new viewpoints I experienced there that I've never been introduced to before. There were many times the Social Justice Camp counselors taked to us about topics I was familiar with, but had an interpretation I had never thought of before. Their lectures widened my horizons a lot." - Ella Flynn(16)

What was the most important thing you took away from the Social Justice Camp?

"That even though we come from different parts of Minnesota, We are still so similar. We've all had our struggles and successes with the concept of Social Justice and that its a learning process for everyone." - Meghan Jurgens(15)

"I think it was surprising to learn his much power young people have about the matter, yet still we're only so young and can only do so much."- Betsy Fries(16)

"The experience of hearing and discussing everybody's different backgrounds and first hand experiences with the issues were very important in making our conversations uncomfortable in a good way." - Gregory Forsbreg(16) 

"Going into Social Justice Camp, I was expecting it to be more similar to LIT curriculum at camp: talking about what makes a good leader, giving examples, etc. Instead the camp focused more on progression and roots of inequality in our society. We talked more about race and gender identity then we did about leadership."- Ella Flynn(16)

Our LITs and CITs volunteering for "Kids Against Hunger"

Music Monday! My Mama Don't Wear No Socks

Here are the 1st/2nd CITs singing an old favorite...

1st Sessoion - My Mama Don't Wear No Socks

2013 Preview: Meet the CITs!

We know how much you all love the CITs. They are cool. They know everything about camp. They are awesome role models. And they sing the loudest at campfires. So today, we thought we'd give you the inside scoop on who the 2013 CITs are.

First & Second Session

TJ S. 
This is my: 4th year at camp
Most excited about: Working with the younger kids and helping out
Favorite meal: Tater Tot Hot Dish
Favorite camp song: Rattlin' Bog
Favorite activity: Waterskiing/Wakeboarding


John D.
This is my: 9th year at camp
Most excited about: CIT Opening Campfire Second Session and having a younger cabin
Favorite meal: French Toast Sticks/Waffle Sticks/Pancakes
Favorite camp song: Purple Light
Favorite activity: Trap (because it's a great time to hang out and you get to shoot at things flying through the air)

Jack S.
This is my: 4th year at camp
Most excited about: Helping the younger cabins (because I remember the CITs helping me when I was new to the whole camp thing!)
Favorite meal: Grilled Cheese (with a side ranch!)
Favorite camp song: Rattlin' Bog
Favorite activity: Tied between Trap Shooting and Waterskiing


Cole St.
This is my: 7th year at camp
Most excited about: Hanging out with my younger cabin and helping out wherever I can in my daily activities especially Sailing and Racing JYs (which is the best)
Favorite meal: Burgers and Mac n' Cheese
Favorite camp song: Pizza Man
Favorite activity: Sail Racing

Evan C.
This is my: 3rd year at camp
Most excited about: Helping out the younger kids in their activities and helping with a cabin of younger campers
Favorite meal: Tater Tot Hot Dish
Favorite camp song: Threw it Out the Window
Favorite activity: Sailing (being ont he lake with friends can be really fun)

Third & Fourth Session

Karl V.
This is my: 5th year at camp
Most excited about: Friendship Campfire, Treehouses with my younger cabin and assisting with activities
Favorite meal: Mexican Lasagna and French Toast Sticks (because they taste like donuts!)
Favorite camp song: Da Moose and Pizza Man
Favorite activitiy: Waterskiing and Paintball

Emily Mc.
This is my: 10th year at camp
Most excited about: To have my own cabin to help and hangout with and to get to know the younger section of camp
Favorite meal at camp: Pancakes or Grilled Cheese
Favorite camp song: Old Lady Lear (because you get to yell!)
Favorite activity: Trap Shooting


Sara K.
This is my: 8th year at camp
Most excited about: To have a younger cabin to spend time with
Favorite meal: First day Spaghetti and Tater Tot Hot Dish
Favorite camp song: Da Moose and Rattlin' Bog
Favorite activity: Sailing



Sarah L.
This is my: 5th year at camp
Most excited about: Working with younger campers!
Favorite meal: Outdoor picnic
Favorite camp song: Purple Light
Favorite activity: Waterskiing



Max P.
This is my: 4th year at camp
Most excited about: Having a younger cabin
Favorite meal: Lasagna (regular not Mexican)
Favorite camp song: Chili Chili
Favorite activity: Sail Racing



Miles H.
This is my: 7th year at camp
Most excited about: Getting to help teach an activity
Favorite meal: Sodabread
Favorite camp song: Threw it out the Window
Favorite activity: Riflery

TBT: 2012 CITs Throwback

For this edition of Camp Foley's Throwback Thursday we caught up with some of the 2012 Counselors in Training (CITs). We asked them two questions: What made you want to be a CIT and what was your favorite CIT memory from 2012? We also invited them to share any additional tidbits of CIT wisdom. 

Here is what they had to say:

Jack Cunningham (1&2): 
1. I wanted to be a part of, and experience, everything there was to offer at camp. I had watched all of the CITs make such a huge impact on camp life as I was growing through my years of camp and wanted to be a part of that impact they had on camp.

2nd Session Opening Campfire

2. My favorite CIT memories would be the Opening Campfire we performed for second session. We had an awesome theme (Despicable Me Hits Camp Foley), awesome performers and just an overall great experience. I also had a great time doing the Loon Counting Service Project out on the pontoon. We were "kidnapped" onto the pontoon during rest period and had lunch out on the lake and counted the loons we saw for the DNR's record. 

1st Session CIT/LIT3s

Erin Foley (1&2):
1. I have always enjoyed having a lot of responsibility and being able to help younger campers. Also, getting more experiences that can help me be a counselor in the future. Plus, colleges really like when you have a variety [of experiences].
2. I really loved my group of fellow CITs; we got really close. I just loved having my own cabin and leading the Opening Campfire! It was totally worth it in the end!

  

3rd/4th Session CIT Anchor Winners

Nick Goldman (3&4):
1. When I was a Fox and Coyote, I would always look up to the CITs at the time. I had always liked how everyone looked up to them and always wanted to talk and hangout with them. Since then I always wanted to become a CIT and be able to have that influence on others. 
2. I can't distinguish one specific memory, but every night I stayed with my younger cabin until they went to sleep was great. Spending that time with them really helped me get to know the kids, as well as the counselors, a lot better. 


Paige Harrington (3&4):
1. I wanted to be a CIT because I really looked up to all the CITs at Camp, and I saw that they were making the camp experience for some of the kids, so I wanted to try it out and see what I felt about it. I loved it!
2. My favorite memory of being a CIT was the CIT Opening Campfire 4th session [The Bachelor: Lower Mosquito - Disney Princesses]. I really liked it because, well, for one thing I got to be evil, which I've never done before, and for another, leading the camp songs (whether we knew them really well or not) was genuinely a blast.

4th Session Opening Campfire

3. I would just like to urge anyone that has the opportunity to be a CIT presented to them to do it. You learn so much, and not just about younger kids, but also ... about yourself. You figure things out about yourself that you never would have otherwise. It also just shows you whether or not you think you'd want to come back as a counselor, which in my case I know I will be without a shadow of a doubt.

Do you think you'll be a CIT some day? Or maybe you've already been a CIT and remember some of your favorite memories? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. And keep a lookout to see who will join us as CITs in 2013!