Can I Really Spend Another Summer Working at Camp?

Are you a past Camp Foley counselor? Are you thinking of spending a summer working at Foley? Are you worried you're missing another opportunity if you commit to working at a summer camp AGAIN?

Worry not! You might think I'm biased towards working at camp, but don't just take it from me take it from Leah Mesches! She recently wrote an article about the benefits of working more than one year at a summer camp. She writes about how working multiple
years at summer camp is equivalent to multiple levels of leadership training. She also touches on how working at the same camp for a few years gives you a chance to really focus on the skills you want hone for future jobs, as you are already familiar with the camp environment.



Take some time to read the whole article here. And if you've been waiting for a sign to fill out that 2020 staff application, the time is NOW! And maybe refer a friend who is looking for an amazing summer experience. The best people to pitch Foley to new counselors is past counselors!

What an AMAZING summer!

It's hard to believe that our summer officially ended on Saturday. We said goodbye to our remaining counselors on Friday and our summer ADs headed out Saturday morning (after one last wakesurfing session). After 10 weeks of non-stop Camp Foley fun, everything is pretty much packed away until 2015. We're looking forward to one last week of Foley in September for Environmental Education.

What a great summer it was! We handed out eight Anchor Awards (Lachlan Ewald, Sophie Johnson, Danny Holmes, Frances Schroeder, Josh Levinson, Claudia Leon de la Vega, Franci Volpi and Maggie Hinken). We inducted eight people into the Hall of Fame (Matt Carney, Steven Davis, Emily Newman, Kevin Beltz, Sara Turke, John Daily, Tory Kronschnabel and Evan Oncay). We had a slew of new campers join us for the first time and many more return for another summer. There were a handful of campers that joined us for their last summer, and we're so sad to see them go. Our CITs nad LITs were outstanding. Our Octos put in lots of hard work in the cabins and kitchen. Our counselors put in time and energy to make this summer unforgettable.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our 90th summer in any capacity (camper, counselor, AD, alumni visitor or a new family that came for a tour). Great summers like this one get us even more excited to get the ball rolling as we spend the next ten months planning for our 91st summer. See you in 2015!

And as always: Make it a great day or not... the choice is yours!

Music Monday! Button Factory

How fitting, 2013 counselor Joe sings Button Factory at Closing Campfire! Because... "Hi, his name is Joe, and he works in a button factory."

First Session - Button Factory

Music Monday! Singing in the Rain

We had a very rainy start to the month of May, so hopefully listening to Fourth Session sing "Singing in the Rain" at Closing Campfire will chase the rain away.

4th Session - Singing in the Rain

Camp Pancakes

NOT Camp Pancakes (but probably also delicious)

Have you ever woken up and thought to yourself... "If only I could have Camp Pancakes for breakfast. Because if I could, I would undoubtedly ace that test, dominate that speech in English and get all of my homework done before Survivor!"?

Because that happens to me all the time.

How does one describe Camp Pancakes? They are sweet circles of deliciousness that happen to be the correct balance of doughy and fluffy at the same time. They are happiness on a plate. Camp Pancakes could turn Alexander's terrible, no good, very bad day into a wonderful, all good, only great day in the blink of an eye. And now you can make these pancakes at home because we're about to provide you with the top secret recipe.

It's said that Father Foley himself developed this recipe over a campfire many years ago*. Camp Pancakes have been a part of camp dining for many years, so give the recipe a try at home and let us know how they turn out! 

*That has most definitely never been said

Camp Foley's Buttermilk Pancakes 

2 Cups of Floor

2 Eggs

1/3 cup of canola oil

2 cups of Buttermilk (can use sour milk, milk or any combination)

2 cups of flour

¼ cup of sugar

8 tsp. of baking soda

To make them taste the closest to camp’s, mix up the day before and refrigerate overnight.\

Stay Hungry, Camp Foley!

Music Monday! Wisconsin Milk

Well if this isn't one of the catchiest songs of all time... Claire leads First Session in Wisconsin Milk at Opening Campfire!

Wisconsin Milk - 1st Session

FOLEY FLASHMOB FRIDAY!

Instead of Music Monday this week, we present to you FOLEY FLASHMOB FRIDAY! The girls from First Session know what we're talking about. For everyone that wasn't around - here's what went down for Foley's Flashmob! 

1st Session Flashmob

Music Monday! Herman the Worm

It all started one day when we were just sitting on our fence post chewing our bubble gum...

Listen to our 4th Session campers and counselors sing Herman the Worm at Closing Campfire. Take notice of Hermann's, 2013 and 2014 counselor, Oscar-worthy performance as Herman the Worm.

Herman the Worm - 4th Session

Tater Tot Hotdish

Last summer, Joey P. (a five-year camper) said, "The food has changed my life. I mean it is so good." And you know what, I would have to agree. 

When you sit down to a meal, how often is it a meal that someone whipped up for 200 of your closest friends and family members? Answer: Never. At Camp Foley our awesome Cooks, Directors and Staff make it possible for everyone to come together, three times a day, over some pretty delicious food.

One of those menu items: Tater Tot Hotdish (TTHD). This camp meal has a cult-like following at Camp Foley, and it is NEVER to be called Tater Tot Casserole. Because this is Minnesota. #HotdishForLife

It consists of tater tots, ground beef and cream of mushroom soup (plus some secret seasoning). That's it! But somehow those ingredients come together in a 100% amazing taste experience. Your taste buds haven't lived until they've tasted Tater Tot Hotdish.

At camp, Tater Tot Hotdish is served with a bowl of cooked vegetables. And remember: Every table has to finish their vegetables! WHY?! Because vegetables are not only good but good for you. Campers and staff can also head to the salad bar for some leafy greens, fruit and a variety of other items. 

I caught up with one alum, Leslie Strobel, to see why she loves Tater Tot Hotdish so much. 

Who do you think loves tots more...
Leslie or Napoleon Dynamite?

Interviewer: What are three words you would use to describe TTHD?
Leslie Strobel: Delicious, Filling, Awesome
I: Why is TTHD your favorite camp dinner?LS: Because it's something I associate with camp; a meal that I only eat there.
I: How do you eat your TTHD?
LS: Well... If there are extra tater tots after all of the vegetarians take them, I get some and add it to the hot dish because I love tater tots.
I: No ketchup?
LS: No, I am a purist. 

Do you agree - Is TTHD better without ketchup? Let us know in the comments section. 

Stay hungry, Camp Foley.

Send an email to ad@campfoley.com with your favorite camp meal to be featured on the Rattlin' Blog!

Music Monday! Boom De Yada

Last Thursday we celebrated the First Day of Spring (otherwise known as the Spring Equinox)! What better way to celebrate that than with a a song about loving mountains, rolling hills and daffodils. Hear our First Session Campers sing I Love the Mountains (Boom De Yada) lead by counselor, Michael D.

Boom De Yada - 1st Session

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup

Campers arrive in less than three months! So what better way to kick off our three-month countdown than by talking about everyone’s favorite... camp food!

It may surprise those people that never came to Foley how much campers love the meals! Some meals have been offered for what seems like forever, while others are new to the scene in the past few years.

This is NOT camp Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup.
But come on... how good does it look?

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup has definitely been around for a while, and year after year the campers seem to really love it! The meal is always served with a bowl of veggies (usually carrots, cauliflower and broccoli) and a sleeve of saltines.

The real question is: How do you eat your camp Grilled Cheese? Do you dunk your Grilled Cheese in the soup? Or do you prefer to dunk it in some ranch dressing? Do you eat all your soup first and then the Grilled Cheese or save the Tomato Soup for last?

According to camp professionals (aka: me), the best way to eat your Grilled Cheese is as follows: Get half a bowl of Tomato Soup, rip the crusts off the Grilled Cheese and dip the crust pieces in the soup. Then, squirt some ranch dressing onto your plate and dunk the crust-less sandwich into the ranch dressing. If you eat this meal in any other fashion: YOU’RE WRONG. Kidding! To each their own! Maybe share your Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Meal Strategy in the comment section below.

Camp Foley Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Meal Facts:

1.  It takes three to four counselors more than two hours to make the 400 or so Grilled Cheese Sandwiches we eat for this meal!
2.  The amount of wheat bread we use to make the sandwiches would be longer than three and a half school buses! 

Try making Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup at home with your family for a delicious camp-inspired meal! Make sure to serve it with veggies and saltine and don’t forget the ranch dressing!

Music Monday! Rattlin' Bog

Camp Foley's 3rd/4th Session CITs sang an all-time camp favorite, "Rattlin' Bog" during 4th Session's Opening Campfire. (In case you haven't guessed - Rattlin' Bog gave us the idea to name this blog the, "Rattlin" Blog!")

Rattlin' Bog - 4th Session

Music Monday! Baby Shark

During First Session's Closing Campfire, Eric lead the campers and staff in singing "Baby Shark." Just try not to sing along with the do-do do do do-do's. 

Baby Shark - 1st Session 

Music Monday! 3 Bears

One of the very last songs we sang in 2013 was 3 Bears. It's an old one that doesn't get sung at camp too often these days. But it is definitely a good one! Kylie lead the song at 4th Session Closing Campfire and adapted it to be somewhat of a "repeat after me song"!

4th Session - 3 Bears

Music Monday! Flea Fly

We stumbled upon a video of Alum Herb Richardson's son, Herbie, singing along to Flea Fly in the car. Little did we know, Herb's nieces and nephews provided singalong versions of Flea Fly to Herbie to practice the correct words. Who are these fantastic nieces and nephews? The Munkebys: Jack, Sam, Joe and Mae! (Their mom, Lisa, is Herb's sister.)

What better way to celebrate Music Monday than with the Munkebys and the Richardsons!

The original video of Herbie:

Munkeby instructional video for Herbie:

Herbie singing along with Sam's video:

Herbie singing along with Joe:



We couldn't love this more! Is there a video of you singing a camp song floating around the internet? Share it with us! Send us think at Fun@CampFoley.com!

Music Monday! LIT Raps

We love our LITs for so many reasons. One of those reasons is the fantastic LIT Raps our 1st and 3rd Session LITs composed this summer. Take a listen: 

1st Session - LIT Rap

2nd Session - LIT Rap

Happy New Year!

Camp Foley's Top Ten Things to Look Forward to in 2014!

7. Lucy 

10. New Thingz! We've went crazy this fall replacing equipment for TONS of the activities. You'll see new snorkeling equipment, floor hockey goalie masks, trick skis, a new wakeboard, paintball masks, bikes, bike helmets,  fencing jackets and more! The pool table in the Rec Center was re-covered. There's now a campfire pit outside of Osawaka and the Marina and Sauna doors will be replaced in 2014!

9. New Special Canteen Items! We know there will be new sweatshirts, sweatpants and tshirts plus some of the random fun stuff. Do you have any good ideas of things we should sell? Let us know! We're trying to decide what kind of sweatshirt to sell next year - so vote in the poll on Foley's homepage!

8. You Rock Tables! We know you remember the You Rock Tables from last summer for our Club Paradise and Rockstar LIT/CIT campers. They'll be back this summer, so save your seat at one today! Bring a cousin, friend or neighbor to Foley for the first time. Not only will you get to sit at a special table, but you'll attend the awesome Club Paradise root beer float party too!

7. Lucy! In 2013, our leucistic black rat sake passed away after spending seven summers at the Camp Foley Nature Corner. Luckily, we were able to adopt Lucy this winter. She is a new leucistic black rat snake that will live with our other critters in the Nature Corner!

6. Bike, Hike & Campfire Trails

6. Bike, Hike & Campfire Trails! This fall, all the trails on the other side of the road were cleared and signage was posted to make it easy for everyone to follow. Maybe this summer your cabin will adventure into the woods for special Evening Program? Maybe you'll sing up for Biking for the first time and bike one of Foley's trails! Every trail and campfire site has a name that's posted and signage throughout the woods helps you find your destination.

5. New Ski Boat! If you were here during 4th Session you remember saying goodbye to our old friend, the Green Ski Boat (and you may have gotten a glimpse of the newest member of our fleet)! This summer we'll have at least one new boat down at the Marina to tackle one of the most popular activities at Foley: Waterskiing!

4. Pizza Parties

4. Pizza Parties! We have Pizza Parties & Video Showings scheduled for the Twin Cities (January 27) and St. Louis (February 1). If you live in either of those places make sure to mark your calendars! If you'd like to host a party in your area and want a Foley Rep to help out, let us know!

3. CITs & LITs! We have a handful of campers starting or returning to the Leadership Program in 2014. If you're going into 9th, 10th and 11th grade you can take on an important leadership roll!

2. Counselors! They live in your cabins. They sit at your meal tables. They teach the activities. They are crazy fun and sometimes just plain crazy! Keep checking the Meet the Staff page to find out who's the counselors and ADs will be!

#CF90in14

1. It's Foley's 90th Year! Camp Foley began waaaay back in 1924, so 2014 marks it's 90th year. We've got some fun stuff planned and hope you're excited to help us celebrate 90 years of camping all year! Tell us what you're most excited about on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram use "#CF90in14."

What are you MOST excited about for in 2014? We'd love to know! Share on Facebook or Tweet @CampFoley!

Music Monday! Taps

We find it fitting to conclude 2013 in the same way that we conclude every campfire - with Taps. We hope that everyone had an amazing year and that 2014 will be just as amazing for all! Sing along with our First Session campers as they sing Taps at Closing Campfire. 

1st Session - Taps

Music Monday! Bananas

What don't Bananas have? LIPS! Bananas have no lips! Listen to First Session campers sing "Bananas" lead by Jordan at Opening Campfire. It's one of the very first songs we sang at camp in 2013!

1st Session - Bananas

Music Monday! Cups

"Rockapella" was a 6th period activity that was offered during First Session. Check out the awesome campers perform "Cups" by Anna Kendrick during the Final Banquet events!

1st Session - Cups