Veronica Chooses Camp

In a little over three months I will arrive to my second home. I'll get to see the campers that I've known for eight years now, and meet new campers that will soon become my friends in the next amazing four weeks.

Cabin Hiawatha 2017

Every summer I leave my home in Florida (leaving the CRAZY 95 degree heat!!!!!) and head up to Pine River, Minnesota. I've been doing this every summer since I was born. I have never spent a summer in a place other than Whitefish, and I wouldn't ever want to change that. For as long as I can remember, Foley has been in my vocabulary. My mom was one of the first girls to ever attend and I have had countless cousins as campers and counselors. So going to Foley was always sort of like a family reunion, but not just family, it's also reuniting with the people I made amazing friendships with in the past eight years.

Veronica flying high over her paradise. 

Yes, eight years. I'm going into my junior year this fall so this means that 2018 will be my final year as a camper. This brings me nearly to tears looking back at all the amazing memories, friendships, meals, banquets, trips, and everything that makes camp, camp. Over the past eight years I have spent 30 weeks at camp. That’s a really long time, and many people ask why I would spend all that time at a summer camp when I could be spending time at the beach, traveling, or my favorite “how can you spend that much time without your phone?”

You see, these few weeks at Foley provide me with life skills and experiences you can't get anywhere else.

You have to learn how to live with 12 other girls, embrace your crazy side, and you get to be the absolute best version of yourself without judgement. I get to make friends with people that have had such a great impact on my life. I find myself at a loss for words when describing how amazing this place is. It is my home away from home, my happy place, and truly is a paradise. You get to forget about the worries of everyday life and just live. Being at camp is like living on cloud 9.

Foley offers so many opportunities for campers that we would never have the opportunity to do, both in regard to activities and friendships. The friendships I have made at Foley are cherished and reminisced upon year round. Every year is a new adventure, with new friends to be made, new banquet themes, staff, and you have become a year older.

So why do I love camp? That would take over a day to explain but I’ll shorten it up. It's all the LIT days, the cabin agreements, the Grand Dance Festivals, the trips to tree houses, CDOs, Friendship Campfires, tater tot hot dishes, canteens, canoe trips, lip syncs, evening programs, free swims, and the most amazing people you will meet.


Knowing that my time as a camper is coming to a close I realize how much camp helped me grow as a person, both inside and outside of camp. Camp Foley is not only a camp, but a home. So make it a great day or not… THE CHOICE IS YOURS!

-Veronica

Veronica will be spending her final summer in camp as a CIT (Counselor in Training), with her focus being on ensuring younger campers can build meaningful  connections just as she has over her eight years in camp. Her leadership can be seen in all aspects of camp life, from cabin living to her knowledge and skill on the rifle range. Come grow at camp this summer just as Veronica has.  REGISTER TODAY! 

A Home For All

Matt throwing up the double peace signs as he leads his squad on banquet day

Since 2010, Foley has had the privilege to be the proud employer of more than 20 international staff members. The vast international presence in camp is undoubtedly one of the most exciting facets of the camping experience.

"MOM! You won't believe it, my counselor, Matt, is from the Czech Republic and he is the COOLEST." - Campers in Cabin Kadigomeg 2017.

This international experience is made possible by the J-1 Visa, which allows individuals to come to the US on a cultural exchange work program. Earlier this year, the "Buy American Hire American" executive order put obtaining a J1-Visa at risk, which would be a major bummer to camps far and wide. In honor of camp professionals continuously pushing forward to ensure the camp counselor portion of the J1-Visa is not impacted, we'd like to share some heart warming words about what camp means to an international counselor as well as how one of our American campers feels about the amazing international staff who call camp home.

Jimmy, Counselor 2017, Australia

"When you go to camp in the US as an international counselor, like I did, the process for getting there can look a little daunting. Flights, J1-Visa application, paperwork, and interviews can look intimidating. But is it worth it? Yep. You bet it is.
There isn't anything like spending a summer at camp in the US, with each camp having their own ingrained culture, community, focuses, and the opportunity to be a part of something that should not be forsaken.

Jimmy sharing his passion for biking

I can't talk about being an international counselor without thanking the team at Camp Counselors USA for getting me there. I don't care how organised or mature you are, it's awesome to have someone hold your hand and walk you through the process. You'll find that virtually all camp organisations will be amazing in their own ways. I heard no complaints about organisations from the other internationals, all positives.
I mentioned earlier that all of the paperwork to get to camp and even once you're there can be a bit daunting. But I want to reiterate that it is 100% worth it. Camp gives you endless opportunities to grow as a person and make a difference in someone else's life. Be a superhero in the eyes of a ten year old even though you don't see yourself as a hero. Be a life coach. Be life coached! Learn more about yourself and about how other people work. I took so many valuable skills home from camp, some basic, like how to do laundry, and some were genuinely life-changing. Learn how to comfort grief, how to brighten someone's day, how to give purpose to someone who believes they have no purpose. Camp is not easy, it's not supposed to be easy. It's supposed to make you a better person, whether you're a counselor or a camper. Camp is definitely worth it and it could not have been possible without the J1-Visa."

Patrick, 7 Year Camper, USA

"It is absolutely amazing, the things you can learn from all the staff coming from different countries. Their beliefs, and different cultural backgrounds always intrigue me. The diversity at Foley is what sets is apart from other camps and is one of my favorite parts about Camp. It is crazy how much you can know about another place after spending just two weeks with a person. Camp wouldn't be the same without the international staff."

We are excited to make even more memories with international staff as they all play an important role in our culture. The J1-Visa is a vital part in allowing us to do just that. If you would like to read more into the logistics behind how the J1-Visa could be impacted, please check out this Public Policies Article that appears on the ACA website.

Everyone at Camp is a Learner and a Teacher

I spoke recently to my little cousin, who is an active, bright, and funny girl. She likes cheerleading, playing with her puppy, and making music videos with her best friends. She also loves going to summer camp and looks forward to it every year.

Naturally, I had to ask her what her favorite activities at her camp (an overnight camp in Pennsylvania) are, and why she likes them so much. She told me that archery and riflery are fun, but horseback riding is her favorite. Although she's going to try some new things this summer, horseback riding is never going to budge from her schedule. Her friends do all kinds of activities, some of which are similar to her favorites, and their cabin time gives them a space to talk about their days and share memories. Some of her very best friends are from camp.

Anyone who has been to camp or sent their children to camp would agree that these are all pretty typical statements from a happy camper. We know that camp is one of the best places to make true friends, push our limits, and learn things about ourselves that we never knew. But there was something special about this particular conversation with this particular ten-year-old girl, and it came up as she was running around playing make-believe and climbing over the furniture.

"I want to go to camp every year so that I can be a counselor when I'm older."

The best part of hearing a camper say that he or she wants to be a counselor one day is that we know they would be successful. Camp is not about being exclusively a teacher or a learner -- we all teach and we all learn. Having experiences with others is about both giving and receiving. Of course, we hope that campers see in themselves the ability to help and empower others the way they see their counselors doing so.

At Camp Foley, we want every camper to know that even at eight or ten years of age, they have so much to offer and to teach their peers. Not every counselor is a former camper, and not all campers go on to be counselors, but any time spent at camp is an opportunity both to be lead and to lead.

What's in a Letter?

Parents! You drop your child off at camp, say your goodbyes and then you leave that child in the care of these certain amazing individuals we call, camp counselors.  Those counselors are going to be the ones on the front lines giving your child the best growing experience of their young lives. You are entrusting your child to us. That’s a big responsibility, but guess what; we are highly trained, compassionate individuals who want nothing more than the safe well-being of your child.

But how do you know this is what your child is getting? 

This is when those fancy parent letters come into play. Personalized letters seem like a thing of the past. People seem to turn to social media "stalking" to get information or communicate with other people.  The camper letter however, is a personal and sentimental account of what your child has accomplished over their time at camp. It shows that the counselors are paying attention not to just what your child is doing in activities but how they are growing as a person while at camp.

Although campers send home letters to their parents throughout their camp experience, most of the time they leave out certain details or don’t say much at all (generally a sign they are having too much fun while at camp).  The counselor letter adds on to those amazing experiences your child is having. It adds the friendships that have bonded, the struggles they have overcome, and the mountains they have climbed and then jumped off into new experiences.  This certain letter helps bring about a certain piece of mind, and tranquility that might help the parent through the separation.  The parents can realize the impact camp has on their children. The impact it has on their physical, mental, and social capabilities. These soothing letters provide that sense of worth that you hope your child is getting while at camp. 

The counselors take a great deal of time writing, re-writing, correcting mistakes and then possibly throwing it away and starting over again on these letters. They want you to feel the pride they feel when these events happen to your child. They want you to know that you might the correct decision sending your child to camp. They want you to know that even though your child might not realize it, they are growing is the most of positive of ways in their youth.  These letters do just that. They are not just part of the job description. They are an intricate part of camp and keeping your relationship with camp to the highest standards. 

So when you as a parent, receive a letter from a counselor, think of it as an outreach of further trust between yourself and the entire camp and what it holds dear to every counselors heart. That the true meaning of these amazing, and time developed letters are to insure that you know your child is receiving an amazing experience at camp and these counselors and directors are proud to help partner with you in helping your child grow in every aspect of their lives.

Wes Long, Assistant Director