What Camp Foley Means to Mae

This Thanksgiving, as with every Thanksgiving dating back to 1924, we are thankful for our campers. This year we will put the spotlight on one of our Hall of Fame inductees, as we are incredibly blessed to have alumni just like Mae in our Foley Family. Mae wrote her Bridge Crossing essay during her 5th summer as a camper (2012) and had the opportunity to read it aloud to all of camp while she entered the Hall of Fame in 2017. As a 16 year old,  Mae found her 11 year old writing to be quite comical as she took frequent laugh breaks while sharing what camp means to her with her camp peers.   

What Camp Foley Means To Me

Mae M. 

2012

I love Camp Foley so much! It is awesome and it is the main thing I look forward to doing the summer. It is like fourteen days in paradise.

Camp Foley means friends! Everyone always has so many friends at Camp Foley. I love going back to camp to see so many of my friends that I have not seen in a year. It makes me so excited to go  back to Camp Foley! Also, all of the people and counselors are very, very nice and awesome. They are always smiling and giving great advice to everyone.

Camp Foley means super fun activities! All the activities are so awesome. But my very favorite two of all the many activities are windsurfing and soccer. I was so excited when they added soccer. I like playing with a TON of people. I also love facing my brother and sister in soccer. Windsurfing is also super cool. I get so excited while I am windsurfing.

Camp Foley means overnights! Every year I have slept in the tree houses. It is awesome because we have hot dogs and a treat. We also play a fun game called Mafia and a whole bunch of other games. Along with the tree houses I am also excited about my first year being able to go on a canoe trip. It reminds me of going to the Boundary Waters with my family, except at Camp I will be going with all my friends instead. I think it will be even more fun going with my friends. I am excited to be able to cook our own food and sleep in a tent.

2017

Camp Foley means amazing food! Camp's food is so yummy! Sometimes we even get special treats like ice cream and soda bread. I think canteen was one of the greatest inventions ever. You can eat ice cream, candy, and pop. So Good! It makes my tummy rumble just thinking about it. I love Baker's Square Night. It is pie night. All of the older girls dress up. I love camps pie.

Camp Foley means history. All of the cabins are names after American Indian people or tribes. It is so exciting to figure out which cabin I will be in every year. Camp Foley has been around since 1924. Both my parents were counselors at Camp Foley and my mom started there when she was eight years old. So if it weren't for Camp Foley I would not be here.

Camp Foley means super fun extra crazy things. I love how camp always does funny skits and lip syncs. The opening campfire is always my favorite of all three campfires. The staff is so funny! I also love the banquets. The food is so yummy and it is so fun to dress up in crazy costumes.

Camp Foley means activities, food, overnights, dances, lip syncs, and campfires. But it mostly means friends, and having a very fun time at Camp Foley.

Thank you for letting us share your essay, Mae! If you would like to be featured on the Rattlin' Blog please shoot an email to Jordan. Or if you know someone who would love all of the yummy food just as much as Mae does, Register Today! 

In Good or Bad Weather, These Indoor Activities Rock

Oh, boy. Is it March already?

Around this time of year at Camp Foley, we start seeing temperatures well below AND above freezing. With rain, snow, and sunshine all in the same week, how can we plan a fun day? If the weather's got you down, look no further than the trusty indoors. Here are three great ideas to snag for your next rainy day.


1. Bake and decorate cookies.

Cookies are quick and easy, and there are flavors for every picky eater! Grab a couple of friends or family members to help you whip up a batch, and then decorate to your liking. If you're feeling especially artsy, we think these flower cookies are almost too pretty to eat -- give 'em a shot!

2. Build a comfy fort.

What could be better than snuggling up in a blanket fort with a book or movie? Make one big enough to share with pals, or shut the world away for a while and enjoy some alone time. This page has some great ideas for forts that will keep you cozy until the sun returns.

3. Get started on yoga.

If you have some space for a little movement, yoga is a great indoor activity for almost any age and skill level. Not only does yoga strengthen muscles and improve flexibility, it can also be relaxing (especially with the sound of rain outside!).

If you're new to yoga entirely, here's a really helpful beginner tutorial. Parents, this one's a great video for getting your younger ones into it, too!

We know it's tough to stay inside for too long, but every Foleyite knows that fun is everywhere you look, no matter the weather. Let us know what your favorite rainy day activities are! Comment below or fill us in on Facebook.

Missing your favorite camp food right about now? Check out these easy recipes.

If you've ever eaten a meal at Camp Foley, you know that what goes in your belly also gets locked in your brain as a sweet, sweet memory. Whether it be a hearty breakfast before a morning on the lake or the dinner that keeps you going through 6th period soccer, Camp Foley meals are bound to be some of the things you miss the most when you leave. But don't worry -- we've got you covered.

1. Breakfast Burritos

Ah, breakfast burritos. These are a Foley classic and perfect for getting your day started on a spicy note. This recipe has all the good stuff, from eggs to pico de gallo, ready to be thrown on a warm tortilla. Dress these bad boys up or down as you wish for a protein-filled breakfast on-the-go that'll keep you awake in class or at work all day long.

      2. Overnight Oats

Some of the best breakfasts at Foley are the simple ones. We love our yogurt, oatmeal, and fruit, especially when we're running off to archery first thing in the morning. Having a bit of trouble making it out the door on time even when you're not at camp? Us too! Overnight oats are a cool twist on some of those Camp Foley staples, and you can prepare them the night before. All you need is plain yogurt, rolled oats, your favorite berries, and 12 hours. Voila!

       3. Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese and tomato soup make a magical pair, and Camp Foley does it right with mountains of the delicious sandwiches for each table as lines of campers and staff form to get their hands on a bowl of tangy-sweet goodness. You can taste it right now, can't you? Keep it classic with just the basics or check out the link for some fun and easy ways to make it special.

       4. Mexican Lasagna

There's no doubt that Foley kids all went home begging for mom and dad to whip this one up. Mexican lasagna is a camper favorite that's just full of flavor and great texture. The good news: it's easier to make than it looks! And, like many of the recipes on this list, it's something you can adjust to your personal taste with no trouble.

       5. Skillet Brownies

You were hoping for this one, weren't you? Skillet brownies are tree house favorites, especially when the nights get a little chilly. We won't be using an open fire for this recipe, but it's just as quick and easy to customize it to your chocolaty preference. Dig in -- no plates allowed!

It's time to give these recipes a try! Show us how yours turned out and share a picture.

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!

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!

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!

Camper Blogs! Part 2

We have part two of the awesome Journalism classes blog posts. In part one you heard about Mexican Lasagna, Trees and Nature and Friendship Campfire. Today two more campers have some things they'd like to share...

Arrival Day! Camp already feels like home!

Feeling at Home by Cecilia P.

When you are at Camp Foley, you may miss your home and may be homesick, but all the people at Camp Foley will try to make you happy! All the people will make you feel at home. Like in the case of food, when I think of a camp, I would think it would be not good. But at camp, the food is like a restaurant or better. With all the activities, you enjoy every part of camp. Also you feel the freedom in every activity you have.

Activities at Camp Foley by Esperanza G.

Fencing at Camp Foley.

 At Camp Foley, we have water and land activities. Water activities take place at the Swimdock or the Marina. Some activities you need to be a certain age to participate. Land activities need different things depending on what you are doing. An example is, if you are at Fencing, you need long pants because if someone hits you in the leg, you'll be safe. Sometimes activities are harder than you think. Some water activities are: Snorkeling, Sailing JYs, Sailing Bics, Waterskiing and Wakeboarding and other fun stuff. My favorite experience is when I stood up in Waterskiing for my first time. It was so much fun; it's so cool! Activities at Camp Foley are the best! You should come to camp to try your best in activities. I have another experience but this is a land activity. It was when I got my Novice Award in Tennis and in Fencing. 

Camper Blogs! Part 1

Journalism campers hard at work!

This summer, we had some ROCKING Journalism classes. For one the signups, some Foley campers had the opportunity to blog for and about camp! For the next few weeks we'll be sharing the camper-blogs with the Foley community a few at a time.

Camp Food by Alejandro R.

I love Mexican Lasagna because it is delicious. The cheese is mouthwatering. The meat build up muscle strength, and the pasta is amazing. If I could eat Mexican Lasagna everyday, I would eat it. 

One day I had Mexican Lasagna, and it was the best day of my life. It was so fun eating a few plates of the lasagna. I knew it was my favorite food and it changed my life. One day I was tired, and when I ate Camp Foley Mexican Lasagna I started to be awake. 

Trees and Nature by Vivan B. 

Camp Foley has a lot of nature that we need to take care of, for example, trees. They are so important in camp and we always try not to throw trash at them. They are like the herat of Camp Foley; they are so important to people and animals. We also need them to breathe. They are so important you don't even notice. Now every time you see a tree, or any other plant, remember that you need to take care of it. 

Crying of Happiness by Paloma C.

Girls Friendship Campfire 3rd Session 2013.
The legendary hug circle.

Here at Camp Foley, there is a lot of happiness. Friendship makes everyone so happy that everyone cries! One time, I was at a goodbye Friendship Campfire, and everyone got to thank their friends and counselors. It was a beautiful night with friendship and nature all around us. Campers sang songs, and everyone was really sad to leave Camp Foley. Everyone ate s'mores, and there were lots of hugs! I experienced what friendships was all about and what love is all about.