A History of Boating

We are continuing to take some time this summer to take a look back at the history of Camp Foley. With 95 years of Camp under our belt, Camp has inevitably changed with the times. We are very proud of how far it has come and all the history we have accumulated. We have recently created an archive of historical pictures and records dating back to the 30s!

Today we are taking a look at the many different kinds of Boats we've had here at Camp. The Marina has been home to lots of different water crafts, and I think you'll be surprised to see the variety of boats we've had here at Foley!

1930s
Starting out with the firs available photos we have in our archives in the 30s! Some of the boats seen at camp will be familiar, but many will notice that many other are missing. At Camp St. Thomas (the original name for Camp Foley) when Father Foley was running it, the boy campers had access to canoes made of wood! They sailed these canoes on windy days with special sails. One of the only boats with a motor seen around camp was the Mail Boat! This boat brought mail to the campers every week from the closest post office that was across the lake.

The boys canoeing

A canoe with a sail

The Mail Boat!

1940s

As we transition into the 40s at Camp Foley a few changes in the boats happen. Camp still has the canoes and this is still a very popular activity. We see the first sail boats in camp in 1946. In 1949 we see the purchase of a brand new boat with a round bottom. It was called a motorcraft but the campers would also many times use paddles to navigate the boat through more shallow water as well. Its the 50s when major changes start to take place!

Camp's Motorcraft

1950s

Welcome to the 50s and the start of waterskiing! Camp acquires its first ski boat, a green and white Glasspar. It only had a 30 horse power motor, compare that to today with the 345 horse power motor we have on the Moomba! Camp also has row boats the campers take out to go fishing, and it's canoe and sailing programs are still going strong. Right on the cusp on 1960 camp also purchased 34 foot houseboat. It was custom built to accommodate an entire cabin and its counselors. It had a 40 horse power motor and pontoon hull, which means it could go faster than our ski boat!

Campers fishing in a Rowboat 

The Camp Houseboat

The old dock set up at the Marina

1960s
We have arrived in the 60s and things are getting updated! In 1960, nameplates for all the watercrafts are purchased, allowing campers to identify all the boats by name. In 1962, 6 years after the purchase of the fisrt ski boat, camp trades in the Glasspar for a 14 foot Larson Playmate. And just 3 years later camp adds a second ski boat to the Marina with the purchase of a Evinrude Ski Lark boat. It cost $2,165.00, and had 75 horse power motor, our fastest boat yet! Also in 1965, two new 9 ½ hp Johnson motors replace the two old motors that have been in use for 8 years on the large 18 foot boats Camp used in tripping and for fishing. And then in 1969, camp beefs up the Larson Ski Boat with a new 55 hp motor to replace the 40 hp motor. 

The Evinrude Ski Lark

The Larson Playmate

The Houseboat with its Nameplate "Voyager"

1970s
The 70s bring lots of exciting things, but as I always say, the most exciting thing is girl campers! Girls can now be seen on all the different watercrafts around camp. In 1971, camp buys a new Glastron tri-hull Sportster ski boat with an 85 horse power Evinrude motor. This is the fastest boat at camp so far. Interesting to note that in 1972 the Minnesota Life Jacket Law goes into effect, this law requires one U.S. Coast Guard approved, properly sized, and easily accessible life jacket for each person on the boat. All children under ten are required to wear an approved life jacket at all times while in a boat. Camp starts asking campers to bring their own life jacket to camp with them, and Camp sells life jackets in canteen for $6 a piece.

Girls and Boys Canoeing

Girls on a Sailboat 

The fastest ski boat yet!

1980s
Things start to look more familiar as we enter the 80s. We can see aluminum safety boats that kids can be seen riding in. Sailing and Canoeing are still just as popular. Skiing gets a slight makeover with the purchase of a new ski boat that replaces the slowest of the two already at Camp Foley.

Campers doing a "Canoe over Canoe" Rescue

A new Aluminum Safety Boat

Possibly the Firefox Sailboat 

New Ski Boats in the 80s

1990s
We made it to the 90s where some new things are added and upgraded. A new pontoon boat is purchased to use for fishing and other special programs. In 1993, two plastic kayaks are purchased, starting the program that would someday evolve into paddle mania. The activities start to become much more familiar to us and the boats reflect that.

Playaks are added to the Swimdock

2000s
We have entered the new decade and with comes a few changes to our boats here at Camp Foley. In 2000 Camp purchased a 16 foot long aluminum boat that the kids could take out and enjoy, and 12 new playaks and paddles were added to the swim dock. In 2001, a new dock system was put into place down at the Marina. this would be the dock system that is still used today. 2002 was the year that the two giant blue paddle boats were added to the Swim Dock and Paddlemanie. It would seat up to four kids and they could peddle like on bikes around the lake. A new ski boat was purchased in 2004, along with the Mango Sail boats, a smaller alternative to the big 420 sail boats the older kids used. And to the delight of many counselors and Alli our director, 5 new safety boats joined the Foley Boat family in 2007.

The Mango Sailboats and some Windsurfers

A new Safety Boat

New and Improved Dock System 

First ever picture of the blue paddle boats! 

2010s
We have finally arrived at the end of our journey and we can see how far the boats at Camp Foley really have come! The last few changes take place in this decade and its amazing to see how far the technology of boats has changed over the years. Our Pontoon was refurbished with new upholstery in 2011. We say goodbye to the Mangos in 2013 and they are replaced with the amazing Bic Sail boats. A boat specifically for wakeboarding and wakesurfing is purchased in 2012, this is the Centurion. Despite its makeover the pontoon is replaced altogether in 2016 and is still here in 2020. Also in 2016 the famous Moomba joins Camp Foley and is a favorite ski/wakeboard boat among campers. 

The New Pontoon 

Modern Camp Foley Marina Layout

The Bics!

The Moomba Boat 

Environmental Education Always on the Mind

The school year is well underway and our campers are comfortably immersed back in their everyday, hometown lives. As youth developers, our goal is to have a positive impact on youth year round, not solely during the summer months while campers are in camp. So how can we ensure students are remaining active and developing important life skills? We can partner with the schools, of course!

Students interacting with a western hognose snake during Critters.

A majority of ACA accredited camps, Foley included, take pride in their partnership with schools throughout the United States. We partner with schools in Minnesota by way of our environmental education program. Check out Foley's program specifically! Environmental education is such an important and unique learning opportunity that gets kids out of the classroom to learn in a hands on setting. From learning how to light a fire using flint and steel to viewing wild animals in their natural setting, the depth of knowledge and experience gained is priceless. 

Students closely observing an adult beaver while canoeing
during Enviro Education at Foley. 

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which goes into effect during the 2017-2018 school year, sets the stage for more opportunities for schools to partner with camps and other organizations which allow for out-of-school time experiences. Classroom learning is obviously important, we just can't forget the importance our natural world has in our educational growth.

Take the time to explore that state park you drive by everyday, every moment spent outdoors can be beneficial!  

If you know of a school that may be interested in learning more about our program, email fun@campfoley.com.

Students testing our their lumberjack abilities during Woodskills.

"As the young spend less of their lives in natural surrounding, their senses narrow, physiologically and psychologically and this reduces the richness of human experience ... we NEED contact with nature." - Richard Louv

What Camp Foley Activity Are You?

Can You Canoe?

Perhaps one of the best ways to capture the serenity of any waterway in Northern Minnesota is by canoe.  The quietness of the canoe is what enables Camp Director Alli Faricy to snap all those cool pictures of the various camp critters.  Canoeing is also one of Marie Schmid’s, Director and Owner of Camp Foley, favorite pastimes.

Canoe with sail at Foley in the 1930s.

Canoeing was one of the first activities to be offered at Camp Foley.  It may have even been the first!  This is hardly surprising considering canoes have been around for thousands of years.  However, contrary to popular belief, canoes were not first used by the Native Americans.  The first canoes were used by the various natives of the Caribbean Islands.  These canoes were actually large tree trunks that were dugout, hollowed, and shaped.  This is actually where the word canoe originated from.  The Caribbean natives called their vessels “kenu”, meaning dugout.

These “kenus” would look nothing like the canoes we have at camp today; however,  the canoes created by the North American Indians would look almost exactly the same as the camp canoes.  That’s because the design of these original canoes have remained virtually unchanged since their creation. 

Birch bark canoe, 1908.

There is however one major difference in the materials that have been used to construct the canoe.  Today, canoes are largely made from aluminum or fiberglass and are welded together.  The original canoe was built with all natural material.  The ribs (just a fancy word for frame) of the canoe were made from branches, usually from a birch or pine tree.  The frame was held together with the root from a white pine.  Once the frame was fully constructed the canoe was covered with layers of birch bark. 

That’s right, birch bark!  Many of you probably remember using birch bark to help start campfires while out on various camp trips and were most likely told that birch is highly flammable because of its oily composition.  But this oil also makes birch bark very waterproof and quite durable.  Birch bark is also very lightweight which made it the perfect material to help a canoe quickly skim down streams and across lakes.  Birch bark is really a super product of nature!

Canoeing at Camp Foley, 2012.

Today the canoes at Camp Foley are made from aluminum.  Campers can sign up for Canoeing as an activity or go on a three-day canoe trip down the Crow Wing River.  Canoeing Instructors help guide campers through the Novice, Basic and Advanced Canoeing Awards as set down by the American Canoe Association.  These awards teach campers everything about canoeing, from the basic strokes and usage of a canoe, to how to sail a canoe with just two paddles and a poncho!

So the next time you have the desire to enjoy the peace and quiet that the waterways of Northern Minnesota a have to offer, sign up for Canoeing at camp, or better yet, go on a canoeing trip!              

For a more in depth history of canoeing check this out.