Mother Knows Best: A Parent's Take on Camp Foley

At Camp Foley, we know that parents want the best camp experience for their children. They want to see a camp that is as safe as it is fun, a staff that cares deeply, an an environment where their children can truly thrive. Parents, you have every right to be choosy, and who better to get summer camp advice from than a Foley parent? We spoke recently to Beth Foster, a mother who has seen the benefits of Camp Foley's passion for grit and independence with her own eyes.

Beth grew up going to Camp Foley.

"I'm a little biased," she admitted, speaking about how the choice to send her children to camp was a relatively easy one.

For Beth, as both a parent and a former camper, the culture of Foley was always challenging and immersive. She loves seeing her children "light up" when talking about camp, and she knows that the effects of Camp Foley on a determined camper are deeper than just learning how to water ski. In the Foster household, even the little things like seeing her kids loading the dishwasher and showing personal independence are huge.

Okay, okay, so camp teaches kids how to be resourceful, independent, and tough. But parents need to know that their kids are safe and sound while learning all of these new skills. Beth's perspective?

"For me, there was never a question about safety," she said. Her experiences with the administrative staff (namely Alli and Marie) have been that everything they do is with the campers in mind. From intentional class sizes that allow for individualized attention for each camper to fun and innovative changes that make camp exciting every year, the Camp Foley staff is sensitive to the wants and needs of campers and their families.This, naturally, means that safety is the top priority, and Beth has never doubted that.

When asked about why she continues to choose Camp Foley over other camps, Beth's answer was simple: Camp Foley is invested in your children.

"Foley is small enough that the staff knows who every kid is," Beth said. "As a parent, you know that these counselors have a personal interest in your children and really want to get to know them."

Camp Foley is a place that truly fosters growth, and the process of creating that environment is a vigorous one which the staff takes very seriously. At the end of the day, it's our Foley parents who have a lot to say for how camp has shaped them and their children.

"People choose camp for a lot of different reasons," Beth concluded, "and it really shaped who I became.

Register for Camp Foley and see how a great camp experience can be life-changing for you and your child!

F is for Faith

Camp Foley was originally founded by Father John P. Foley in 1924 and has proud roots in the Catholic faith. A lot has changed in 91 years, but to this day, campers sing grace before each meal and attend Catholic or non-denominational services every Saturday evening. We know that faith, Catholic or otherwise, is an integral part of each child’s personal development and well-being. We aim to help kids foster their own faith through careful guidance and by encouraging independent and group exploration.

Catholic campers or campers desiring a more traditional service on Saturday nights can experience mass in the stunning Our Lady of Snows Chapel, singing songs and celebrating their beliefs together. This gives campers the ability to take a break from the hustle and bustle of camp life to reconnect with themselves and others spiritually.

Foley counselors also offer a non-denominational service that is open and designed for all campers. Topics explored during non-denominational services include happiness and caring for others, and counselors illustrate these concepts with poetry, books, and hands-on activities. The goal here is to help campers achieve that spiritual connection through a better understanding of the world and people around them.

The Bear-Necessities

We all know about the squirrels, woodpeckers, and turtles who inhabit the woods around camp, but
today let us discuss a larger furry friend who also occasionally calls camp home- the black bear.

Found throughout most of the state, Minnesota is the proud home to nearly 20,000 of these big critters! Every couple of years or so we have the privilege of seeing a black bear near Camp’s grounds. Most often, the bear is just passing through, looking for tasty garbage to devour.

Speaking of “tasty” garbage, bears are as far as you can get from being fussy eaters. Aside from scavenging through dumpsters, black bears are herbivores - eating mostly fruitful berries and grasses, but also known to enjoy ants, grubs, and the occasional deer. Bears are attracted to areas with any available food source. This is why bear sightings happen in populated areas- they are simply searching for that next delicious meal. If bears continue to appear in an area you wish they did not, the best way to get rid of the bears is by removing whatever is attracting them. For example, if the bear is frequently knocking over your bird feeder, take the bird feeder away for a period and the bear will likely take your stop off his food route.

The terrain around Foley provides for an ideal natural habitat for black bears, complete with heavily wooded areas for cover and open fields for foraging. With adequate food supplies out in the woods, bears tend to stay clear of our view. Although relatively infrequent, bears do wander close to camp. One summer, a little fella would spend his days high up in the large tree at the top of the marina! Now that is neat! This particular bear never attempted to harm anyone, but remember- black bears are large, wild animals and should not be approached or intentionally aggravated!

If you have a desire to view wild black bears in close proximity, the Foley staff would suggest looking into the Vince Shute WildlifeSanctuary. During late summer/early fall, the black bears are bulking up in preparation for the winter season. Hundreds of black bears come to fill up in a single night, and if you listen closely, you may even here a cub calling out for her mama bear. The cubs hang out up in the trees in the woods and wait for the massive adults to finish feeding before they risk venturing in for a meal of their own.  Visiting this is definitely a memorable experience!

If you are not able to plan a physical trip to northern Minnesota, check out this wildlife webcam of a black bear and her cub at the North American Bear Center in Ely, Minnesota! 

E is for Engage

There’s a place for everyone at Foley, regardless of interests or skill levels. We believe that every camper deserves to be engaged with camp life in their own special ways, whether it be through intense activities like wakeboarding and archery or through the creative arts activities like photography or guitar. We know that growth occurs when counselors and staff engage campers in activities that allow them to gain confidence and receive helpful feedback.

Never should anyone at camp feel bored or uninvolved; with days and nights packed with fun opportunities to form friendships, learn new skills, and see themselves in new, positive lights, kids are always a piece of the Foley puzzle. Like any team, we need the unique strengths of each and every person in order to be at our best. With that in mind, we seek to give and receive that constant and varied engagement.

D is for Dog

Nike & Norm in Staff Uniforms

Norm on a Boat

Two common sights around Camp Foley are Norm and Nike, the camp dogs. While Nike is known for her fluffy, teddy bear appearance (she is a mini Golden-doodle), excitability and overall carefree nature, Norm is a bit more serious, fiercely loyal (you can always tell where Alli is as he will be waiting outside of the whatever building she is in or following close at her heels) and lovable in a one on one situation.

The two dogs are best buds, often laying in the sun together or harassing chipmunks. However, just like human best friends, they have lots of differences. At any picnics you have to watch your plate if Nike is out, she is stealthy, fast and always in the mood for a good Sloppy Joe or peanut butter sandwich, but Norm will sit by you whining for a snack, however he rarely goes in without an invite. While Nike loves to swim, Norm prefers to chase squirrels. Norm is happy to sit quietly at campfire, Nike, not so much. Norm hates rain boots, Nike hates thunderstorms.

Nike "helping" with Docks

While they add entertainment and smiles to everyone (and sometimes just annoy us), we have found that from time to time, kids feeling a little down or missing home have loved to have Norm or Nike to talk to or pet for a few minutes. A little reminder perhaps of their pets.

Dogs really do make the best friends.

Ssssome people are ssscared of usss, we are jusssst misssundersssstood...

Salazar, The Classic Corn Snake

Joining our Camp Foley family this past month was a beautiful Motley "Motley" Corn Snake and her best friend, Salazar, a Classic Corn Snake. These two were captive bred around five years ago and are currently around three feet long. Corn snakes are very calm snakes and make wonderful pets.

First, what do Motley and Classic mean? It all comes down to describing the pattern and coloration of the snakes’ scales. There are over 500 different morphs, or variations, of corn snakes. They could have solid, striped, laddered, or circle patterns and any range of colors. Only five of these morphs can be found in the wild, with the other variations caused by cross breeding between morphs. The Classic is the most common to find in the wild. 

As you can see in the picture of Salazar, they are brightly colored and have a ladder type pattern down their back. He also has a white and black checkerboard underside. Motley's variation  was first bred in captivity in 1977. Motleys have a circle pattern down the spine and a white underside. There are many variations of Motley and we believe our snake to be a Normal Motley. She has orange and yellow scales making her pattern resemble a nice sunrise!

Motley, The Motley Corn Snake

Wild corn snakes are native to Southeastern United States, with their largest population being in Florida. Corn snakes are nonvenomous snakes and do not pose any threat to humans. They are actually beneficial to us - they help maintain the rodent population. Their diet consists mainly of mice, rats, and even birds! We feed Motley and Salazar one or two mice once a week. These two can grow up to a length of six feet long and to an age of twenty-three! In the wild, they are likely to live a much shorter life, of around 15 years.

Our resident black rat snake, Lucy, who is native to Minnesota, was thrilled to welcome our new friends. Corn snakes are close relatives to black rat snakes and are also known as red rat snakes! Motley and Salazar have adjusted well to life at summer camp and cannot wait to meet all of the students and campers who come visit! 

C is for Considerate

Summer camp is a great opportunity to develop one’s own skills and grow as a person. What sets Foley apart, however, is our emphasis on growth while simultaneously helping others to grow. Consistent acts of caring and consideration are typical for the Camp Foley camper or staff member; on a daily basis, we see people looking out for others even when help isn't requested.  People aren't the only ones being cared for at Camp Foley either. The Camp Foley community is committed to protecting, honoring, and playing in nature, whether it’s by throwing a ball for one of the camp dogs or making a point to pick up trash when we see it. Every day we are reminded of the importance of being considerate towards everyone and everything at camp.

The feeling you get in your stomach when you go out of your way for the well-being of someone else is one of the best feelings you can have. The only better feeling is the one that comes when you know that you matter to someone else. As 2015 Foley counselor Peter has said, "we should strive to not have to watch our own backs because we know that our friends, cabin mates, and counselors are."

B is for Breathtaking

Summer camp campers and counselors at Camp Foley come from all over the

Photo by Camper Genevieve S

world (last summer 24 states and 11 foreign countries to be exact), a fact of which we are immensely proud. On the first day of each session, one can hear tales of the bright lights of New York, the beaches of Cancun, and smooth Parisian accents drifting through the air, and it is often wondered how we all ended up on the same piece of land in northern Minnesota.

After a few strokes of a canoe paddle through the Whitefish waves or a night of stargazing on top of the marina, it’s easy to see why Camp Foley is so magnetic. Campers fall asleep to singing loons and wake up to crystal blue skies peeking through the pines. They look out over the summer camp from the top of the climbing wall and wave to the sailboats as they skip over the Minnesota water on wake boards. And on quiet afternoons walking the trails, they can look straight ahead and see nothing but trees.

So what do I, as a parent, get out of this summer camp thing?

One of the most popular questions we get in our camp office is:

"What will my kids gain from their time at camp?" 

Our answers always touch on ideas such as independence, resilience, socialization, new experiences, or lasting friendships. We could go on for hours. And, if you talked to any of the parents of kids who have attended camp before, they could too.

The question we don't generally hear (because let's face it, parents are awesome, selfless people) but may be interesting to consider is "what do the parents of campers get out their child's time at camp?"

All parents want the best for their children and watching them mature, learn new skills, experience great feats, and make new friends can be just as rewarding for parents as is for campers. Many camp parents tell us that their camper comes home standing a little taller or being a little more helpful. All of sudden making their beds or cleaning up after a meal doesn't seem like quite as big of a task.

New camp parents often speak about how they feel guilty for "sending their child away for 2 or 4 weeks" or  "for having fun with their friends, in a kid free environment."

We understand. But, we are here to say - don't feel guilty!  Instead of thinking you are "sending them away to camp" think instead that you are "giving them camp". The best gifts in life are the ones that you can take with you wherever you are. The ones that never seem to go out of style. The ones that no matter how old you are, you can think back to exactly what you were doing when you were given that gift.

Camp is a gift that you can literally never lose. The value in that feeling you will have as a parent when you realize you have just offered your kids something to last a lifetime is incalculable.

Parents work hard to provide the best for their children and when they give them the gift of camp, they hope their hard-earned money is going towards a great cause. We talk a lot about how to prepare kids for camp but how much do we talk about how to prepare as a parent?  

So parents!  Don't feel bad for taking a vacation, relaxing, getting a massage, or just sleeping in for a week straight. You deserve it! And while you are doing all those wonderful things, you can rest assured that your child is in great hands and having an experience that they will be proud to share with you when they get home!

Blue Jay Stumpers

photo by Alli Faricy

Take a look at a common bird and then ask, “How much do you know about the Blue Jay?”

Let me try to stump you!

What tree nut do they favor?  Acorns

What other bird do their calls mimic?  Hawks!  Is it for deception or a warning?
How old was the oldest wild banded Blue Jay?  17½ years
Do they mate for life?  Yes

Where are Blue Jays found?  At the edge of forests, where there are feeders and acorn trees.  At Camp Foley in the winter they compete with the squirrels and woodpeckers at our feeder.  Of course, there is a huge acorn tree within feet!

Do Blue Jays migrate?  The answer is “yes” and “no”!  “Thousands of Blue Jays migrate in flocks along the Great Lakes and Atlantic coasts, but much about their migration remains a mystery. Some are present throughout winter in all parts of their range. Young jays may be more likely to migrate than adults, but many adults also migrate. Some individual jays migrate south one year, stay north the next winter, and then migrate south again the next year. No one has worked out why they migrate when they do. “   Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Click here for more bird information.

For more pictures of Camp Wildlife (and animals from all over the world) follow @dr_earth on instagram and @TheDrEarth on twitter.

Hummingbird Parents and Summer Camp

I recently stumbled across a very interesting blog posted by Richard Louv on the Children & Nature Network. The title: "Hummingbird Parents": Seven Actions Parents Can Take To Reduce Risk And Still Get Their Kids Outside." In the blog, Louv provides seven ways a parent can let their child have independent play - outside - and still feel in control and aware of their child's needs.

I fully recommend reading the entire article, but I want to address two of Louv's seven actions specifically.

Action 1: Take your kids outdoors

Anyone would agree that most children today do not spend as much time outdoors as children used to. Bike races around the neighborhood, exploring the woods for hours on end and disappearing into a neighbors house for a snack just don't happen as often as they used to. To this, Louv says, "If we want our children or grandchildren to experience nature, we'll need to be more proactive than parents of past generations." It's not up to the kids to get out of the house because often it's not their choice. Parents must be committed to introducing their child to nature. This brings me to the second action...

Action 2: Be a hummingbird parent

We hear the term "helicopter parent" all the time, which may be why children don't experience the outdoors as much. Parents are worried about their child disappearing into the woods for hours without checking in. Sometimes it's easier parking a child in front of a screen because there they are safe, under the watchful eye of a parent or trusted supervisor. Louv encourages parents to take Michele Whitaker's approach of being a "hummingbird parent." The idea is that parents can supervise their children - from a distance. Let them make their own experiences and "zoom in" when safety is a concern. This takes the hovering out of parenting.

How this fits into camp

As camp professionals, we hear all the time about the fears a parent may have about sending their child away for weeks at a time. Will they wear sunscreen? Who are the counselors watching my child? Will their allergies be an issue? All of these fears are understandable. We think summer camp is the perfect opportunity for parents to practice being "hummingbird parents."

When a parent decides to send their child to camp, they are deliberately sending their children outside to experience nature. After researching the right camp, parents can send their children off feeling confident that their child will be well cared for while they are away. Parents can zoom in by sending mail (and requesting mail back) or calling to speak to a camp administrator with concerns. It's hard for a parent to hover when their child is away being independent. This allows children to grow and investigate on their own. Sure, they may fall or fail a few times but that builds grit. 

grow GRIT. investigate INDEPENDENCE.