First Time Camper? Check this out: A Beginner's Guide to Camp Foley

A Beginner’s Guide to Camp Foley

Welcome to Foley! As two long time campers (with a combined 10 years at Foley), we know that coming to camp for the first time can be pretty intimidating. So from some formerly terrified first year campers to another, here’s a guide to help ease your fears as much as we wish ours could’ve been. Prepare to make this summer incredible!

First off, the packing list. Now, it’s pretty extensive and has a great outline for all you’ll be needing, but let’s get into the specifics. While some things are definitely necessary to bring with you to camp (deodorant, shampoo, sun screen, etc.), other items are up for more personal preference, like swimsuits, for example. Although the Foley packing list says to only bring two swimsuits, this year we’ll be bringing three. We spend a lot of our day at the waterfront and prefer to avoid any situation where we might have to put on a cold, wet suit. If you're like us, these next 1-4 weeks you’ll be spending a lot of time around the water. Believe us, you'll want that 3rd suit! Next, your actual clothes. Bring some extra layers to put on during those cooler nights, and make sure to bring comfy clothes to wear around on the daily. Most importantly, bring clothes that you feel most comfortable in! To be honest, there will probably be 4-6 outfits that you’ll find yourself wearing almost every day. Make sure they’re ones you’re totally able to move around in, and make sure you don’t care about them too much (not all of our shirts have always survived). Pack some extra accessories, too! Personally, we always bring some sort of camera (to document all of the good times), letter-writing materials (send the Foley address to your friends and family so they can write you!), and friendship bracelet string. Above all, we bring tons of costumes. We can promise you that there will be more than enough opportunities to dress up in wild outfits- make sure to bring enough to stunt on everyone during all of Foley’s special events.

So the day finally arrives! You’re stepping out of the bus or car and into that blinding Minnesota sunshine. What should you expect? For starters, step out with an open mind. Be ready for new experiences. Let yourself be excited! In our opinion, it’s pretty impossible to not have a great time at camp, but making the most out of your time can really help you have the best time possible.

The first day is always a whirlwind of rules, introductions, campfire songs, and spaghetti. It can get to be overwhelming at times, especially if you’ve never been away from home for too long. It can also be really exciting! You get to meet all of the new people in your cabin (they won’t be new to you for too long, though), set up your bunk and unpack, and watch the crazy opening campfire skits. If you’re ever feeling too overwhelmed, talk to one of your counselors. They’re there to talk to you and help you through things- reach out to them!

On the first night, when you’re finally lying down in your bunk, surrounded by the people who are about to become your best friends, take a second to think about what you want to make sure to accomplish in the next few weeks. Set some goals for yourself to live up to. Try to do one thing everyday that scares you. Get out of your comfort zone, talk to as many people as possible, put yourself out there! If there’s any place on earth to take risks and be yourself, it’s definitely camp.

Now- the first morning! The day before, you will have picked your first out of three schedules that you’ll have during your time at camp. When choosing those five activities, here’s what we recommend:

1. Choose two things that you’ve never tried before.
2. Choose two activities you know you love.
3. And choose one activity that’s going to get you out of your comfort zone. 

If you’re not sure where one of your activities begins, don’t be afraid to ask someone. People at camp are some of the friendliest people you’ll probably ever meet, and no one expects you to know where everything is on your first day. So ask around!

The next few weeks will go by in a blur. Win as many canteens as possible, laugh as much as you can, and don’t bet that you’ll eat six pieces of Sodabread (believe us. It’s not worth it). Above all else, make sure to live in the moment. Enjoy the gorgeous nature surrounding you, enjoy the amazing time you have with the people around you, enjoy the little things that make camp what it is. Explore, be open, be curious!

Time spent at camp doesn’t match up to time spent at home. Days can feel as if they’ve gone by in a week, and weeks can feel like they’ve gone by in hours. At the end of your summer at Foley, it might feel as if it’s only been minutes since you first stepped out of that bus or car and into the sunshine. And you’re definitely going to leave already looking forward to what next year’s camp adventures have in store. So before you first walk out into your new home away from home, remember to make the most out of your time. We promise it’ll be worth it. Camp has been one of the most meaningful experiences in our lives, and we hope it’ll be the same for you. Can’t wait to see you this summer!

Faith and Grace :)

Camp Creature - The Bald Eagle

Eagle mid-flight. (Photo by Alli Faricy)

Ever seen the majestic bird of prey that represents America as its National Symbol?  They are an impressive sight!  We are lucky enough to see them quite regularly out on nature trips and during our environmental education programs here at Camp Foley.  In fact, camp director Alli Faricy has snapped photos of them in mid-flight around our Whitefish Lake on several occasions. 

With their large brown bodies and snow-white feathered heads, bald eagles are unmistakable and easy to distinguish from hawks, vultures, and other large raptors.  They can grow to 40 inches in length and have a huge wingspan of up to 7.5 feet.  Perhaps this is why they make the largest nests of any bird in North America. 

Bald Eagles can be found from Canada to Northern Mexico, but prefer to live near oceans, lakes, or rivers because they feed primarily on fish.  Using its keen eyesight, they can spot a fish several hundred yards away, and swoop down and pluck it from the water with its powerful talons as the fish comes up to feed.  These powerful birds have been clocked diving through the air at up to 43 mph, and flying away with a fish in their talons at 30 mph.

Photo by Alli Faricy

It is believed that Bald Eagles mate for life, and have sometimes been observed hunting together.  In these cases, one eagle distracts their potential prey while the other swoops in to pounce on it.  While a large percentage of the birds diet consists of fish and carrion (the carcasses of dead animals that have been left behind by other predators), they also catch and eat small reptiles like snakes and lizards, and mammals such as rabbits, squirrels, and raccoons.  Hungry bald eagles will sometimes hunt larger animals too, and have even been observed successfully catching an adult trumpeter swan in mid-flight.

As the National Bird of the United States, the Bald Eagle is protected by federal law.  Unfortunately, illegal hunting and the use of dangerous crop pesticides in America during the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s nearly caused this beautiful creature to go extinct.  By 1950, there were only 412 pairs of bald eagles left in the entire United States! 

Fortunately, through the creation of stronger, stricter poaching laws, the banning of harmful chemicals like DDT, and the efforts of raptor rehabilitation centers across North America, the Bald Eagle population has rebounded to over 100,000 birds.  And the third largest concentration of Bald Eagles is right here in Minnesota (behind Alaska and Florida), where it is estimated that about 1,312 pairs live in the wild.

The Bald Eagle is sacred to many Native American cultures, and some even saw it as a wise and powerful messenger from the spirit world.  This is one of the reasons eagle feathers and talons (claws) are used in some traditional Native American ceremonies and dances.

Photo by Alli Faricy

Our Founding Fathers chose the Bald Eagle to represent our country as our National Symbol because the eagle was a symbol of the ancient Republic of Rome – the democratic government of the mighty Roman Empire run by a council of senators (before Rome became a dictatorship).  On the Presidential Seal of The United States, the bald eagle is represented holding thirteen arrows in one talon and thirteen olive branches in the other.  The arrows and olive branches represent America’s thirteen original colonies, and symbolize that while the United States prefers peace, it will fight to protect the safety and freedom of its people.

So the next time you’re out on a trip or participating in a water activity at Camp Foley, be sure to keep your eyes peeled.  You just might see one of these majestic creatures.

For more info about Bald Eagles, check out The Minnesota DNR, The National Eagle Center, or these cool videos of Bald Eagles nesting right here in Minnesota!

Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

One of Camp Foley's best traditions (in my professional opinion) is it's birthday tradition. I love when the entire Dining Hall sings "happy birthday" to someone as they stand on a milk crate and followed by the counselors surrounding the birthday camper and singing the staff birthday song. Who can resist ominously chanting, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, we hate do it, but we must we must," as campers and counselors follow the birthday boy or girl to the lake to be thrown in by his or her counselors? Follow all of this up with a special Foley birthday cake - amazing! Guest blogger and 2013 counselor Melissa Martutartus recalls the birthday of one of her 2012 campers.

Melissa helping to throw Jessica into Whitefish Lake.

I have many favorite moments that I can recall from my first summer at Foley. I love the fact that there are so many traditions that one would only understand having gone to Foley. One of which is to be thrown in the lake on your birthday. It was one of my favorite moments, being a new counselor, that I was a part of throwing my camper into the lake. It made me feel like I helped make Jessica’s day even though she knew it was coming. However, it made my day even more because the entire camp was watching. I felt as though it is an honor to throw someone into the lake. And since Jessica was a member of my cabin, we were able to laugh as a cabin about it that night together! 

-Melissa Martutartus

Have you ever celebrated a birthday at Foley, or  might you be a first-timer camper this summer and have this tradition to look forward to? Do you have another Foley tradition that's your favorite? 

Throwback Thursday: 1961 & 1962

We are proud to bring you the first Throwback Thursday request - 1961 and 1962. Per usual, we got our information from the old newsletters. I must say, as I go further back in time the newsletters get very silly. Back in the day, there was a lot of mocking of returning staff and poking fun at the campers from the past summer. I found a lot of inside jokes and letters in jest (if you're ever bored, I strongly suggest reading some of the old Bugles! Read below for some of the 1961 and 1962 highlights!

Cabin time in the 60s.

In 1955 when Cabins Kadikomeg-Shignwako for the oldest campers were opened they were outfitted with new 6 foot beds, the standard length, which was considered quite ample six years ago. This year Kadikomeg-Shingwako will be equipped with 6 ½ foot beds. A sign of the times? It sure is! The average camper is getting taller thanks to the research in nutrition and the field of vitamins. Mingo-Wahtassa will benefit from the Sioux cabins’ beds. Before our oldest boys lived in Mingo/Wahtassa, it seems that they lived in Kad/Shing way down on the end of the boys' side. It also appeared that boys went through a collective growth spurt in the late 50s early 60s. 

60s ski boat.

A new waterski boat will be in order for ’62 as fiberglass fatigue has afflicted our old boat after six years of hard use. No boat gets more use, running five to six hours a day consuming about 600 gallons of gas a summer. Surprisingly, we think that our three boats use about the same amount of gas that one boat used in 1961! Snaps for technology forever improving gas mileage in ski boats!

60s meal time. 

Prepare yourself for the hilarity of the following joke found in a 1961 newsletter: Letter Home – Dear Mom: Please send food. Lots of food. All the give us here is breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Your loving son.

The American Camping Association says that over five million boys and girls will attend summer camps this summer. It is estimated that 11.5 million children will attend summer camp in 2013.

Two docks: so close yet so far...

Quite possibly the most entertaining tidbits from the 1962 newsletters is the first mention of a Swimdock/Marina rivalry at Foley. It's no secret that every summer the Swimdock and Marina staff have a healthy rivalry in good fun, let's hear how it all began...

Rivals Clash on the Waterfront

The staff of Camp Foley has suffered occasionally from dissension in the ranks. This year proved no exception to that state of affairs, John Dinges’ ‘Happy Boat Dock’ and Jack McCoy’s ‘Friendly Swim Dock’ had some times of rivalry… 

(As explained by the Swimdock:) I can’t say what motivated those men to break the treaty. In a flash their heads swelled with a superiority complex and they attempted to show how much better they were (ha-ha)… They even invented some story about their owning the Waterfront and how they have generously leased the swim dock area to us. Everyone knows that when Father Foley first came to the north woods he went swimming as soon as he could get his suit on. Then he marked off the swim dock area and after that the boat dock area. Since we are a friendly group, we aren't going to say any more about the rivalry. We know you know who your real friends are and we hope the men of the boat dock realize it soon.

(As explained by the Marina:) It is common knowledge that the stalwart men of the boat dock are not only your friends, but are also the happiest and most efficient unit of your Camp Foley staff… The Happy Boat Dock rang with the continual peals of laughter of the campers whereas the Swim Dock gave forth mainly with the groans of campers undergoing the tortures inflicted by their instructors – that is, when the swim dock was still standing… You campers can attest to the wonderful treatment accorded to you at the boat dock...  Compare the range of activities you between the boat dock and the swim dock? … It doesn't seem necessary to say any more.

Camp Creature - the Ice!

Alli atop the ice ridge.

Sometimes, we consider the lake to be a “creature” of its own as there always seems to be something cool happening with it, especially in the winter. Whitefish Lake doesn’t get quite as much action in the winter as it does in the summer, but it does get some! There are currently a collection of ice houses, used for ice fishing on the lake, and there are other winter activities, such as cross country skiing or snowshoeing, that can take place in the winter as well. 

Marie and Alli were recently out on the lake looking at the amazing ice heaving (or jacking) that has taken place and caused some ridges on our shoreline. We wanted to investigate what causes the ice on the lake to pile up on shore in such a way. 

Alli atop the ice ridge.

First things first, why does the ice crack and separate? Usually, it is caused by wind or underwater currents. The wind can push the ice around, causing it to fracture and pile up in some areas or pull away from the shore in other areas. Temperature can also play a part in the ice cracking. As the temperature rises and falls, the ice sheet contracts at different rates at the top and bottom of the ice sheet – the rate is especially different when there is limited snow fall and thus little insulation on the ice sheet. Often, ice cracking can be heard by those near it, such as ice fishers or cross country skiers. 

Alli and Nike exploring.

After the ice is cracked, the now separated ice sheets can be pushed toward or away from the shore by wind, causing it to pile up and form the ice ridges. Apparently, very little wind is needed to actually cause the ice to drift. The ridges can also be formed by the expansion of the ice due to cracking. When water rises in the cracks and freezes, the ice sheet expands slightly. As the temperature fluctuates, the ice will continue to expand and thus push against the shore. 

It creates quite an interesting sight, but sometimes these ice ridges can cause serious damage to property as the ice pushes soil and rock into mounds on the shoreline. But don’t worry, the Marina and Swimdock both seem to be handling the ice just fine! 

Enjoy this fun video Alli and Marie took:

 

Are there any fun winter weather things happening in your area? We know the east coast got hit with a huge winter storm last weekend. Here at camp, we got eight to ten inches of snow. Forget outside sweep, we had a lot of outside shovel and plow to do this Monday morning at camp! Whatever the weather is like in your area, we hope you're enjoying your winter months!

Just Keep Swimming

2012 at the Swimdock on the mat.

What's the one activity that absolutely everybody does at Camp Foley at one time or another? Swimming! With 4,000 acres of fresh, clear water right outside our cabin doors, it isn't surprising how often campers are down at the waterfront. One of the first things campers do when they arrive at Foley is take their swim test. And for those of you that continue with swimming past that first day at Foley, we thought we'd look into the history of swimming in general and some of its history at camp.

The earliest records of swimming showed up in Stone Age paintings from about 7,000 years ago! But swimming, as we know it today, started right here in the United States in the early 1800s, and breastroke was the first stroke used in competition. How about this for a fun fact: Many Americans often used swimming competitions to settle differences (such as property rights) in the frontier. Swimming was a part of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, and from the likes of recent phenoms Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, the sport of

Connor Dwyer, Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and
Ricky Berens win gold in the Men's 4x200
Freestyle Relay at the 2012 Olympic Games. photo

swimming has continued to grow in popularity.The IOC (International Olympic Committee) recognizes four strokes - backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle - and 32 individual swimming events. Swimming has more officials than most sports (which may be a surprise to some). The officials include a referee, a starter, a clerk of course, timekeepers, inspectors of turns, judges of strokes and finish judges! Can you believe it takes all of those people to keep track of some swimmers going down and back in a pool?

Not so surprisingly, not all competitive swimming takes place in a pool. There is also open water swimming that takes place usually in a lake or sometimes ocean. The 2008 Olympic Games in Bejiing was the first time an open water event was added to the Summer Olympics; however, in the first four Olympics (1896-1906), all swimming events were held in open water. Some other interesting Olympic Swimming dates include: 1912, when electronic timing was introduced; 1936, when swimmers first dove into the pool from diving blocks rather than the edge of the pool; and 1976, when swimmers first used goggles!

Below are some interesting Camp Foley Swimdock Facts:

Buddy Board in the 50s.

1950s - First mention of the “check board” and buddy system

1951 - Swimming class becomes optional for those who have passed their swim tests
1984 - Sauna added
1994 - New basketball hoop added
2002 - Purchased 12 paddleboards and paddles, inner-tubes - Paddlemania!
2005 - Addition of the underwater snorkeling park

2006 - First summer for the log

2011 - Water mat and new diving tower added

Greasy watermelon in the 80s.

A lot of campers enjoy the water through activities such as diving, sailing, snorkeling or waterskiing, but think of all the times you've enjoyed just a nice free swim playing at the waterfront or enjoyed a cool off swim. Maybe next summer you'll take advantage of a swimming class to learn some new strokes or to improve your technique? Or maybe you'll just head down to the waterfront a few more times to enjoy a swim in Whitefish Lake and cool off after a warm Minnesota summer day. In whatever you choose, think of how many Foley campers before you have done the same! 

Camp Creature - Common Loon

Photo: Alli Faricy

As the evening waves break across the shoreline of Whitefish Lake, a beautiful yet haunting sound can be heard echoing through the tall pine trees that guard the grounds of Camp Foley.  Again, the sound pierces through the silence: Woooo – oooooooo.  Along with the whine of mosquitoes, the calls of the Common Loon are the sounds most associated to summertime at Camp Foley and northern Minnesota.

Winter plumage

Minnesota’s state bird, the Common Loon is, dare I say, a common thing for campers to see while at any water activity.  In fact, Minnesota has more loons, roughly 12,000, than any other state besides Alaska.  The Common Loon is slightly larger than a Mallard Duck, and adults weigh between eight and 12 pounds.  They have a very long, thick neck with a long, black bill, which gives them an awkward appearance when flying.  Most campers and counselors would recognize the Common Loon because of its black and white speckled plumage (the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, color, and arrangement of those feathers) and of course, its red eyes.  But did you know the Common Loon replaces its “summer” plumage with a molted grey “winter” plumage?  It’s only fitting that the campers and counselors of Camp Foley get to see the Common Loon at the pinnacle of its beauty. 

Underwater fishing

The Common Loon spends the majority of its time on the water, only coming ashore to mate and incubate its eggs.  As a result, the Common Loon has many cool features to help it better adapt to its aquatic environments.   The Common Loon is a very agile swimmer; the loon’s feet are positioned farther back on its body than most birds.  Additionally, unlike most birds, loons have solid bones.  These two features allow the loon to swim underwater like a torpedo.  In fact, loons can swim down to depths of over 200 feet and hold their breath for over five minutes.
  
As many of you may know, it’s pretty dark deep down in Whitefish Lake.  It has been theorized that the red eyes of the Common Loon enable it to see better while underwater.  This helps the loon locate various species of fish, a staple of its diet.  However, any camper who has taken fishing at Camp Foley can tell you that fish are very slippery creatures.  The Common Loon has a beak that solves that problem.  The inside of the Common Loon’s beak is filled with rearward-pointing projections, best described as very small teeth.  This adaptation, along with the loon’s unique tongue, help the loon secure even the slipperiest of fish. 

Photo: Alli Faricy

These adaptations may be very beneficial to the Common Loon while on the water, but they make for very comical takeoffs.  Like airplanes, loons need a “runway” in order to takeoff and fly.  The Common Loon will begin “running” across the water while flapping its wings, in an attempt to build up enough speed for takeoff.  The loon needs a runway anywhere from 30 yards to a quarter-mile long in order to gain enough speed for a takeoff.  Once in the air however, the Common Loon can fly pretty fast.  Migrating loons are estimated to travel at speeds of over 70 miles per hour while on their way to the Gulf of Mexico, where they spend the winter months.

Camp Foley is committed to helping the Common Loon thrive.  During the summer of 2012, both groups of CIT’s donated their time and helped the Minnesota DNR (Department of Natural Resources) obtain a rough population count of the Common Loons living on Lower Whitefish Lake.  Additionally, Loon Calling was an optional sixth period activity, which was dedicated to teaching the Wolf campers about the life and various calls of the Common Loon.

Throwback Thursday: Camp in 2003

For this edition of Throwback Thursday, we thought it would be interesting to take a trip back to 2003 to see what Camp Foley was like. Amazing enough, it was very similar to what it’s like today. Campers were just as eager to battle their nerves and try an activity for the first time and counselors were just as silly with coming up with evening activities. Overall, it seems that ten years ago, camp was pretty much the same as it is today!

Here are some fun memories that were published in Camp’s newsletter – the Bugle – in 2003. 

Henry & Jack sailing Optis before camp had Mangos.

Sailing: When talking about dedication there is only one thing that comes across my mind, which is of course sailing. During the Third Session, Jack McGarvey and Henry Dickinson decided that they would try out sailing. They did not know what to expect until they got to the Sailing Optis, first time class. In this class, they displayed hard work but at the same time having the best time of their lives. You always knew when Henry and Jack meant business – Henry’s hat would go on backwards and Jack would have that happy grin on his face. After their first day of sailing, the only thing these two individuals would talk about is sailing and I loved to hear about their many different sailing adventures. They were always curious about everything that had to do with sailing. They kept talking about their dream to be able to go out and sail camp’s 420s but in the mean time they are mastering the Optis. By Mike Schmid, 2^nd Year Counselor

Mike Mogard entered the Hall of Fame in 2012.

Forts and Socks: My favorite moment from Camp Foley 2003 happened during the Fourth Session. “Forts and Socks” was Cabin Kildare’s evening activity. All the campers had questions about what we would be doing. I explained that we would build forts in our cabin, and then proceed to have a huge war of throwing socks at each other. They all laughed and then asked what we were REALLY doing for an evening activity. When we finally got started, they all go pumped up about throwing socks at other people. When we explained that it would be campers versus counselors, the campers got pumped up even more. The campers took a long time to prepare their fort and took a lot of pride in their accomplishment. It was an intense half hour of battle, and the cabin was a huge mess afterwards. During cleanup, not a single person was arguing about who had won the battle, they were all just satisfied with having a fun time. It was a blast! By Mike Mogard, 1^st Year Counselor


Some other interesting 2003 facts:
-Recent counselor Kylie Beltz recieved her SilverBirchbark Award!
-Recent counselors Leslie Strobel and Chris Blahna recieved the Anchor Award!
-Banquet themes: Comic Super Heroes and Wild West.
-It was uncommon for campers to have their own digital cameras, so campers were encouraged to bring disposable cameras!
-Alli was signed up for her fifth summer on staff as a Marina Director and an AD!

Is camp pretty much the same since when you started? Are you an alumni that remembers something funny happening in a past summer? Please share with us in the comments below or at Fun@CampFoley.com!