Paint Check!

In this month's activity spotlight, we will be focusing on a Camp Foley favorite... PAINTBALL!

This activity has been around since 2005, and many campers since have passed through the gauntlet and survived. For those living under a rock, paintball is a competitive team shooting sport in which players eliminate opponents from play by hitting them with spherical dye-filled capsules, or "paintballs", that break upon impact. Usually shot using a low-energy air weapon called a paintball marker that's powered by compressed air. This marker was originally designed for remotely marking trees and cattle.

The game was developed in May 1981 by Hayes Noel (a Wall Street stock trader) and Charles Gaines (an avid outdoorsman and writer). They were best friends, and Noel and Gaines argued about who would be better suited for survival, a city dweller who knew how people's minds worked (Noel) or a man who had spent his youth hunting, fishing, and building cabins in the woods (Gaines). The two men saw an advertisement for a paint gun and were inspired to settle their argument with paintball markers, eventually creating the sport that is now called Paintball.

Here at Camp Foley we have two different courses for the campers to play on, a speedball and woodsball arena. The speedball course is full of propped up canoes, barrels, and even old archery foam animals for campers to hide behind and creep up on opponents. The woodsball course is much more natural, filled with overgrown vegetation and logs covered in moss. The woodsball course is a bit more tick and mosquito heavy but is much bigger and demands more strategy when playing. Each course offers its unique playing field, and campers get the opportunity to play many different games on each one.

Each time before play begins, the kids are shown an infamous safety video narrated by the one and only Mr. Squeegee. This video may be paradiod by some older campers, but it covers all the rules of the game, and allows the counselors a moment to show the campers that safety is our top priority.

Cheers to lots more Paintball to be played!

Top 10

Since the launch of our Foley Fact Videos, overall excitement for summer has been on the rise. Along with the facts those videos highlight, I also would like to point out a very broad fact - our campers are talented and demonstrate their skills in countless ways each day. With 30+ activities to choose from, each camper is able to create their own adventure by signing up for activities in which they desire to grow in confidence and skill. Just to get our minds on the summer days ahead, let's check out our camper's Top 10 favorite activities..

10. Springboard Diving

9. Fencing

8. Crafts

7. Climbing

6. Paintball

5. Archery

4. Riflery

3. Wakeboarding

2. Sailing

1. Waterskiing

While we patiently await summer, check out the specifics on these activities and more!  

What Camp Foley Activity Are You?

If Tess Can Conquer a Fear, so Can You!

This week's guest blogger, 2013 counselor Tess Lee, tells us all about her fear of spiders and how her time at Foley has helped her to (slowly) begin conquering the fear. This year, we think it would be awesome if every camper took a page out of Tess' book and tried to conquer a fear this summer at camp! 

Let me give you small snapshot into my life, I feel comfortable in a city, in the mountains, in lakes, rivers, oceans, pretty much wherever, as long as I am surrounded by good friends. But what really makes my skin crawl are bugs...spiders especially. Now I know what most people are thinking, all that, “they are more afraid of you then you are of them”, and the “they wont do anything if you dont bother them.” I have tried hard to believe in these positive thoughts, but the honest truth is that I can’t even look at a spider without my palms sweating, and some sort of yelp coming from my mouth.

What is so great about camp is how completely engulfed in nature you are in nearly every activity, so bugs and such are going to be a natural occurrence.

It started the night of one of last year’s Flick-n-Floats, I was in the Washo getting ready for bed with my cabin when one of my campers casually let me know there was a spider right on my forehead. One can imagine what a scene I made, ripping off my sweatshirt and slapping myself in the face, all the while screaming. I realized this was getting out of hand...
 Being a referee on the paintball course last year, I would be walking through webs on the woods ball courses, take a deep breathe, wipe off the spiders and such, and just keep on moving. I learned that if I had spent day in and day out in those woods all summer and never got bit by anything worse than a mosquito or a tick here and there that maybe I was being a little irrational with my fears all along. Although my fear of spiders has not completely disappeared, I have learned to deal with them without tears, and running now. 

Tess, paintball ref extraordinaire! 

Being a camper I always relied on my own counselor to get rid of creepy crawly things, but now being a counselor, I have tried to take on that responsibility. Even though many times I am still running away, I stop, take a deep breathe, and try and walk back and deal with that small little creature, which may seem like a small insignificant step, but for me has taken years. If I think about the line that I have heard hundreds of times over, “they are more afraid of you than you are of them,” I cant help but think that is a little true now, if I was a small tiny insect (even shorter than I am now), and saw some giant screaming at me and running, I would definitely be a scared.

-Tess Lee 

What fears will you conquer this summer? Perhaps you'll try a new activity, talk to someone you've never met before or try to earn a difficult award. With whatever you try to conquer, we're excited to help you try!

Molly Challenges You...

Guest blogger and 2013 counselor, Molly McGuire put together a list of thing she wishes she had she'd done as a camper. Molly's list is a great challenge for all of our campers this summer! 

Camp is a pretty spectacular place, and I think we can all agree on that. But what makes camp so amazing? Is it the famous soda bread on Sundays or the sailing on Whitefish Lake? Or is it the nights spent giggling with your cabinmates or hitting a bull’s-eye in Archery? When I think of what makes camp great, I think of all of the friends I made and the experiences I had. 2013 will be my eleventh summer at Foley and my second as a staff member. As I prepare to head up to paradise for the summer, I've been thinking about all of the things I wish I’d done while I was a camper. So here goes...

Check out how fun getting dirty at the Muck Pond looks!

1. Try every activity! It seems silly, but break out of your comfort zone and try something new! Whether it’s you’re tenth year or your first, take a class you've always wanted to take! Try shooting trap, wakeboarding, or finally getting to the top of the climbing wall.
2.   Go on a trip! Talk about stepping out of your comfort zone! Take a three-day trip with your cabin or pack group! Trips create lasting bonds and endless jokes and songs that will last well beyond the trip.
3. Play paintball (and don’t scream like a girl)! Paintball is a blast; don’t let inhibitions get in the way! Something about paintball always intimidated me, but once I tried it, I couldn't believe how fun it was. It is such a rush!
4. Adventure to the Muck Pond! It took me ten years into my Foley career to experience the wonders of the Muck Pond. There is something about it that just screams summer camp. Where else in the world could you do something like that with your best friends?
5. Meet everyone in camp! This one sounds a little cheesy but it’s the truth. I challenge every camper to make a new friend each day. Sometimes we get wrapped up in with cabinmates or friends from last year. This summer, make it a goal to get to know everyone in the camp community.

-Molly McGuire

So there you go campers. How many of those challenges do you think you can accomplish this summer at Foley? Hopefully at least one of them seems doable! 

2013 Preview: What You'll Learn at Camp

Lessons nine and ten
are my life. 

As I was perusing the camp-blog world, I stumbled across a blog post that was written with inspiration from a poem by Robert Fulghum, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindegarten." America's Finest Summer Camps is a blog for four camps on the east coast (apparently they've never heard of Foley, which actually happens to be America's finest camp...). I like their list just fine, but I thought it would be great to create a list specific to what a camper can learn at Foley. So here it is...

-All I Really Need to Know I Learned at Camp Foley!-

1. There is only one way to clear a table. The Tablewaiter way. By following directions, I may be helping to make another person's job easier. 

2. The only way to be on time to Skiing/Wakeboarding is by being early. My actions can directly affect other people's experiences in a positive or negative way. 



Lesson three - I used to be very scared of Paintball, hence
the lifejacket I am wearing under two sweatshirts.

3. A lifejacket isn't necessary at Paintball. It's important to overcome my fears because the risk is definitely worth the reward!  

4. When someone says, "This is a repeat after me song!" there is only one correct way to respond. Enthusiasm and positivity are contagious. It's always important for me to have a good attitude.  

5. Just because I don't know what something means, doesn't mean I can't sing about it. Waddlee-acha? Oh nico nemo, oh golly golly gumbo? The Ricabamboo? Ichdan schpeelan - dukecan schpeelan? And don't even GET me started on Flea Fly's, "Eennie, meenie, decimeenie, oo wall a wall a meenie! Ex a meenie, zoll a meenie, oo wall a wall! A beep billy oh bo, bo bop a deep da, bo bop a deep da shh!" WHAT IS THAT! There is no reason for me to fear the unknown. Familiarizing myself with the unknown is the perfect opportunity to learn something new.

Sand in the bed, frog in the bed.
What's the difference?

6. No matter how hard I try to keep it out... there will always be sand in my bed. Just because I don't see the desired results, doesn't mean I should quit trying! 

7. I have to eat the green beans. There will be times I have to do something I don't want to do simply because it's good for me.

8. Sometimes I'll have to do outside sweep when it's not my day. Things come up and I may have to do things I didn't plan on doing. I gotta roll with the punches.

9. The more ridiculous I look, sing or dance is directly correlated to the amount of fun I'm having. I can be comfortable in my own ridiculous, awesome, one-of-a-kind skin! I don't have to worry about what others think of me. 

10. Make it a great day or not, the choice is mine. I can choose to make the best or worst of any situation. No one can make the decision for me.

This is, in no way, the end-all-be-all list of things you can learn at Foley. These are just ten of the major lessons I got from my experience as a camper and staff member. I definitely think other campers/staff can learn these things at camp, plus so much more! What are would you add to the list? Let us know! 

-Krista Strobel

Throwback Thursday: 2005

The youngest campers at Camp Foley in 2013 will be eight years old. That means, they were born in 2005, which happens to be the year we’re going back to for this Throwback Thursday.

First summer of Paintball at camp in 2005!!

Paintball wasn’t a Foley activity until 2005. Can you guess how the activity came to camp? That’s right, camper request! Those surveys you fill out at the end of the summer really do matter, as camp often makes changes to programming and facilities based off of what our campers say. Look for new paintball markers in 2013!  

Hammocks at Camp Foley!

Summer 2005 was also the first year that hammocks made an appearance at Camp Foley! According to an old newsletter, “In order to ensure maximum comfort while you socialize, we will be adding a couple of areas of hammocks!” We have seen many campers utilize the space for some quiet time or to chat with cabinmates and other friends. 

Sports Banquet

Prior to summer 2005 some big things were happening to some of the most frequented buildings at camp… the Washos! The clean, bright Washos you have come to know and love weren’t always so clean and bright. The tile floors, blue stalls and bright lighting weren’t there until 2005. And do you know who brought about the change? The campers! After many camper requests, the Washos were updated. So you may need to send some ‘thank you’ vibes to the campers on the early-mid 2000s. 

Caribbean Banquet

Some of the programming in 2005 included: Sports Heroes & Caribbean Island banquets. Happenin’ Halloween, Casino Night and CampJam were some special even programs planned. We also did Foley Records, Pajama Rama Sunday (think Lipsyncs mixed with a talent show... all over breakfast!), Wet 'N' Wild and Giant Pac Man.Camp Foley also brought in a HOT TUB in 2005 for a special Spa Night for the girls and Sport 'N' Soak for the boys. It was quite memorable!

Do any of you remember 2005? Do you think camp should bring back any of the special programs from 2005? Let us know!

Hey who's that guy?

Ryan (right), playing Hockey.

This month I had the chance to meet new to Foley camper, Ryan A. Ryan is from Maryland and has attended summer camps in his area previously, but this year will mark the first for coming to Camp Foley. I asked Ryan how he heard about Foley and his response was, “I found it on the internet.” Ryan has family that lives in Minnesota so he has seen the beautiful landscape before, and that is partly what drew him to begin looking for a camp in Minnesota. Ryan has had to the chance to visit Minnesota with family before, but he is excited for the chance to make this voyage on his own.

Maryland holds activities that he participates in which he is also excited about trying at Foley like sailing. I asked him what things he will try as a Foley First and he is excited for paintball. The competitiveness of paintball seems to be a popular topic with most of the campers that I talk with. We also talked about our new boat and the chance to try water skiing and wakeboarding. We got a little off subject and started talking about wake surfing behind a boat, that was a fun topic for me to venture off on.  Ryan also enjoys playing Hockey, as you can see from the picture above, he looks perfectly at home on the ice. My hope is for Ryan to try his hand at floor hockey during his first stay with us!

I can tell within the brief time I had to meet Ryan that he will be comfortable in the Camp Foley setting and I can’t wait to see how many new friends he will make. It’s exciting for me to know that kids from across the world will be coming to my new home at Camp Foley and I can’t wait for the opportunity to learn something new from each of them!

- Adam Ashley, Assistant Director

Meet Mr. Nick St. John

They say you have just a few seconds to make a good impression, and it's almost impossible to ever change it. Well lucky for me the first camper at Camp Foley I met was Nick St. John. Nick tells me he has been coming to Camp Foley for 4 years, and it's the people that keep bringing him back! As a brand new Assistant Director here at Foley, these words were like music to my ears. When I asked Nick if he meant the other
campers or the staff he answered "both!" "Christina, Peter, and Austin are probably my favorite counselors, they always make sure you're having fun and involved in what’s going on."

This will be my first summer with Camp Foley and I share Nick’s enthusiasm to fast forward to summer. "I like coming to Camp Foley because the weather is cooler up there than in Arizona, it can be around 100 degrees so it’s not as fun to be outside." I was a little jealous when he told me he was wearing shorts all year round and I'm looking out the window to a frozen lake.

Nick and I share interests in all the activities at Camp Foley from
Paintball, Riflery, and Wakeboarding. The older kids might
want to look out for Nick on the speed ball course in Paintball - I
won’t give away his secrets but I think I have my work cut out for me
this summer.

When I think about what I would want my kids to get out of Camp Foley,
I'm happy to hear Nick's thoughts on how camp has changed him as a
person. "I'm more mature. It’s easier for me to make new friends and
I'm more outgoing." It’s not every day you hear a 12 year old boy say
he's more mature. It’s easy for us to think about Camp Foley as being a
summer getaway with all the great memories - From timidly arriving on
the bus the first day, to wishing you had just one more night to hang
out in your cabin with your new best friends. Nick and the other
campers will carry all of these memories with them for the rest of
their life, but what they don't realize today is the way Camp Foley
has given them the mold to becoming a more confident, responsible and
respectful person.

So whether you wear shorts year round or 'parka' is in your vocabulary,
keep June and July in your minds and I can’t wait to meet hundreds of new
friends!

- Adam Ashley, Assistant Director, Camp Foley