The cabin is one of the most important places at summer camp. It is where campers practice independence, live/sleep and make friends with their peers. The cabin is a camper's home while they are at camp and should feel that way!
The Cabin
Each cabin is home to seven to 12 campers and two to three counselors. All of the cabins at Foley are different, but each cabin is furnished the same. Every camper has their own space including a bed (usually a bunk bed), shelves or cubbies to keep their belongings and a locker space. Outside the cabin are clothes lines for campers to hang wet swimsuits or towels. Each camper's bunk is assigned by their counselors before they arrive at camp to encourage campers to meet new people and make new friends!
One of our favorite parts of each cabin is the gathering space. In each cabin there is a space for the entire cabin to gather and have "Cabin Councils." Cabin Councils are when counselors gather their campers to discuss the day, play games, share stories and laugh a lot.
Cabin Living
West Washo
Washos are centrally located bathroom facilities on the Girls and Boys Sides. Pictured above is the West Washo on the Girls Side.
Inside the Cabin
Each camper has a bunk and two shelves to store personal belongings.
Outside the Cabin
Campers have shelves to store shower caddies and shoes as well as bug spray and suntan lotion. There are also clotheslines near each cabin for campers to hang wet towels, swimsuits and lifejackets.
Connected Cabins
Two cabins often share one building. Sometimes campers can travel inside between cabins, other times the counselor room separates the two cabins.
Head to Toe
Campers sleep head to toe per camp tradition.
Single Cabins
Other cabins are standalone. They are not connected to another camper cabin.
Lockers
There is "locker" space in every cabin for campers to hang jackets/sweatshirts or laundry bags, store shoes and keep towels folded on top. Each cabin's locker space looks different, but most look like the lockers pictured here.
Cabin Cleanup
Campers are responsible for keeping their cabin clean. Cabin Cleanup jobs include inside sweet, taking the garbage out, turning off the lights and making sure everyone's area is clean.
Cabin Cleanup
Campers are responsible for keeping the outside of their cabin clean as well.
Cabin Life
Living in a cabin at summer camp can be an amazing experience. Many campers form lifelong friends with cabinmates because cabinmates turn into family at camp! Living in a cabin with peers takes cooperation, respect and responsibility. Each morning campers must do Cabin Cleanup, where they sweep inside and out, make beds, check the clothesline and take out the trash. Each camper is responsible for keeping their bunk area tidy throughout the day. The best way to accomplish cabin cleanup is with a smile and a positive attitude!
Campers end the day the same way that they start it: with their cabinmates. Each night, after Evening Program, campers gather with their cabinmates to create memories that are sure to last a lifetime during Cabin Time. Campers develop a sense of belonging during this time by gathering on bunks, laughing with one another and creating bonds with cabinmates. Campers share stories of the day, of home and of life experiences with each other. Cabin time is the perfect way for campers to close the day and is one of the best parts of camp.
Following Cabin Time is Lights Out campers may be asked to share their highs and lows of the day or what they are most excited about for the next day. After Lights Out is Flashlight Time, which provides time for campers to quietly wind down from the day. Most counselors read to their cabin during Flashlight Time as campers listen to the story, write letters, listen to music or read a book of their own.
We consider cabin living to be one of, if not the, most important part of camp. Our hope is that the cabin is a space that campers can call their home away from home and is a space where many lasting memories are made!
Cabin Names
All the names of the cabins come from a variety of Native American languages. They may look hard to pronounce and difficult to remember, but the staff are always around to help if campers forget! The cabins have always been Native American in theme, so we continue with tradition and use the same names today. On one of the first nights of camp, each cabin learns about the person or place that their cabin is named after. We want to make sure the history of these Native Americans is pass along. Some of the names are easily recognizable like Pocahontas or Sacajawea but others are less recognizable. Become familiar with the names before camp:
Boys Cabins |
Girls Cabins |
| Mandan | Yakama |
| Kewaskum | Ishtakaba |
| Kadigomeg | Micmac |
| Shingwako | Sacajawea |
| Kildare | Menominee |
| Seneca | Pocahontas |
| Ojibway | Matoaka |
| Mingo | Hiawatha |
| Wahtassa | Tekawitha |
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