Camp Tanadoona's 2012 Staff
Camp Tanadoona's counselors come from all over the world. Check back here later for profiles of all our new and returning camp counselors.
In the meantime, meet our new Camp Director, Todd Foster.
How long have you been working in the camp industry?
I started working at Many Point Scout Camp in 1994 and worked there for 11 summers. I also have worked at Stearns Scout Camp, Camp Teko, Camp Lincoln-Lake Huebert and Trout Lake Summer Camp. I helped design Northwind Winter Adventures, a winter camp for Boy Scouts and worked there for seven winters.
What made you want to join Camp Fire?
Camp Fire is an organization that helps support character development in youth. As Camp Director at Camp Tanadoona I will be able help facilitate that development for hundreds of youth from all walks of life. I was particularly drawn by the fact that Camp Fire is all-inclusive and opens doors for all types of kids. Camp Fire has always done great things, and we're at the start of a reinvestment phase into Camp Tanadoona. Being a part of this new chapter in Tanadoona's history is really exciting.
Where were you before you came to Camp Fire?
Last summer I was working at Clearwaters Outfitting a brand new start-up outfitter on the Mississippi River. I love to canoe and it was an awesome place to work. I am also a full-time student and will graduate in February with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Marketing from the College of St. Scholastica.
What makes a camp great?
Camp is a place for youth to feel special, a place where they can help decide what to do with their time in a safe a nurturing environment. Camp is a place where kids can try new things and where it is ok to make a mistake. I think camp should be a place where every kid can go and learn not only about the natural environment, but about themselves. If you teach a kid a skill (any skill), they will learn to have confidence to try new things.
Why is getting kids outdoors so important?
There has always been something fascinating with connecting campers to the outdoors. It is even more pronounced with all the electronics we have these days. I think it's important to have a place were we actually connect with other people in a fun, and exciting environment. A place were we can put the smart phones, iPads, and computers away and listen to nature's song.
What's your vision for camps Tanadoona and Bluewater?
I think Camp Tanadoona and Camp Bluewater are healthy vibrant camps. I want to build on that tradition and make Camp Tanadoona the camp that everyone wants to come to. I want to bring to Camp Tanadoona some exciting new elements that will have kids and teens excited to come to Tanadoona year after year.
What do you do when you're not at Tanadoona?
I love to canoe. I spend as much time as I can paddling the lakes and rivers of our state. Because of this love for water I was appointed to the Sauk River Watershed by the Stearns County Commissioners to help guide where that organization is going. I was also recently appointed by Governor Dayton to the Board of Water and Soil Resource so that I can help protect all of the waters in the state of Minnesota.
What's one thing people find surprising about you?
I play guitar and write my own songs. I'm self-taught so I am still learning (I have trouble with an F Chord), but I learned early that if you can play three chords well, you can fake almost any song out there. I have also paddled the entire length of the Minnesota River upstream!
Are you excited for this summer?
I am very excited to meet the campers and their parents, plus all the families and groups that use Camp Tanadoona. I look forward to building relationships and to providing a safe place for youth to grow.
