Our Staff

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Our Staff

Each summer young adults from France or other Francophone countries are selected to come to Canoe Island to teach French and share information about their home. These staff members come with the highest recommendations from respected agencies that interview them, check references, do background checks and guarantee their respectability. Together with French-speaking counselors from the US (who we personally interview, check references and do background checks on), they form an energetic, enthusiastic and fun team to provide care and nurturing for your child. Each counselor has at least one other area of expertise - fencing, sailing, theater, French cuisine, photography, kayaking, archery, music, or art. CPR-trained lifeguards oversee all swimming and boating activities. Counselors are at least 18 and have had at least one year of college. Many of the counselors were Canoe Island campers themselves and know what will make the camp experience memorable for your child.

A registered nurse reviews all health forms, safely stores and dispenses campers' medications, and oversees the health and welfare of all. Paramedic services and physician-staffed medical clinics are available within 15 minutes on the major, ferry-served islands, and area hospitals are 20 minutes away via medivac helicopter.

Our Year Round Staff

Directors

Canoe Island French Camp is led by the husband and wife team of Joseph Jones, Executive Director, and Connie Jones, Camp Director, who live year round on the island. They have more than 30 years of experience running some of the Northwest's most respected camp programs. Joseph has a geology and natural resource undergraduate background, and a graduate degree in science education and education administration. He has extensive experience in land, sea and air search and rescue and emergency medical response. Connie has lived, studied and traveled extensively in France. She is a past EMT, has an English literature degree, was a certified teacher, and a reporter, editor, and restaurant reviewer with The Oregonian newspaper prior to joining Joseph in camp operations.

Island Caretaker

Ben Straub, originally from Eastern Pennsylvania, is a part of the year round staff of Canoe Island French Camp. Ben brings fine technical and mechanical skills to most applications of construction, woodworking, metal working and manufacturing. Before coming to Washington, he produced and sold museum-quality kaleidoscopes and wooden accessories that were represented in approximately 130 galleries nationwide. Ben has been involved with two philanthropic efforts in South America. Addy lives on Canoe Island and is a three-years-old, Red Merle Australian Shepherd. She is very sweet and well behaved and can typically be found by Ben's side. Addy likes boat rides, playing frisbee, walks around the island, running on the beaches and watching otters. 2009 was her first year at camp and she LOVED it, she looks forward to all of the campers and families returning to the island, so that she can show off the new tricks she's learned during the winter.

Marketing Coordinator

Margaret Schafer undertakes marketing duties for Canoe Island French Camp as part of the year-round staff. Margaret hails from Illinois and has a background in French and English literature, as well as a graduate degree in information science. She has studied and worked in France and worked as a counselor for Canoe Island in 2010.

2013 Summer Staff
	Eden Cooke - Program Coordinator Salut tout le monde! As many of you may know I'm a long time Canoe Islander, but I'm also currently studying Illustration at Emily Carr University in Vancouver, BC.When I'm not drawing or painting I enjoy practicing my French time with some Francophone Vancouver (a club which usually involves sampling French foods). I also enjoy traveling, I've made it an annual practice to visit our past Canoe Island counselors in France (they make the best hosts). But more than anything I love being on Canoe Island, a place that's filled with never ceasing activities; my three favorites are plein air painting, fencing and night kayaking. Let's be honest I'm counting the days until summer, I'm so excited for another season on Canoe.
	Patrice Albert-Thenet - Counselor Salut tout le monde ! This year will be my second summer at Canoe and not a day has gone by since my departure in 2012 where I haven’t thought about heading back to the little slice of heaven nestled away in the dreamy north-west of America. I am 23 years of age and just graduated with a BSc- Nutrition. I spent my final semester in Montréal to take up my French studies again while enjoying the realisation of 5 years of hard work and daydreaming. I studied French for about 6 years and grew up as part of a Mauritian family just south of Sydney. I am currently in Argentina and will be country hopping around South America before I go to Europe for a few months and then back to Canoe for the summer! I love to read to stay sharp and I have been amassing a little library of French literature to bring back to Canoe (I am reading Le Comte de Monte Cristo at the moment). I love to play Frisbee and I also enjoy getting outdoors and keeping active. I really try to enjoy the little things in life to try and keep everyday interesting where I can learn something new and learn to appreciate this great world of ours. I look forward to seeing you all again this summer! À bientôt!
	Joan Palmiter Bajorek - Counselor Bonjour Tout le Monde! This will be my first summer at camp and I can’t wait to share it with you. I’m from Portland, Oregon and am graduating this year from the University of Washington with degrees in French and Photography. I’m very passionate about French, the beautiful language that I teach and tutor here in Seattle in addition to being the President of UW French Club. Most often, you’ll see me with camera or guitar in hand as I love music and will be the photography instructor this summer! The darkroom is a magical place. In my spare time, I enjoy running, singing, swimming, cooking, doing yoga, and meeting people from around the world. A Bientôt!
	Brett Bankson - Counselor Salut mes amis! This will be my first summer at Canoe Camp, and as a native Washingtonian I’m oh so jazzed to work in the San Juan Islands. I will have just returned from my semester abroad in Nantes when camp starts, so this will be like France round two for me. I think that the chance to live in a different country and gain understanding of a global culture is important and valuable for everyone, especially youth. Currently, I’m finishing up my second year at university where I study Psychology, Neuroscience, and French. Languages, traveling, food, and gardens are my not-guilty pleasures and I hope to spread the French appreciation of dining to campers this summer. Staying at Canoe Camp is a unique opportunity and I’m looking forward to learning, sharing, and growing with the campers and staff this summer.
	Michael Cunningham - Counselor Michael Cunningham returns "home" this summer to Canoe Island. Native of Durham, NC, he holds the record for most sessions spent as a camper. Michael attends Middlebury College in snowy Vermont where he majors in International and Global Studies. Out of class, he sings with "The Bobolinks" a cappella ensemble, rows with the college crew team, choreographs for "On Tap" tap ensemble, and participates in musicals - most recently Into the Woods. Michael is most interested by language and culture, so it will come as no surprise how excited he is to be teaching both this summer!
	Leïla Hadjari - Counselor Bien le bonjour futurs amis ! This summer 2013 will be my first on Canoe Island and I can’t wait to get in this cheerful world! I am coming from Northern France, from Lille exactly. I will share with you the well-known affection and goodness of the Northern French people. My mother used to teach French at school, so I inherited her teaching heat and skills. I studied English, German and Chinese at University, and Psychology as well. Since my childhood I have practiced a lot of different sports such as fencing, ridding, swimming, climbing, boxing, dance, gym, badminton… No please, I am not hyperactive! ;) It will be a great pleasure to share all of this with your children. See you there soon !
	Marisa Ikert - Counselor Salut les amis! I’m incredibly excited to come back to Canoe Island for my second summer as a counselor and journal instructor. My first experience on the island was in 2007 as a camper, and I’ve been enamored with the French language and the beautiful San Juan Islands ever since. I’m a Portland, OR native, but I spend most of the year in Walla Walla, WA as a French major at Whitman College. This year I had the opportunity to live in La Maison Française, a French-themed interest house, and helped put on programs promoting French language and culture on campus. I’ve also kept myself busy through choir, an editing job on the school newspaper, and volunteering at local elementary and preschools. I can’t wait to meet new friends, see old faces, and discover the adventures that will be in store for us this summer!
	Ismael Moulay - Counselor Hey bonjour tout le monde !!! My Name is Ismaël ( but you can call me Isma ) I'm 24 years old, and I'm living in Lille ( north of France.) I coming back this summer for my second year on Canoe Island, I don't know if you are like me but I can't wait until this summer. I had so much fun with all of you last year, and next summer will be better I have a lot of new activities ideas for you !! I'm on Canoe Island at this moment, and you will be impress with all the work done here. I really want you to see that ! Like last year, I will teach tennis, guitar, archery, and of course French !!!
	Blandine Rayon - Counselor Bonjour, bonjour! I am Blandine, I live in Angers, a beautiful city in the west of France. I study languages, literature and economics at university. I enjoy cooking, running, laughing, doing crafts, and playing music. I have been playing the flute for 6 years and I am now learning the guitar (“Aux Champs-Elysées” is actually my anthem, as it is the first and last song I learned on the guitar!). I also love meeting people from different backgrounds and the best way I have found to do it so far is traveling! I have already been counselor several times in France but it will be my first summer at Canoe Island. My rucksack and I are ready to take the plane that will bring us to the United States, to live the great adventure of Canoe Island French Camp! I am really looking forward to seeing you there! A très vite!