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 counselors 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 lead 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.

Photos shown. Left: Le Colombier (The Watertower). 

Below: The mosaic tile map of the San Juan Islands, on the floor of Le Colombier.

Canoe Island is located on a 47-acre island in the center of the San Juan Islands in Upright Channel between Shaw and Lopez islands. The ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbor goes by the southern corner of the island.  Photos: Kim Jones  
 

Canoe Island French Camp was founded in 1969 by the late Dr. and Mrs. Warren Austin when they could not find a French camp on the west coast for their daughter.  First established for just a few weeks each summer on Orcas Island, the French Camp moved to the Austin's beautiful new facility on the 47-acre Canoe Island located just off the southern shore of Shaw Island.  The Austins continued to play a vital role in the camp's mission, program, finances and publicity until their deaths in 1990s.

A message from Canoe Island French Camp's founder, the late Dr. Warren Austin

When I was young, as World War I was ending, I used to read every book in the little lumber-town library at Cosmopolis, Washington. One of my golden discoveries was a series of "Twin" books: in each of these the author would reveal a new country to me through the eyes and adventures of a set of twins, always a boy and a girl. My favorite book was "The French Twins," (although "The Belgian Twins" was a close second). Right then and there, I decided that, outside my own country, the French, especially the children, were the most wonderful people in the world. I marveled at their courage, their fierce loyalty to their country, their charming manners, customs and traditions. And best of all, they could speak that beautiful, musical language, French! Thus began my love affair with the French.

Please consider helping us extend the camp experience to children who need financial assistance. Your tax-deductible contribution of any amount, made payable to C.I.F.C. Donations marked "Scholarship donation", helps make partial scholarships available each summer to financially and academically deserving campers.  Donations are also sought for general operations and facility maintenance.