| Our Staff |
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2008 Canoe Island French Camp Staff
FRENCH CULTURE, Jason Polopolus Hometown: Upland, CA
FENCING, Caroline Borgoo
Amanda Green Hometown: Bridgeport, WV
THEATER & SONG LEADING, Hayley Dannettell
SWIMMING, WATER POLO, ARCHERY, Mathieu Lemerle
ART, Stephanie Rosenbloom
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 20 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 Caretakers 
Ben Straub and Jessica Haag, originally from Eastern Pennsylvania, are 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. Jessica assists with maintenance and grounds care and brings her considerable knowledge of marketing and graphic design to the Canoe Island program. She coordinates the camps marketing including the Camaraderie alumni newsletter, the summer camp brochure, and advertising and promotional materials. Jessica was a scholarship gymnast at the University of Missouri, earning Bachelors of Arts degrees in English and Graphic Design. She also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia, where she helped to build and organize a school library and computer lab. Jessica is a certified SCUBA diver and helps with the camp’s new snorkeling program.
More about our staff... Counselors
Nurse
Chefs
Board of Directors A 12-member Board of Directors and an Alumni Committee are actively involved in overseeing and supporting the operation of Canoe Island French Camp to help insure program and facility quality and safety. |
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. 
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 gourmet chefs serve three French-based and delicious and nutritious meals a day and prepares the seven-course Bon Voyage Banquet on the last night. A kitchen assistant helps with prep and dishwashing.