Canoe Island is available for use by schools, youth groups, and families that are interested in conducting high quality residential or day-only education programs with a French flavor for up to 50 participants.  The camp is on a 47-acre private island just 4 miles from either the San Juan Island or Orcas Island ferry terminals between Shaw and Lopez islands.  The wildness of the island has been nurtured with a carefully planned trail system through forested uplands and mossy promontories and along more than a mile of pristine shoreline.  The camp has a number of architecturally stunning camp buildings including the lodge, library, meeting and recreation rooms, infirmary, longhouse for performances or presentations, a crafts building, museum, 14 tipis, two guest houses, heated freshwater pool, tennis court, athletic field, and much more.

Canoe Island French Camp is well designed to accommodate a broad range of programs. On the reverse side is our 2008 summer schedule and summer registration form to share with those who may be interested.  During the summer we offer programs for ages 9-16 and a Labor Day Family Weekend. Counselors are all either fluent or native French speakers who teach French language classes at all levels plus a variety of French culture and outdoor activities (fencing, French cooking, archery, kayaking, sailing, photography, and swimming.)  This summer camp information can give you a good feeling for the broad range of custom school and group education programs we can offer.  All our special programs serve the purpose of helping defray the operating costs for our summer programs for children. 

For schools and youth groups, Canoe Island French Camp can provide an opportunity for students, program leaders, and adult chaperons to live for a week, weekend, or longer on a beautiful island while participating in a custom education program that addresses the intellectual and academic needs of the participating students and exposes them directly or indirectly to French language, culture, and cuisine. The program content can be specific (marine biology, island ecology, astronomy, geology, Native American culture and history, and French and French Canadian language, culture, and history) or it can be an interdisciplinary mix of any of these topics or others. For an extra fee, participants can also take a boat ride to observe orca whales and other marine mammals and wildlife that inhabit the Salish Sea.  An optional activity is to learn snorkeling skills in the camp's freshwater, heated pool, then use these skills to explore the near-shore environment with wetsuits, snorkels and masks. 

The group program fee  covers full use of all Canoe Island camp facilities and boats, three meals per day, full use of CIFC teaching resources (classrooms, lab supplies, library, scientific field equipment, recreation supplies, guest houses, etc.) and leadership for your education programs by the CIFC Executive Director and Camp Director to the level you desire.