Family Camp is a time to relax, try new activities, meet wonderful people with similar interests, and speak or practice  French. The groups are often a mixture of ages -- sometimes 3 generations. Family members can be as busy or relaxed as they want -- all activities are optional,  the pool is open morning and afternoon, and the tennis court is always open. You can bring your camera for some excellent photography, go for quiet walks through the forest, sit on a mossy promontory and enjoy the sunset, or be busy every minute of the day with kayaking, sailing, tide pool investigations, archery, cooking, art, etc. We discuss on Friday evening what activities families are interested in and tailor the program to their preferences. Each family has its own tipi with 5  beds with mattresses, an electric light and a wooden box for storing personal items.

We model these weekends after our summer camp: singing la Marseillaise at the flagpole, learning a French proverb as the mot de passe to enter the dining hall for meals, reading the menu and asking for food to be passed in French, and singing French songs after lunch.  This is a great way for potential campers and parents to find out about activities and the camp facilities. Adults attending alone or with friends are also welcome, and the island is a great place for an inter-generational outing or family reunion. With  many different levels of French language ability present, the program is also in English. We offer beginning and intermediate classes and French games for little ones for 1 hour after breakfast and encourage French speaking among participants and our instructors. Pre-breakfast kayaking is available each morning.

Arrive Friday late afternoon or evening, and leave the last day either early or late.  Meals will be provided from Friday dinner through the last day lunch.

You can arrive on Canoe Island in a number of ways:
Most people walk on the ferry at Anacortes, bound for Orcas Island, parking their car at the ferry parking lot for the weekend.  The parking cost for the 4 days is about the same cost as taking a car on the ferry, but you don't have to wait in line two hours to board on each side. Walk-on passenger ferry fee is about $13 per person.

Kenmore Air float planes fly from Lake Union in Seattle in an hour to Lopez Island where we would pick you up on our camp boat for the 10-minute ride back to Canoe Island.

The Victoria Clipper sails from Seattle at 7:45 am arriving in Friday Harbor at 11:15 am where we can meet you with our camp boat.

Some people use their personal boat to come right to Canoe Island where we can provide anchoring space or sometimes a mooring ball.

To register on line, enter each family member as a separate camper.