Family Camp is a time to relax, try new activities, meet wonderful people and speak French with others or practice your French language skills.  Family members can be as busy or relaxed as they want -- all activities are optional, and 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.

This is a great time for alumni to return to their favorite island.  Marine biology, natural science, sailing, kayaking, swimming, tennis, traditional French games and campfires will fill the weekend. 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 to attend and the island is a great place for an inter generational outing or family reunion.  Families can also plan a Group Program on Canoe Island for friends and relatives during May, early June or September.  Organize your own family camp with those you know.  Plan the activities you want: academic, adventuresome or artistic.

Because so many different levels of French language ability come, the program is also in English. We offer beginning and intermediate classes and French games for little ones for 1 hour after breakfast.  We model these weekends after our summer camp: singing la Marseillaise at the flagpole, learning a French proverb as the mot de passe (password) to enter the dining hall at all meals, reading the menu in French and asking for food to be passed in French, and singing French songs after lunch.  Outdoor activities take place in the morning and afternoon, with a full group activity in the evening.  Pre-breakfast kayaking is available each morning. We find out on Friday evening what activities families are interested in and tailor the program to their preferences.

The groups are often a mixture of ages -- sometimes 3 generations.  Families enjoy meeting other families with similar interests and children of the same age.  Each family has its own tipi that can sleep up to 5 on beds with mattresses, an electric light and a wooden box for storing personal items under each bed.

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 2 hours to board on either end. Walk-on passenger ferry fee is about $13 per person.  

Kenmore Air float planes http://www.kenmoreair.com/content.php?content_id=37 <http://www.kenmoreair.com/content.php?content_id=37>
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 http://www.clippervacations.com/san_juan_islands/ferryschedule <http://www.clippervacations.com/san_juan_islands/ferryschedule>  
sails from Seattle at 7:45 am arriving in Friday Harbor at 11:15 am where we can meet you with our camp boat.

And 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.