Is your camp accredited?
Canoe Island French Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association, whose representatives visit the camp every five years to score the camp on more than 200 standards for health, safety, and program quality. As a leading authority in child development, ACA works to preserve, promote, and improve the camp experience. If you have questions on the benefits of camp, how to prepare your child for camp, or talking about the possibility of homesickness before leaving for camp, we encourage you to visit the ACA’s website!
Does my child have to know how to speak French to come to camp?
Our program is designed to give those with little French exposure a fun experience with language and culture to encourage them to continue studying French. At the same time, moyens, avancés, et natifs French students can continue their language acquisition over the summer with French fluent counselors/instructors. Campers are interviewed on the first day as to their language skill level and are placed in French class with 8-12 other campers at the same level. French is used all day long in activities, announcements, songs, French class and evening games. Campers are not required to use French during meals nor free time and we make sure beginners understand all safety briefings and announcements.
How do the children get to camp?
Most campers ride a private boat that CIFC charters from Skyline Marina in Anacortes, about 80 miles north of Seattle. We also pick up local islanders from the four ferry-serviced islands surrounding Canoe Island: Shaw, Orcas, Lopez, and San Juan.
Those from outside northern Washington sometimes fly to SeaTac International Airport where a staff member will meet them and accompany them on BellAir Airporter Shuttle to the Anacortes ferry terminal, about a 3 hour trip. Flight arrivals should be by noon on the first day, departure flights should depart after 3:30 pm on the last day but before 6 pm. More information is at Getting to Camp. This chaperoned service costs $85 each way, which pays for the camper’s and counselor’s shuttle and ferry tickets.
What training does your staff have?
All counselors participate in at least six days of training on pool, general safety; first aid; emergency response; working effectively with children; and teaching French effectively. They are also oriented to the camp activities and trained in their activity leadership role. All our staff are hired for their maturity, experience, French language ability, leadership skills and great personalities. Our counselors are at least 18, have had at least one year of college and are conversant, if not fluent, in French. At least half of the counselors come from France or other Francophone countries, which helps give the camp a French atmosphere.
What is the ratio of staff to campers?
Our supervision ratio of counselors to campers is 1:5, and additional responsible staff are a part of each session: the camp medical professional, directors, chefs, volunteer assistants, program management team, and camp caretaker. Tents have 4-7 campers to one counselor. Many activities are limited to 6 participants.
Do all the campers come with a friend?
Most children coming to camp for the first time do not come with a friend, but they leave camp with many new friends. Significant effort is made during the first hours and days at camp to ensure that all campers connect with each other, learn names and become familiar with the group they are living with. Campers coming with one friend are typically allowed to bunk with that person, however, groups of friends will be split up in pairs so that they are encouraged to make new friends.
How will my child get the medicine he needs to take?
Our medical professional (at minimum, an RN) will meet with each camper when he or she arrives, review health forms and collect medications, including analgesics and vitamins. Campers who need inhalers and epi-pens for severe allergies may carry them under counselor supervision if requested. If you need to make a change to the health history information you filled out on your child, please contact us at info@canoeisland.org and we will email you medical information addition form to fill out and return with updated information.
What other medical care is available?
Our medical professional will treat campers for minor cuts and scrapes, as well as colds or upset stomachs on island. Our directors have been trained as Wilderness First Responders and lifeguards. Paramedic services and physician-staffed medical clinics and Peace Health Hospital in Friday Harbor are available within 20 minutes by boat, and medivac helicopters can reach mainland hospitals from the Canoe Island in 20 minutes.
My child has special needs. Can my child participate in your programs?
We enthusiastically welcome children with a variety of abilities and health concerns! We have experience working with campers with diverse needs.
Neurodivergent children have done well in our programs. We require that campers meet certain benchmarks of independence, including the ability to maintain basic hygiene, the ability and willingness to shower alone and to brush teeth and hair unassisted, and dress him/her/themselves. Campers should be able to follow directions and to engage with academic content presented in the form of games during French class.
Campers with diabetes, epilepsy, and managed diseases have thrived in CIFC’s programming. For diseases that require specialized equipment or in-depth knowledge of disease management, please reach out to us to discuss your child’s needs.
We are able to assist campers of all ages who struggle with bedwetting
Due to the rustic nature of camp’s trails and our housing (octagonal bell tents on platforms, accessed by stairs), there are certain mobility impairments that we struggle to accommodate. Please reach out to discuss your child’s needs to determine if we can provide your child with a rich camp experience.
We appreciate that many young people grapple with anxiety and depression; we believe camp can be a very beneficial environment for campers with mental health concerns. We are unable to provide a safe environment for young people actively experiencing suicidal ideation.
If you have questions about whether CIFC is a good fit for your child, please do not hesitate to reach out to director Margaret Schafer at campdirector@canoeisland.org or 360.468.2329.
My child has certain dietary requirements. Is that a problem?
Our talented chefs cook from scratch. All of our meals include balanced vegetarian options and are served family style when eating indoors and buffet style while eating outdoors. We accommodate food allergies with careful handling procedures. Parents should include on the Camper Information form as many details about a food allergy, intolerance or restriction as possible so that our chefs can understand what will be best for their child. Multiple severe allergies (eggs, dairy, gluten, and soy all together, for example) can be tricky to accommodate; please reach out to Margaret Schafer, co-executive director, at campdirector@canoeisland.org or 360.468.2329 to discuss severely restricted dietary needs due to allergies
How will I know what clothes and equipment to send with my child?
A packing list can be found at Preparing for Camp.
“To tell you the truth, they just never stopped talking how great camp was… Victoria must have told half of Queens by now, I reckon she would be a good sales lady! Seriously, though, of all the camps they have attended over the years, their experience at Camp Canoe was by far the most rewarding. They raved about the counselors, the food, sleeping by the dock, canoeing, and the list goes on and on. They have already told me they want to go back next year!” ~Una Neville, Flushing NY