Canoe Island French Camp

HistoryEdit

The camp was founded in 1969 by Dr. Warren Austin and his wife Florence Heath Horton Austin, as they had a deep interest in the French culture and child development. They wanted to send their daughter to a French camp, but there were none on the West Coast, so they started CIFC on Orcas Island. The camp moved to Canoe Island in 1975.

Location and FacilitiesEdit

Canoe Island is a 47-acre private island in the San Juans, in Upright Channel between the islands of Shaw and Lopez. Many campers arrive by ferry, though some do arrive by sea plane or by private boat. Campers flying in from out-of-town unaccompanied can be met by counselors at SeaTac airport and transported to camp for an extra charge of $150.

Facilities include a heated swimming pool, a small lake and gazebo, tennis court (with rackets and balls), sports field, archery range, fire ring, more than two miles of trails, a dock, and several beaches. Campers dine in the "Maxim's", have access to a two-story "bibliothèque", or library, filled with French and English stories and reference books, and "Le Ritz", a game room with a ping pong and foosball tables. French Cuisine classes are held in "Malmaison" guest house, as well as the kitchen in the Ritz. Theater classes are held in the "Théâtre", modeled after Amerindian Longhouses, equipped with costumes and a stage. "L'Atelier", or art barn, is where students can participate in art classes and make projects for theme day and other events. Canoe island has several motorboats, sailboats, canoes, and plenty of kayaks for boating activities, as well as fencing swords and protective equipment for fencing class.

Campers stay in canvas tipis on platforms, equipped with cots and matresses, electricity, and storage boxes, with 3-4 other campers and a counselor. The tipis are located in main camp, although 3 tipis used to be located across the sports field. These three tipis, commonly referred to as "Siberia", usually housed the oldest female campers, providing more privacy and seclusion, and have since been replaced with two small cabins that house the camp's assistants during the summer. Campers share bathrooms, and have cubbies in which to store their toiletries. They also have access to an outhouse, located in the main camp area.

Staff profileEdit

Connie and Joseph Jones are the executive directors, who live on the island year round. Joseph is trained in geology, ecology, and science education, and has a background in search and rescue and emergency medical response. Connie has studied in France and used to work as an EMT, teacher, and reporter.

Ben Straub also lives on the island year round as the caretaker. He has technical and mechanical skills, as well as two dogs, Addy and Ellie, friends to many of the campers. Marge the cat lives on the island as well, but is shy and rarely seen by any of the campers.

For the summer, Connie, Joseph, and Ben, are joined by more staff, including a program director, chefs, counselors, assistants, and a nurse. The counselors come from a variety of places, with about half coming from France or other Fracophone countries, and are all fluent in French. They have all been in college for at least one year and are at least 18 years of age. Each counselor has an area of expertise in which they can instruct students. There is always a CPR-trained lifeguard to oversee swimming and water play. There are volunteer assistant positions open to past campers 17 and older, including a program assistant, 2-3 kitchen assistants, and 2-3 maintenance assistants. The chefs prepare all of the food for island inhabitants, including the final banquet, and are trained in cooking French cuisine. Each session also has a volunteer nurse to take care of staff and campers if necessary.

CIFC is a location where short-term employment opportunities for international staff create a rich environment for cultural exchange.

Camper profileEdit

Canoe Island campers are intellectual and curious about the world around them. Financial aid and scholarships are available to students who cannot afford to attend camp otherwise.

Most of the campers come from the western Washington area, while others are from western Oregon and California. Some arrive from other parts of the US or from foreign countries, including France, Canada, Japan, China, Poland, Russia, and Argentina.

ProgramEdit

Canoe Island French Camp is the summer production of Canoe Island Camps, and provides overnight camp programs in Washington's San Juan Island region for 9- to 16-year-olds. Two-week sessions are open to children ages 9 through 16, while three-week sessions are open to those aged 10 through 16. Each session focuses on a different theme (such as the French Revolution or the knights of the round table) and offers beginning and advanced French language learners a chance to practice in a semi-immersion environment.

CIFC is a semi-immersion camp (most activities are in a combination of French and English; most campers speak English among themselves), and everything has a French theme. There are two-week and three-week sessions. Different theme for each session (Les Voyageurs, Le Monde Francophone, French Revolution, Chevaliers de la Table Ronde). Campers may arrive with no knowledge of French, or may already be fluent, or anywhere in between. Multiple levels of French class are taught, from beginners to advanced, and all campers take classes. Within their first few days at camp, all campers learn and use such phrases as "Bienvenue" - welcome, "Je viens de" - I come from, "Je m'appelle" - My name is, and language to use at mealtimes ("passe-moi...", "je voudrais", puis-j'avoir", "merci", "de rien", etc.) Campers live in Tipis. There are around 40 campers per session, with around 20 staff.

The goal of the camp is to encourage curiosity; by engaging children in a new culture, they are exposed to different lifestyles. Campers use the French language throughout the day and attend classes in the morning to learn vocabulary and grammar. After language classes, campers are sent on to other activities, such as art, theatre, photography and archery. While each activity provides a level of fun and interaction, each is tied in some way to the culture. For instance, French cuisine is served at every meal by authentic French chefs. Campers are encouraged to learn how to make the meals and where the food comes from. All campers take a French Culture class sometime during the session.

Some special activities that campers can participate in include the Olympic French Games, Potlatch, Bastille Day celebration, World's Fair and Knights of the Round Table feast. The reenactment of the Knights of the Round Table allows campers to learn about chivalry and respect while role-playing. They imitate living in the Middle Ages by creating castles, and earn points through several activities that encourage respect, kindness and courage. To celebrate the French Revolution and Bastille Day, a water-balloon fight (aka "Storming the Bastille") is held. French history is incorporated into camp activities, while still having fun.

On the first day of each session, campers take a swim test and have a brief conversation (in French) with the program director to determine their language class placement. They also receive a CIFC sweatshirt and t-shirt.

Camp life and activitiesEdit

Mornings begin with language classes taught by fluent instructors. They then participate in morning activities. The selection of activity classes includes French Cuisine, Fencing, Archery, Ceramics, Theatre, Photography, Kayaking, Sailing, Art, Rock Climbing, Canoeing, Swimming (in the heated pool), Snorkeling, "Journal" - yearbook, and Marine Biology. After lunch, campers enjoy Repos, a one-hour rest time that can be used to sleep, socialize quietly with tipi-mates, read, write letters home, or practice the French learned earlier that day. Campers then participate in elective afternoon activities, have free time, enjoy dinner, and participate in an evening activity. Evening activities can include theatre night, photography challenges, all-island games, charades, Casino Night, movie nights, and competitians - all planned by the "animateurs", or counselors. The wonderful location is taken advantage of with all island games such as "Capture the Flag", "Orientering", "Capture the Counselor", and "Les Contrabandiers".

Three family-style meals in a dining hall. Lunch might be a croque monsieur; dinner, bistro classics like bouillabaisse (using local mussels and crabs partially harvested by families), beef bourguignonne, and crème brûlée. A snack is also served between lunch and dinner. Campers are expected to ask to sit down and to be excused in French, ask for food to be passed in French, and to say a French blessing before each meal.

Each morning and evening, students raise and lower the French and American flags, as well as a flag of another country represented by campers or staff (England, Canada,etc.). Campers sing patriotic American songs, La Marseillaise, and the national anthem of the country represented by the third flag (God save our king, "O Canada" - in French.) Campers learn traditional French songs after lunch and dinner, and during their French classes.

Each Saturday, as well as on the last day of the session, campers participate in "Grasse Matiné" or "fat morning", where they can sleep in and breakfast is served to order. Campers and staff then go to Inspiration Point (considered by many one of the most beautiful places on the island) to share what they've learned, discuss important questions, and sing songs in both French and English. After Inspiration Point, there is a talent show (or "Spectacle de Jacques Martin") and an afternoon full of free-time and optional activities.

Throughout the session, campers may have the opportunity to participate in a whale watch boat ride, visit the beach on Shaw Island, or do other activities on nearby islands. Campers also have the opportunity to sleep on the dock or sports field to learn about astronomy from Joseph, the executive director. Other overnights can be arranged throughout the session.

At the end of each session, campers participate in a Theme Day, or a day to celebrate all that they've learned in regard to the theme of the session. They also have a "bal", or camp dance. On the last full day of the Session, campers don their finest clothes and attend a seven-course, formal banquet, prepared by the kitchen staff. Campers receive French Class certificates, souvenirs, and a commemorative yearbook, with articles by and pictures of fellow campers and counselors.

Other ProgramsEdit

Family camps, cooking classes, work parties, and yoga weekends are held throughout the year. School groups participate in specialized programming in the spring and fall.

San Juan CampsEdit

Camp Orkila, Camp Nor'wester, and Camp Four Winds Westward Ho together with Canoe Island Camps are the four overnight camps for children in the San Juan Islands. CIFC is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). The camp brings together an international staff, and is an opportunity for summer employment.