The Value of Summer Camp - a Video

Most of our CIFC Friends already know the value of camp for children – it teaches them resilience, self-reliance, and self-discipline and the joy of meeting new people and discovering new cultures. But just in case some of you want to now why it is important for every child to experience camp – and why they love it – here is an excellent video by Madeline Levine, adolescent psychologist and speaker at the 2013 Western Association of Independent Camps conference that our camp directors attended. WAIC member camp staff put together this short video of a part of her keynote speech. We really liked it and thought we would share it with our friends. Please use it in any way you want to promote the value of summer camp.

Mars est le mois de la Francophonie

Today is the month pour parler en français! With its 220 millions French speakers around the world, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a francophone fellow. Did you know that French is one of the official languages in more than 30 countries, that French is the second most studied language in the EU, or that 60% of Francophones are under 30 (campers included!). Le 20 mars 2014 est la journée internationale de la francophonie, l’occasion de pratiquer la langue de Molière partout dans le monde en s’amusant et en promouvant la solidarité et la rencontre des cultures! Découvrez quelques mots nouveaux ou insolites à travers ces vidéos.

Le monde francophone session - CIFC 

Discover a Taste of Paris in Seattle!

Some Seattleites wait an entire year to return to Canoe Island French Camp to eat French food, study French, and immerse themselves in French culture.  Others wait a lifetime for a trip to Paris.  For Francophiles in Seattle who are looking for a taste of France a bit closer to home, the shop Paris Eastside in Capitol Hill is a haven. In 2012, native Parisian Muriel-Marguerite Foucher opened the store, which offers cooking classes, imported French food, and Parisian gifts. Muriel-Marguerite owned a cooking school in Paris where she taught Anglophone tourists before relocating to Washington with her family.

Canoe Island Marketing Coordinator Margaret Schafer dropped into the store recently to meet Mme. Foucher. Canoe Island campers might be particularly interested in the cooking classes she offers for children and teenagers: participants make a variety of treats in the one- or two-hour classes, including tartes, mousse, or quiche. Muriel also offers adult classes, where participants master delicacies such as macarons or éclairs. Of her cooking philosophy, Muriel-Marguerite says, “We eat every day so we should learn to do it well,” which is our philosophy on Canoe Island as well. Recently, Muriel published a cookbook on using a microwave to make French culinary classics, which she wrote for her son in college.

For anyone lucky enough to visit the city of lights, Muriel’s company also offers tours of Parisian farmers’ markets, the Jewish quarter, and a private tour of a Parisian candy shop. Of her hometown, Muriel reflects that Paris may have beautiful architecture but Seattle has far more beautiful natural surroundings. She also commends Seattleites on their friendliness! Stop by her shop in Capitol Hill or check out her website or facebook page to learn more. 

    

 

Join the celebration on Canoe Island -- 45 years of Summer Fun with a French Accent!

What are your memories of Canoe Island? Sunrise over Mt. Baker, sunsets over the Olympic Mountains? Songs on Inspiration Point? Fondue on the beach and dances in the Chateau?  Maybe even a bus trip to Victoria? Who did you meet on Canoe Island who is still your friend?

Come to Canoe Island this summer to share your memories, meet old and new friends, kayak, sail, swim, hike, do archery and fencing or just relax on one of the most beautiful islands in the world.  We’re celebrating 45 years of Canoe Island French Camp, Dr. Warren Austin’s 1969 vision of a sanctuary where children could learn French and about French culture while having fantastically fun days.  Come for the afternoon/evening Friday including a poolside barbecue or spend the night in a tipi and continue the fun through Saturday.  We’ll even celebrate the summer solstice at a beach campfire.

Daylong Celebration: 2-8 pm Friday June 20
Overnight Celebration: 2 pm Friday - 4 pm Saturday - coincides with Les Portes Ouvertes (Open House) on Saturday

WHEN: Walk on the 12:35 pm ferry at Anacortes and we will meet you with our camp boat on Orcas Island and whisk you to Canoe Island. Enjoy the island, participate in activities, swim in the heated pool, and enjoy a barbecue on the pool deck. Those out for just the day will be taken back to Orcas Island in time to catch the 8:45 pm ferry, arriving back in Anacortes at 9:45 pm. Those staying over Friday night will enjoy daylong activities Saturday before catching the 5:20 pm ferry, arriving in Anacortes at 6:25 pm.

FEE:

Friday only: $20 per person, $10 ages 3-5, free 2 & under. Includes round trip transportation from the Orcas ferry landing to Canoe Island, an afternoon barbecue and all activities.

Overnight: $80 per person, $40 ages 3-5, free 2 & under. Includes round trip transportation from the Orcas ferry landing to Canoe Island, poolside barbecue, breakfast and lunch on Saturday and all activities. Overnight participants will need to bring a sleeping bag, pillow and towel, and toiletries. Overnight accommodations are limited.

Register at http://www.canoeisland.org/registration.php

Contact us at info(at)canoeisland.org for more information about the event, transportation options or information on places to stay in the San Juan Islands. 

Help Us Build Our New Pool Deck!

Here on Canoe Island we're always looking to improve camp, both by enriching our programming and by up-dating our facilities. This winter and spring we are undertaking the replacement of the pool deck and the last of the old tipi decks.

We have three construction weekends planned and are looking for some generous carpenters who can join us for one or more of them.  We are specifically looking for volunteers with construction skills and those who can carry boards up and down stairs.  These weekends are free of charge, and we will provide meals and transportation from the ferry. You are also welcome to stay longer into the week, if you have the time. 

Ben working on the pool deck.

Friday-Sunday March 7-9              

Friday-Sunday March 28-30        

Friday-Sunday April 18-20       

We can pick you up from the Orcas Island ferry landing either Friday evening or Saturday morning.  We will provide meals and beds, but would appreciate it if you could bring a sleeping bag and a towel.   

If you are interested in helping us, please email info@canoeisland.org with the weekend you prefer, your carpentry skills, name, and home and cell phone number or call us at 360.468.2329.  Check the ferry schedule to pick your arrival and departure times (remember there is a weekday schedule and a weekend schedule on the Winter Schedule and the April weekend will be on the Spring Schedule). 




We look forward to welcoming our 2014 campers with these camp improvements!

Former Counselors Isma and Leïla's New Store!

In 2012, Isma Moulay from Lille, France, joined our team of animateurs to teach tennis and lead our songs with his guitar. He returned in 2013 bringing Leïla Hadjari, also from Lille, to teach fencing and charm everyone with her smile. This past week, Leïla and Isma opened a store together in Halluin, France, called Laine Attitude, a haberdashery and yarn store. Isma and Leïla began to knit when they were working on Canoe Island in 2013. You can check out the store's facebook page or, if you happen to be near Lille, visit their store at 92 rue Gabriel Péri in Halluin. We will miss having them on Canoe Island, but we wish Isma and Leïla all the best in this new adventure together! 

Donate to Canoe Island and receive a Thank You Gift!

This year we have three thank you gifts for your donation of $25 or more. We are excited to release two posters designed by our favorite artist, Program Coordinator Eden Cooke. She has rendered a nostalgic view of a night under the stars on Canoe Island and a whimsical map of Canoe Island. This summer we will have postcards of these two images for campers to send home or to friends. In addition, our second edition of our 50-page cookbook with 26 recipes from chefs Aaron and Amanda and the French Cuisine classes has been reprinted with 2013 photos of staff and campers. 

Any of these thank you gifts are available when you donate at least $25 to either the Canoe Island French Camp Scholarship Fund or Facility Fund. Your donation will help send children who may be unable to pay the full tuition to summer camp and help us improve the infrastructure of Canoe Island to ensure that future generations can enjoy all the beauty the island has to offer. For more information about these thank you gifts, and to fill out a donation form, please visit our website.