MEET OUR management TEAM

Geoff Park – ‘Parky’

Owner + Senior Camp Director
geoff@campsummit.ca

Geoff Park, (better known as “Parky”), is the founder and Director of Camp Summit. Since Summit invited its first campers in 1999, Parky has been there to build the camp into what it is today. He is very passionate about the outdoor summer camp experience and is excited to provide an opportunity for other kids to share the joy. As director, Parky is very committed to his staff, as well as, ensuring that each camper has a positive camp experience.

Geoff attended the University of Waterloo in Recreation and Leisure studies. He has over 30 years of camping experience, ten of which include counselling and senior staff responsibilities at one of Ontario’s strongest camping programs, Kilcoo Camp. Geoff is very involved in the Squamish community having sat on the Board of the Squamish Community Foundation and Tourism Squamish. Geoff is currently on the BC Camps Association Board of Directors as the Canadian Camping Association representative as well as the Chair of the government advocacy and relations committee of the Canadian Camping Association.

He is also the founder and Chair of the Board of Coast Mountain Academy, and Independent school in Squamish. This will enable Parky to impact the development of youth year round in an educational setting. Parky’s experiences as a trip leader, combined with his work instructing skiing, swimming, physical fitness and outdoor education are great assets to camp life. Geoff’s wife Daphne is a school teacher and supports his enthusiasm and commitment to youth and Camp. They are also the proud parents of Maya, born November 2006 and Campbell, born August 2010. They also welcomed Ralph the dog into the family in November 2011 and Coby in June 2020.

Emily Kalil

Director of Outdoor Education
emily@campsummit.ca

At only the age of 7, Emily’s dad put her on a plane from Calgary to Ontario, to Camp Tawingo. From that summer on, there was no turning back. Ten years as a camper, one year as a leader in training, and 5 years on staff, Emily had held positions including counselor, sports field director and her favorite, music director where she was able to direct 3 camp musicals. She then spent 3 years with the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation, in Nova Scotia and Alberta, working as summer program coordinator and waterfront program facilitator.

Emily found a home at Camp Summit after a winter program. In 2014, Emily took on the role of Director of Outdoor Education and Summer Senior Leadership Challenge Coordinator and has been loving life ever since.

Her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta in Spanish and French, has helped her to appreciate the importance of effective communication, and know that word meaning and word choice is the difference between misunderstandings and successful verbal exchanges.

Her favorite parts about camp are staff training, the constant smell of nature, singing at campfires, and creating strong connections with kids. Emily brings a healthy dose of experience and lots of love for kids to the Summit team.

Rianne Barette

Office Manager + Registrar
rianne@campsummit.ca

Rianne brings over 25 years of experience to her role at Camp Summit. As a long-time staff member of Camp Wenonah in Muskoka-Ontario and previous member of the team here at Summit, she has held several roles in the professional camping industry including Outdoor Education Director, Assistant Director, Administrative Director and Tripping Head.

During her time in Ontario, Rianne sat on the Ontario Camps Association – Outdoor Education Committee that worked to establish standards and support for OEC throughout the province. She has also been a past board member and secretary of the British Columbia Camps Association.

Rianne completed her Bachelor of Arts – Global Studies degree with a minor in Women & Gender Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University and is a past recipient of the Schaefer Scholarship and Service without Recognition Award which acknowledges outstanding contributions and high ideals of service. She has also obtained her Small Business Bookkeeping certificate from Capilano University in the fall of 2021.

Rianne is an avid paddler and hiking enthusiast who loves going on adventures with her dog Arlo!

Gary Stamper

Site & facilities Manager
gary@campsummit.ca

Gary is from Cumbria (the Lake District) in England. Alongside his full time job he spent twelve years in the Army Cadet Force running all sorts of outdoor activities. Then through the assistance of the Toronto based company Nyquest, he worked at Camp Winabiegoue for 3 months as the rifle Head. After a short return home, he decided to come back to Canada and found Camp Summit again through Nyquest.

His extensive tripping and outdoor skills are used here at Camp Summit. Gary has been an integral part of our program team managing our ropes course for a number of years.

Gary is entering his 12th year as our year round site manager.

Olivia Craft

Assistant Outdoor Education Director
olivia@campsummit.ca

With over 15 years of experience, Olivia is thrilled to join the Summit team. Olivia grew up in Ontario and was a longtime camper and staff member at Cairn Family of Camps. She has also had the opportunity to work in Outdoor Education with ALIVE Outdoors and YMCA Cedar Glen. Several roles she has filled includes Assistant Director, LIT Director, High Ropes Director, Wilderness Program Coordinator, and she is now pleased to be serving at Summit as the Assistant Director of Outdoor Education.

Olivia earned her Bachelors of Arts studying Dance at York University and she is also a 200hr certified Yoga Instructor. Olivia believes in the importance of self-expression and well-being for people of all ages!

At camp, Olivia loves hearing the sounds of laughter and asking campers to share highlights from their day. She sees Summit’s programs in Camping and Outdoor Education as an opportunity for participants to strengthen their sense of self, connect with their community, and feel the healing effects of nature.

alex Kiczales ‘cake boss’

Program Director
program@campsummit.ca

A long-time Summit camper and graduate of all three leadership programs, Alex is entering his twelfth year at Camp. In addition to his current role, he has previously worked at Summit as a summer camp counselor, outdoor education instructor, and SLC 2 director. These experiences contribute to his extensive knowledge of Summit’s different program areas. 

Alex is a graduate of both the University of British Columbia and Sciences Po Paris, with Bachelors of Arts degrees from both institutions. He also holds an 80hr Wilderness First Responder certificate and is working on completing his ACCT Level 2 Challenge Course Practitioner training this spring. 

At Summit, Alex is passionate about both seeing campers develop year after year through its leadership programs and providing the opportunity for campers to explore the wilderness of British Columbia through our backcountry program.

Meet the Camp dog’s!