Camp Summit Staff

Geoff Park : director

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 is a graduate of the University of Waterloo in Recreation and Leisure studies. He has over 20 years of camping experience, ten of which include counselling and senior director responsibilities at one of Ontario's strongest camping programs, Kilcoo Camp. Geoff is very involved in the Squamish Community sitting on the Board of the Squamish Community Foundation and Tourism Squamish as well as various other committees. 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.

E-Mail Geoff:

Shannon Wilson: Outdoor Education Centre Director & Associate Director Summer Programs

Shannon Wilson has been an integral part of the Camp Summit management team for over 5 years. As the Director of our Outdoor Education Centre that sees over 2,000 students during the spring and fall seasons & the Associate director of our summer camp programs Shannon is kept busy all year long. Shannon brings 17 years of Camp experience to Camp Summit including her position as Program Coordinator, Camp Director at Mooredale Community Centre in Rosedale Toronto where Shannon was before she came to Summit. Shannon's extensive camping background includes Director of Wenonah Day Camp in Oakville, Ontario for two years, Co-Director at Camp Wenonah Bracebridge, Program Staff at Tim Horton's Onondaga Farm Cambridge, Ontario, and her many other years of experience with Wenonah in positions such as Girls Section Director, Leadership Director, Polaris Trip Leader and Crafts Director. Shannon also draws from her vast camping knowledge, having worked for many years at Camp Couchiching (Orillia) and a winter season at YMCA Wanakita (Haliburton). Shannon is a former student of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Brock University.  During the off season Shannon lives in Whistler enjoying all that the mountain town has to offer.  Shannon is excited for the camping season ahead and can't wait till the first group of students & campers arrive.

E-Mail Shannon:

Vanessa Marcotte: Associate Director Summer Camp Programs & Leader in Training Director

Vanessa Marcotte arrived at Camp Summit in the Fall of 2008 in search of change, challenge and leadership growth. Since that date she has become an outstanding addition to the Camp Summit team.  

As the Associate Director of our Summer Camp program, Vanessa works hard all year getting ready for the season ahead. Vanessa also directs our Leader-In-Training program here at Summit allowing her to delve into her passion around youth development. Vanessa has grown up in the world of children’s camping attending camp as a child and climbing the ranks into a leadership position. Among Vanessa's strengths is her ability to work with young leaders and develop genuine connections with campers; she was a camper, Leader-in-Training (L.I.T), Counsellor, L.I.T. Director and Assistant Director at Camp Bellaleo (Fergus, Ontario). Vanessa has worked in the Outdoor Education centre at Camp Tanamakoon (Algonquin Park, Ontario), was a member of the Ontario Camps Association (OCA) Human Resources Committee since 2007 and was the OCA's recipient of the Ron and Mickey Johnstone Youth Leadership Award in 2008. Along with speaking engagements which include: THINKcamp, OCA Counsellor Conference, OCA annual conference; in the fall of 2008, Vanessa was invited to speak at the International Camping Congress in Quebec City on the topic “Running an Effective Counsellor In Training Program. Vanessa has passionately brought to Camp Summit, this wonderful ability to shape and mold young leaders with excellent leadership sessions on the many dimensions needed in camp leadership today.

Vanessa is a graduate from Ryerson University, Toronto, with a degree in Social Work (BSW). Her teaching template was an "anti-oppression" framework which carries over beautifully into camp life.

Vanessa now lives in Squamish and has signed on to become a member of Summit’s full time Management Team. She is extremely excited for next summer and is committed to sharing her passion and love for children’s camping with all she encounters, “changing the world one camper at a time”.

E-Mail Vanessa:

staff

Our staff members at Camp Summit host a friendly, creative, responsible, supportive and fun environment during your stay. They are an amazing group of outdoor educators, school teachers, university students/graduates and outdoor adventure leaders. Every staff member at the camp is chosen for their qualities of great leadership, good character and a sense of responsibility for the campers entrusted in their care. All of the staff is certified in First Aid and CPR.

Camp Summit also offers a Leader in Training (LIT) program for 16 & 17 year olds. The program is counsellor oriented as it helps to develop the necessary skills required to excel as a staff member.

As well, Summit takes pride as an active member for a number of organizations including the British Columbia and Canadian Camping Associations, The Western Association of Independent Camps and is a member of the Squamish Chamber of Commerce.

*** Learn more about employment opportunities at Camp Summit on our Staff Opportunities page.