|
Leadership TeamOur organization is managed by a team of directors: C.G. Stephens, Administrator/DirectorJodi Browning, Administrator/DirectorMichael Jarvis, Program DirectorChristine McKenna, Program DirectorCena Shaw, Program AdministratorJen Zahorchak, Program AdministratorTo learn more about their shared commitments as directors and the paths that brought them to Langskib and Northwaters, please visit the Program Directors page. Trip StaffThese are the people who make our canoe trips extraordinary. Occasionally we hire a professional from outside our community but the vast majority of our trip leaders start out as participants. After working their way up through the ranks, earning a spot on a James Bay Trip and then completing our Leadership Program, they begin a multi-year apprenticeship to become a Northwaters/Langskib leader. All in all, it takes from 5 to 8 years for a young person to become a trip leader. Leaders are chosen because they have earned our respect and trust, because they have demonstrated a strong ability to relate to young people and because they share our commitment to providing outstanding wilderness experiences for young people coming of age. Once they sign on, our camp leaders tend to stay—many for 10 or more years. Low turnover insures consistent program quality and the capacity to train new leaders. During the off season, we encourage our staff to pursue endeavors which stretch them as individuals and develop them as leaders. This makes for a diverse group of adventuresome staff with an ability to relate to young people from all walks of life. *Not all Staff Listed* |
||||||
Estair Van Wagner, Trip LeaderEstair has been spending summers in Northern Ontario since the year she was born at her family's cottage in Parry Sound, and later at Northwaters. Estair first came to Northwaters in the summer of 1993 as a participant. In 1995 she completed our leadership training course in northern Manitoba and has since led many young people on canoe trips all over northern Ontario and Quebec. In 2002 Estair graduated with distinction from University of Victoria with a degree in Political Science and Environmental Studies. During her time at UVic she studied in Africa, Spain and the Southwest of the US. She is a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Outdoor Educator graduate. Estair is passionate about the natural world and dedicates much of her free time to its preservation, and to enjoying its power and beauty in anyway she can. |
 |
|||||
Chris Wolf, Trip Leader"I came up to Langskib for the first time when I was twelve, and have been back every summer since. I love the opportunity for self-reflection, for growth, for an experience one can learn from in a very real way. It's a kind of learning one doesn't really get in a classroom and a kind of learning that has largely shaped the person I am today. It is a privilege now to be able to facilitate an experience for young people that has given me so much and through which I continue to develop. With my interests in the socio-economic questions around agriculture and food in today's world, I'm currently pursuing a degree in agricultural economics at McGill University. There I'm also part of a competitive lumberjack team, I sing with a choir and still find time now and again to indulge my passion for cheese making!" |
 |
|||||
Brian Yellen, Trip Leader"I have been spending summers in Temagami since 1995 and I am still committed to spending time there building relationships and exploring its lakes and rivers with groups of young adventurers. I graduated three years ago from Brown University with degrees in Geology and Biology and have been working as a public school Chemistry and Physics teacher in rural Hawaii since then. After school, I coach a science team at my school. In additon I am a member of Na Keiki o Ke Ka Mo'i Canoe Club, a Hawaiian canoe club in the town of Waianae. I spend a lot of time fishing and on the water in my free time." |
 |
|||||
Kate Kerrick, Trip Leader"I was a shy and awkward 11 year-old when I first arrived at the Northwaters base camp. From that first journey onwards, Northwaters has been an integral part of my summer and my life. Through my experiences there I have been awed, supported, strengthened, humbled, lifted, educated and inspired. My leaders were also incredibly important role models, who continue to influence my life and my work. Instead of developing my own leadership skills at Northwaters I did a semester with the National Outdoor Leadership School. Being a leader at Northwaters has offered its own lessons - I am continually awed, challenged and inspired by the people I trip with. Being both a participant and a leader at Northwaters has ignited a great passion for me, and I plan to continue facilitating young peoples meaningful experiences in the outdoors. I am currently finishing my last semester of coursework for a B.S. in Recreation Management and Policy at the University of New Hampshire." |
 |
|||||
Alexandra Skinner, Trip Leader"I've been going to Northwaters every summer for over ten years now, starting on the first Northern Lights program when I was 12 years old. Six years and many trips later I did my leadership trip on the Rupert River in Northern Quebec and have been working for Northwaters/Langskib ever since. My experience of being a participant in and working with Northern Lights and the all girls program has helped strengthen my understanding of what a group of woman can accomplish and the importance of a sense of camaraderie among girls. All of my time in Temagami has shaped my ability to be a part of a community and fostered my love of the outdoors. Northwaters/Langskib is a significant part of my life where I can connect a love of nature and working with young people together. This past June I graduated from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois with a BA in Print Journalism and am currently looking into possible graduate schools and travel abroad." |
 |
|||||
|
||||||
Northwaters is a member of the Ontario Camping Association