Summer camp has been an invaluable part of my life. For over 30 years I've been involved with children's camping in Ontario. I've been a camper, counsellor, section head, instructor, canoe trip leader, program director and director (including directing Camp Wanapitei from 1997-1999). From 2000 - 2005 I was part of a directing team at Camp Arowhon in Algonquin Park and also the Camp Arowhon Outdoor Education Centre with my wife JJ (Jennifer Jupp) – our Associate Director at Wanapitei. I've sat on the board of directors for the Ontario Camps Association (OCA), presented various topics at OCA conferences over the years as well as at the International Camping Congress in Quebec City this past October. More recently I have taken a position on the board of directors for the Society of Camp Directors, a collection of camp directing professionals based in Toronto.
Summer camp for me has become a family affair. Our daughter Anna began her camping career at the age of three weeks; she will be 5 before the start of this summer. Both JJ and I have been involved with summer camp since early childhood and we have seen first hand the amazing benefits that summer camp can have on children and I am thrilled to be sharing that with my family.
For many people unfamiliar with canoe tripping the decision to send your child(ren) to camp can feel daunting. After all it may be very unfamiliar territory for both you and your child coupled with the general anxiety of being a parent and entrusting your child(ren) to others – we all recognize this as an important thing to do in our child’s development but it doesn’t make it any easier. The truth is there are few things in life that provide the framework for building the strong leaders of tomorrow than canoe trips. Without question the life skills that campers acquire by being on a Wanapitei canoe trip are instrumental in developing a strong sense of community, self confidence and passion for the wilderness. Wanapitei provides fantastic canoe trips, great adventures, highly skilled and compassionate leaders, life long friendships and the tools to succeed in developing caring and compassionate people. It truly is a place where genders learn to grow up together and respect one another. We are simply passionate about canoe tripping and all that it provides.
We invite you to call or email us as we are more than happy to discuss Camp Wanapitei with you. Phone 1-888-637-5557 or email me, Woody, at
Summer Camp has been the single largest and most consistent focus in my life (personally and professionally) since I was 9-years-old and attended an overnight camp for the first time. Since that summer, I have literally counted the days from camps’ end in September until camp begins again in the late spring. I have been directing Ontario Summer Camps for 15 years (Camp Arowhon and YMCA-YWCA of Guelph Camp Nagiwa). I also have a specialized teaching degree in Outdoor and Experiential Education and have worked as an outdoor education high school teacher off and on for the past 14 years. I have a deep passion for and a commitment to learning and growth in the out-of-doors.
My goal in life is to create an emotionally and physically safe place for children and adults to become and to belong. I know for sure that canoe tripping is the ideal vehicle for creating this kind of safety. The best way to contribute positively to our communities is to affect the way people relate to one-another. I want to create a world where people are highly tolerant of others despite differences – where people lead others with confidence and humility – and where people love and cherish the earth. I believe that we are doing that at Camp Wanapitei. I am thrilled and honored to join the team!
