Employment Information:
SUMMER 2011 Staff Application and information will be mailed out LATE OCTOBER.
It will also be available on this website...

Staff at John Island!
At John Island Camp, we carefully select a dedicated group of young adults for their experience in working with children and their commitment to the values of the YMCA. We understand that the camper's counsellor will have the most impact on the quality of their experience at YMCA John Island Camp. Our counsellors are university, college, and high school students who have a personal interest in ensuring that their camper's experience will be cherished and remembered for many years. These individuals make a wonderful camping experience possible by providing a safe and enjoyable environment within which campers learn, grow and have fun.

Senior Manager Bios- 2010

Pete Kerigan- Director
A graduate of Carleton University, Pete has found his summers, and now career, consumed by camp!  Growing up as a staff
member at YMCA Wanakita, this will be Pete’s 11^th year in summer camping and he is very excited to be leading the John Island Camp staff again.
Pete grew up in Dundas, ON but has found himself living in Ottawa, Haliburton and even Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Pete overly enjoys hanging out with his chocolate lab, Cohen, making sure that he wears his Montreal Canadians bandana on game days.  If you were to ask him about fun things he’s done in his life he would probably say climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro!

Steph Grenko- Assistant Director
We would like to officially welcome Steph back to John Island this summer!  From camper to River Norquay leader, Steph spent many summers growing up at John Island before she decided to spread her “camping” wings.  During the summers of 2008 and 2009, Steph found herself at YMCA Camp Nagiwa as their LIT Trainer and Waterfront Director, gaining endless experience in YMCA Camping.
A current Master’s candidate at the University of Alberta (Rec and Leisure), Steph is focused studying Summer Camps and the inner workings of camp life.
Whether she is kayaking next to Beluga whales near Churchill, Manitoba or sitting at home reading her latest book, Steph is just as excited as we are to be back at John Island Camp as the Assistant Director.

 Jamie Thomas- Site Manager
John Island Camp is home to over 40 buildings, 5 boats, 2 ATVs and a whole lot of water lines.  Who’s going to look after all of that stuff?
Jamie will.
A recent student at Sault College in the Fish and Wildlife program, Jamie has made it his mission to live and breathe the outdoors.  Counting down the days until camp opens, Jamie is currently working on building projects at Camp Falcona during the week while on the weekend hopping on his snow machine to head out on the lake, cut that hole, and catch the big one.
We are extremely pleased that Jamie is back again this summer as our Site Manager.

Lauren Schnurr- Wellness Manager
As a current student in the Bachelor of Nursing Program at The University of Calgary, Lauren is looking to use what she has learned in the classroom and in placements to medically support all campers and staff at John Island.
During her spare time in Calgary, Lauren is currently a “creative barista” and often finds herself making art in lattes for her customers- a true camp staff at heart.
As an outdoor enthusiast- enjoying mountain biking, skiing, canoeing and camping trips- we all hope Lauren finds herself at home during her first summer at John Island!  Welcome to John Island, Lauren!

Alan Semrau- Leadership Manager
Often imitated, but never duplicated, Alan Semrau is bringing his musical talents back to John Island!
A recent graduate in Biology at Iowa State University, we are ecstatic that Alan is returning to be our Leadership Manager for a second year.  Growing up at John Island and continuing through to counsel and lead these programs himself, Alan will be sure to bring a wealth of leadership knowledge and outdoor prowess to John Island.
Keep a sharp eye out for one of Alan’s world famous back flips while he identifies the surrounding flora and fauna.

Amanda McCooey- Camper Care Manager
New to the John Island staff team, Amanda will be our Camper Care Manager this summer.  Amanda will be responsible for ensuring that our counselors and their campers are properly supported and have a great time! 
A recent graduate of Child and Social Institutions at King’s University College (UWO), Amanda has just completed an 80 day trek in the Yukon which taught her the “ins and outs” of wilderness travel.  These experiences, along with years of summer camping background from Cantebury Hills and YMCA Wanakita, are amazing additions to the John Island Staff team.  Welcome to John Island, Amanda!
If you are curious, you should ask Amanda how she is related to Walt Disney…

Katie Morrow- Program Manager
Off the heels of her recent 4 month excursion around New Zealand, Katie finds her self back in Ontario.  A graduate of Georgian College’s Advertising Program, we are excited to have Katie back at John Island after a few summers away!

Katie will be focusing her time on supporting our area specialists, scheduling cabins into all the areas at camp, and improving program along the way.  Her passion for the outdoors and photography are the perfect compliments to her abilities to lead program initiatives at John Island. 
For someone who can confidently bungee jump from a 500ft gondola, Katie is sure to bring some excitement to John Island this summer!