Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs
Canoe Island French Camp offers an immersive French language and culture experience for youth on a private island in the San Juan Islands, Washington.
▌ Editor's read The website https://www.canoeisland.org/sessions/ loads successfully, detailing various summer camp sessions. The camp is not listed in the ACA directory. Founded by Dr. Nicolas and Harriet Hartshorne, Canoe Island French Camp has been operating for over 60 years, as stated on their 'About Us' page, making it a well-established institution. It is a non-profit organization, as indicated by the 'Support Us' section and its 501(c)(3) status. The program is exclusively overnight, offering a full immersion experience in French language and culture for campers aged 9-16. The camp mentions on its 'Staff' page that all staff undergo background checks. Google reviews show a strong rating of 4.9 stars from 100 reviews, with many praising the immersive environment and dedicated staff. Social media handles are @canoeislandfrenchcamp on Instagram and CanoeIslandFrenchCamp on Facebook.
Who thrives here Ages 10–16
Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs is built for middle-school campers — an age where leadership tracks, deeper specialization, and identity exploration take over from generalist day-camp formats. language/cultural programs that thrive at this age publish a clear weekly progression rather than a rotating activity menu, and the staff-to-camper conversation usually matters more than the activity list.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Overnight camp
- ACA accredited
- Not verified
- Established
- 1966 (60 years)
- Operator
- Nonprofit organization
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Language/Cultural
- Ages: 10–16
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: PO Box 370, Orcas, WA 98280, USA
- Cost notes: USD. $4000 total for 19 days session (Jul 5-Jul 23). Sliding scale $2,900-$5,100 depending on session length. Financial aid available.
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs
- What ages does Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs accept?
- Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs is open to children ages 10–16. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs cost?
- Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs publishes $1,333/week for the standard session. USD. $4000 total for 19 days session (Jul 5-Jul 23). Sliding scale $2,900-$5,100 depending on session length. Financial aid available. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs's hours?
- Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Who runs Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs?
- Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 60 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs provide lunch?
- Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
- How does Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs compare to other language/cultural camps in Orcas?
- Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs is one of 5 language/cultural camps in Orcas that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Canoe Island French Camp - Les Voyageurs.
- Camp Orkila · Orcas Island, San Juan Islands · Ages 8–17 · $440/week
- Canoe Island French Camp · San Juan Islands · Ages 9–16 · $1,300/week
- Canoe Island French Camp - La Revolution Francaise · San Juan Islands · Ages 9–16 · $967/week
- Canoe Island French Camp - Le Monde Francophone · San Juan Islands · Ages 10–16 · $1,333/week
- Canoe Island French Camp - Les Chevaliers · San Juan Islands · Ages 9–16 · $2,900/week