JJ’s life focus has been summer camp since she first attended overnight camp at YMCA Camp Wanakita when she was nine years old.
For 35 years, JJ has worked tirelessly to create emotionally and physically safe places for children and adults to become and to belong. With summer camp and outdoor education as her vehicles, JJ’s mission is to help create a world where people accept one another across differences, where people lead others with confidence and humility, and where we love, cherish, and protect the earth.
JJ has directed at Ontario summer camps for 30 years including over 10 years each at Camp Arowhon/The Camp Arowhon Outdoor Centre, and Camp Wanapitei. Before full-time, year-round positions, JJ held positions as Camp Counsellor, Leadership Director, Section Director, Head Counsellor, Assistant Director and Associate Director.
With a degree in Outdoor and Experiential Education, JJ also worked as a teacher of specialized outdoor leadership programs for the Halton Board of Education for over 15 years.
Offering her leadership to the Ontario Camps Association (OCA), JJ has sat on several task forces and committees and has co-chaired the OCA Annual Directors Conference. She currently sits on the OCA’s Board of Directors as Vice President. In 2024, JJ was award the Dorothy Walter Award of Excellence by the OCA.
One of JJ’s favourite things in life is facilitating experiences and training sessions. She has had the privilege of presenting at many camping conferences: OCA Skills Weekend, OCA Counsellor Conference, the OCA Directors Conference and the Children’s Oncology Camping Conference and at other Ontario camps. As a professional facilitator, JJ has been a diversity trainer and has guided workplace culture transformation in varied settings.
JJ and her husband Woody (Eoin Wood) live in Guelph, Ontario with their kids, Anna and Charlie, their Camp dog (Leo), and four backyard chickens.