Our Executive Director: Beth

Beth "Topaz" (Rayner) Allison

Beth has been involved in organized camping for more than 28 years and has worked with the Presbyterian Church camping movement since 1980. Before becoming one of the Excutive Directors at Cairn and spending 9 years as Co-Director, Beth served as Administrator of the Presbyterian Church's Camp Kintail (Southwestern Ontario Synod) and as Summertime Director, Leadership Training Director, Arts and Crafts Director and Counsellor at Glen Mhor Camp. This will be Beth's tenth year working full-time as our Camp Director.

Beth has experience as a teacher and administrator. She is a certified trainer in True Colours (a personality development test recognized worldwide), and an experienced counsellor. Beth serves as the Outgoing Director of the Ontario Camp Leadership Workshop Committee in the Ontario Camping Association (the standard-setting body for children's camping in Ontario). She is a graduate of Western University.

Having grown up in the Presbyterian Church, Beth has participated in many activities throughout the organization. As a young adult, she spent time at events of the Toronto-Kingston Presbyterian Young People's Society and has also directed LOGOS (an after-school programme for children in kindergarten to grade 13) at Knox, Waterloo, for two years.

Our Co-Directors: Adam and Chantal

Adam “Taps” Brown

Adam began working at camp in 2000, and has been a devoted fan of the whole idea ever since. Before taking on the role of Co-Director at Cairn, Adam filled many roles with Glen Mhor Camp including Out-Tripping Director, Outdoor Centre Director, Leader in Training Director and Assistant Director. This will be Adam's 10th season in Presbyterian camping, and he's excited about getting his 10-Year Paddle!

Adam's interests include music, sports, computers, adventure programming and reading. He played Jr. B Lacrosse, attended Trent University for a Politics degree and was the Athlete of the Year in his High School. Adam has also worked for Adventureworks Associates as a Consultant and Program Coordinator where he worked extensively with High Ropes Courses and designed group-building programs.

Adam has directed a Youth Group in Richmond Hill, refereed hockey all over Ontario, led Canoe trips with Glen Mhor Camp and Outward Bound, served as a University Campus First Responder and traveled in Europe. He is currently on the planning committee for Canada Youth 2009 (the Presbyterian Church's National Youth Conference).

Adam is a Ruling Elder in his Church congregation and a certified Level 2 Challenge Course Instructor through Adventureworks and ACCT.

Chantal "Match" Jackson

Chantal Jackson has been involved in camping since 1999 and has been working at Cairn for the past eight years. Prior to taking the role of the Co-Director at Cairn, Chantal filled many roles on the Carin staff, such as a Counselor, an Adventure Programmer, the Dance Director, the Head Counsellor, and finally the Outdoor Centre Director. She is excited about her new role at camp, and cannot wait to see what is to come for Cairn over the next few years.

Chantal has just graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Honours Recreation and Leisure. She spent five years at the University and in that time, pursued many interests. One of her main interests is dancing and got the opportunity to be on the university dance team for 5 years, being Captain for two. She also was highly involved in residence life during her time at Waterloo. Her responsibilities stemmed from being a faculty frosh leader for two years, the Recreation and Leisure Mentorship Programme director for two years and finally a Residence Life Don for her final two years at school. Being a Don at the university was an incredible leadership opportunity for Chantal as it allowed her to bring camp-like programming to the university. Her training from camp, and her understanding of community allowed her to create an inclusive and a welcoming residence “home-life” for first year students.

Chantal has experience in leadership training, group facilitation and adventure programming. She currently sits on the OCLW (Ontario Camping Leadership Workshop) and is in the process of aiding to develop a new type of conference, run out of the OCLW for Camp Directors entitled THINK CAMP. She is excited about all of her new responsibilities and her new role at Cairn, and cannot wait for the summer to begin!!!

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