Meet our Staff
Robynne “Mapes” Howard
Camp Director
Robynne, at camp known as Mapes, has been part of the Cairn community for over a decade. On seasonal staff, she filled the roles of Assistant Administrator, counsellor, Adventure Programmer, Glen Mhor’s Program Coordinator, and the Outdoor Centre Director, before becoming the Camp Director in 2017. Robynne has also spent two fall seasons and one winter season working at YMCA Camp Wanakita’s outdoor centre.
Robynne oversees Cairn’s summer camp and retreat programs, staff development, camper wellbeing, and faith formation. In everything, she strives to help more kids can experience the transformative growth, connection, and faith immersion provided by Cairn’s summer camp programs.
When she's not at camp, Robynne enjoys life with her partner (who she met at camp!) and their dog, cat, and chickens on their 1-acre homestead.
Camp has the ability to provide a transformative experience to each individual camper that comes to our site. Mapes’ hope is that they can leave camp at the end of the week knowing more about themselves, the world, God, and living in community with others.
Michelle "Konk" Roberts
Executive Director
Michelle, known at camp as Konk, fell in love with camp her first year at Camp Iona (Bala) when she was just 8 years old. From swimming to campfire, she loved everything about it. Since then there has not been a single summer that she hasn't been at camp as a camper, a staff member, a volunteer or a Director.
Over her 10 years on seasonal staff at Cairn, Michelle took on the roles of counsellor, Waterfront Director, Leader In Training Director, Head Counsellor, Program Director, Outdoor Education Director, and even had the opportunity to spend a month with a team from Cairn developing camping programs in Eastern Europe. Michelle left the Cairn Family of Camps with a passion for camping and leadership education. Since then, she has worked at Camp Edgewood, and directed at YMCA Camp Kitchikewana, before coming back to Cairn in 2018 as Executive Director.
Cairn provides a powerful experience and has the ability to transform each individual who experiences it. Konk's wish for Cairn campers is to grow in their skills, their faith, and their leadership so they can be their best selves both at camp and in the outside world.
Bridget Tilly
Administrator
Bridget Tilly has worked at Cairn behind the scenes since 2007. She is often the first person you’ll talk to when you call. Bridget handles all registrations, can answer any questions or concerns you might have, and also deals with the finance for camp.
Although primarily office based, Bridget is proud to say she has done Cairn’s high ropes, climbed the ‘wall” and “zipped” down the zip line. She also loves taking part in the ad-hoc kickball championships with the staff and LITs.
Bridget has lived in Scotland, England, the US and here in Canada. Her professional background is project management, continuing education and training and human resources. She is a graduate of the University of Glasgow and has post grad diplomas from the Institute of Personnel Management. She has been a member of her local church, Bethune, since 1999.
Jon "Little Dipper" Fairley
Site Manager
Jon 'Little Dipper’ Fairley started camping in the late 1990s at Camp Iona (Bala), there he developed a love and passion for the outdoors. His passion for canoe tripping led him to the Outdoor Leadership program at Algonquin College. The college program introduced him to new fun and exciting outdoor pursuits, and through friendships made, brought him back to the summer camp world; working as the Iona Program Director. After a season of directing at Iona, he returned to Cairn as the Site Manager.
Over the past number of years, Little Dipper has worked as the Site Manager, and for Adventureworks, an outdoor leadership training and facilitation organization, building ropes courses and ziplines across the country. The love of camp and outdoors keeps him busy, and he is thrilled to be back at Cairn again as Site Manager.
