Our Team

President, Camp Maple Leaf

Founder, Camp Tanamakoon Charitable Foundation Inc.

Kim “Barbosa” Smith

Kim Smith, along with his wife Marilyn have been the owners and directors of Camp Tanamakoon since 1984. They are parents of two children: Laura and Jerrod.

Kim has been involved in camping for more than 50 years. After practicing law for more than 20 years, he left private practice to devote himself full time to camp! Now, as a result of his founding the Camp Tanamakoon Charitable Foundation together with his family, Kim is thrilled to pass on his love of camp to the campers of Camp Maple Leaf.

Founder-Camp Tanamakoon Charitable Foundation Inc.

Marilyn Smith

Marilyn Smith has a teaching background stretching back 30 years. She has a degree in Family Studies and is a qualified specialist in both guidance and special education. Marilyn has now retired from teaching and spends her summers in Algonquin. In addition to supporting Camp Maple Leaf, Marilyn and Kim own and operate Bartlett Lodge on Cache Lake, The Pines Cottage Resort in Dwight, and Camp Tanamakoon in Algonquin Park.

Camp Tanamakoon Charitable Foundation Inc.

Jerrod “Crosby” & Candice “Gretzky” Smith

Jerrod is currently an Associate Coach & Director of Player Personnel with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. He has been a Director of Recreation Programs for Woods Homes Schools in Alberta and was a staff member at Hockey Opportunity Camp for many years. Candice is a Teacher in the Windsor-Essex Catholic School Board during the year – and is affectionately known as ‘Camp Mom’! Jerrod & Candice are the proud parents of two young boys, Sawyer & Jett and camp dog, Oak – and together they spend most of their summer on Jacob’s Island providing leadership in all areas of Camp Maple Leaf.

National Program Director, Jacob’s Island

April “Calypso” Young

April Young grew up at camp from the age of 8. At 16, she realized that being a Camp Director for Children with unique challenges was her calling.

April received her Master of Education along with a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Therapeutic Recreation and Special Education. April directed two camps for children with cancer and a camp for children of all abilities. She was also on the teams that founded a camp for burn survivors and a camp for children with congenital heart disease. April is committed to safety at camp and has shared this passion with other camps through volunteering with the Ontario Camps Association, as a past Chairman of their Standards Committee. April and her husband Shawn have two campers of their own, Joey and Lily. It is April’s dream come true to be part of the island magic of Camp Maple Leaf!

Camp Director, Greenhill Lake

Tess “Mako” Rowley

Tess began her leadership journey at Camp Tanamakoon in Ontario in a succession of roles from counsellor, to Waterfront Director and CIT Director over six summers. In 2022, she joined the Camp Maple Leaf team at Jacob Island and quickly found a strong love for our unique camp culture, our amazing campers and our community of supporters. Tess will receive her advanced diploma in Child and Youth Care in the spring of 2023 and is looking forward to putting her education to use and following her passion for working with children as our Camp Director at Greenhill Lake. She is excited to make a new home in the Maritimes, meet our camper families, establish new partnerships, and lead our staff team during our second summer of fun and friendships in New Brunswick.

Development Director

Charmaine “Macaroni” Frado

Charmaine Frado is the Development Director at Camp Maple Leaf, where she leads fundraising and development initiatives and builds partnerships to support the camp’s mission. With 30+ years’ experience in non-profit management, donor and fund development, Charmaine is dedicated to ensuring that children have the opportunity to experience the life-changing impact of summer camp. She is passionate about creating inclusive environments and securing resources to expand Camp Maple Leaf’s reach across Ontario, Atlantic Canada, and Western Canada.

Registration & Finance Director

Michelle “Pebbles” Robinson

Michelle is a military wife and mom. She has mastered the “Military Move” (with 9 moves in total!) and truly understands the unique challenges that come with the Military Lifestyle.

With a background in Accounting and Bookkeeping and experience from having worked at the PMFRC from 2011 to 2014, Michelle is happy to answer any of your registration questions and can also help navigate the application process for the Support our Troops Summer Camp Grants.

Michelle is our master administrator! She secures bussing, arranges campers funding, secures health forms, accommodates special bunking requests, and so much more….and she says there’s just something magical about camp that makes her love what she does every day!

Site and Facilities Director

Mark “Optimus Prime” Freeman

Mark became involved with Camp Maple Leaf in 2011 heading up the maintenance of the island, after many years in the construction, renovation and carpentry business. Camp was a natural for Mark, having spent many summers as a camper with his family – but his family involvement dates date back even further.

Marks military background starts with his grandfather who was at Vimy Ridge during WW1. His grandfather was a member of the Canadian Council of War Veterans Association that founded Camp Maple Leaf back in 1955. Mark has 2 uncles retired from the Air Force and a cousin who is still currently serving out of Ottawa. His son Michael enlisted in the Canadian Forces in 2005; he was stationed at CFB Petawawa and was deployed to Afghanistan in September 2008.

For Mark, hearing the excitement of the campers from arrival to departure is a very satisfying experience that keeps him young at heart!

Business Manager

Karen Gris

Karen has worked with Kim Smith for over 40 years, beginning as his legal secretary while he was in private legal practice. Since Kim’s jump to the camp world, Karen joined him as as Business Manager for Camp Tanamakoon, and has been serving on the Camp Maple Leaf team as Business Manager since 2016.