The Camp Canada team is made up of camp counsellors and international staff. We understand and relate to your questions, concerns, and excitement about this particular working abroad experience. We know, first-hand, how camp can have a positive influence on the rest of your life, which is why we do what we do! We pride ourselves on being attentive, responsive and supportive during your experience with us. Visit our Careers page for job opportunities at Nyquest.
Jonathan
Company Founder/Operations Director
Jonathan grew up attending and working at camps in Canada, the U.S. and Australia. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Economics and Psychology from the University of Michigan and completed a Master’s Degree in Recreation Administration and Outdoor Education at California State University, Chico. Jonathan received the 2006 Toronto Entrepreneur Award for his business start-up with NYQUEST. Jonathan currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Camps Association, in the role of Vice President. Jonathan is the past Ontario Representative to the Canadian Camping Association Board of Directors and he currently is the Co-Chair of the government advocacy committee for the Canadian Camping Association.
Camilla
International Program & Communications Director
Camilla has a keen interest in camping, travelling and outdoor education. Originally from the UK (therefore denied the full experience of being a camper!), Camilla spent 4 years at Girl Scout summer camps in the USA, working her way up to the position of Program Director.
Camilla has travelled extensively in the USA and Europe, and spent a year working and travelling in Australia and New Zealand, as well as backpacking in Thailand. She studied Politics and International Relations at the University of Manchester, UK. Camilla has both participated in and worked for international work and cultural exchange programs, one of which landed her in Toronto, where she currently resides.
Lindsay
Certified Immigration Consultant
Lindsay has been with NYQUEST right from the start and has a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Social Work. Her education and her previous work experience as a Social Worker and an Account Manager have greatly helped with our employee and client relations. She is a Certified Immigration Consultant, which is a great asset to the NYQUEST team.
Lindsay grew up attending summer camp and is passionate about the outdoors. She is the mother of three amazing daughters and loves participating in NYQUEST Family and Grandparent Camp every year!
Maike
Program Intake & Logistics Director
Maike grew up in Germany and has always had a keen interest in travelling and getting to know different cultures. In 2008, Maike worked at an amazing summer camp in the USA and she had the best summer of her life – she ended up spending five summers at camp.
After graduating with a BA in Culture and Economy from the University of Mannheim, Germany, Maike moved to Canada and fell in love with the country. Maike’s extensive camp and travelling experience has inspired her to join the NYQUEST team and help participants experience how incredible camp is.
Simone
Regional Director - Western Canada
Simone is a serious nature lover, an adventurer, and a bit of a granola munching environmentalist. She was born and raised in Toronto, and being blessed with the travel bug, has travelled extensively across Canada and abroad. She and has lived on both coasts of Canada, and most provinces in between!
Simone lived and breathed camp from a very young age, attending a tiny, rugged summer camp in Muskoka Ontario for over 10 years. She has a BA in Geography and Geographic Information Systems, and a wealth of experience in environmental education, and community organizing. Simone is thrilled to share her passion for camp with others, and is excited to launch and direct our new west coast office in Victoria, BC, lovingly dubbed NYQWEST!
Samantha
Program Intake Manager
Sammy is from Nottingham, England where she spent her childhood going on long countryside walks, exploring quaint English villages and drinking many a cream teas! She became a Drama Instructor in 2015 at a learning disabilities camp in Ontario, and completed 3 summers there. She toured the west of Canada, where she ticked off many bucket list activities, such as bungee jumping and whale watching! Sammy Graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama In 2014, with an MA in Applied Theatre, where she gained skills working in community and outreach programs. Sammy wants to help participants have awesome camp experiences whilst making them feel well supported throughout the program.
Jon
Program Intake Specialist
Jon was born and raised in the suburbs of Toronto, often spending summers running around a music camp in Northern Ontario. He recently graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master of Arts in Political Science and Public Policy. He has a passion for music, canoeing, and travel. Last summer he became an Integration Counsellor at a Day Camp in Toronto that rekindled his love for camp life. Shortly after that summer he left for a solo backpacking trip around Europe, visiting friends and making new ones in Germany, Hungary, Croatia, and Portugal. Now he’s back in his home and native land and excited to join the NYQUEST team to help others with their travel aspirations and camp experiences!
Jana
Program Intake Specialist
Jana joined the NYQUEST Team after first coming through the program as a sailing coach at an Ontario Camp back in 2011. Growing up in Cologne, Germany she always nurtured her passion for sports and recently graduated from the German Sports University Cologne with a Bachelor in Sports Management. After working 2 summers and a fall placement at camp, as well as taking part in all together 5 NYQUEST Family/Grandparent Camps, Jana has slowly become more Canadian. Even working as part of the organizing committee of the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Having briefly lived in Kitchener and Edmonton, she is now settling for the warmer climate in Victoria on Vancouver Island and is looking forward to exploring the Island’s beautiful wilderness. Jana is excited to show participants how amazing camp life in Canada can be.
Sebastian
Brand & Recruitment Director
Sebastian was born and raised in Ecuador. He has a passion for traveling and using online platforms to engage with different communities and audiences all around the world. His desire to learn from different cultures, as well as his dream to study abroad, brought him to Canada many years ago. Sebastian moved to Vancouver to study at The University of British Columbia. He obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in Marketing. During his studies, he studied a semester abroad in Australia where he fell in love with different outdoor activities including hiking and camping. He is excited to continue doing what he loves with our team.
Jess
Social Media & Community Manager
Jess was born in Montreal and raised in the suburbs of Toronto. She spent her childhood going to camp, cycling, hiking, swimming and snowboarding. She graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Sociology. Jess first got bit by the travel bug when she got the opportunity to study abroad in England for a semester in 2014. Since then, she has participated in international work programs in both the UK and Australia and has backpacked around Europe, Australia, New Zealand and most recently South-East Asia. Jess has just moved back home to Toronto after being abroad for three years. She is excited to be joining the NYQUEST team in a role that combines her passions for travel, the outdoors and career aspirations in marketing/communications.
JC
Placements Director
JC was born in England but spent most of his time growing up in Scotland. He worked for 5 summers at a camp in Northern Ontario, and after meeting his (now) wife at camp, has settled in Toronto as his home. He’s travelled around the world once already, and is slowly ticking off more countries from his “must visit list”. His favourite spot so far is probably being somewhere on the South Island in New Zealand. He graduated with a Law degree from the University of Dundee. JC’s role is to ensure that our amazing camp directors are looked after and that every candidate matches their requirements.
Michelle
Account Manager
Michelle is from sunny Queensland, Australia but has spent the last four summers at a camp in Northern Ontario (a privately owned camp in Temagami). Starting as a camp counsellor in 2013, Michelle worked her way up to Head Lifeguard, Manager and the ‘Leaders In Training’ Leader.
Michelle loves to travel and has visited over twenty countries so far with Canada being an easy favourite. Her favourite things about Canada are snowboarding, hiking, canoe trips and of course Tim Hortons! She is excited to be representing NYQUEST in Australia and New Zealand but also eager to get back to beautiful Canada for another amazing summer!
Taylor
Account Manager
Taylor was born in Toronto and spent a good portion of her adolescence living in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She spent 22 incredible years attending and working at Camp Walden. She started her camping career as a young camper and worked her way up to becoming a Camper Tracker and the Staff Coordinator.
Taylor graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a degree in Community Development and Family Studies. She’s a lover of travel, dogs, ice cream and sour candy! Taylor is thrilled to be part of the Placement Team at Nyquest and is excited to be able to share her passion and love of summer camp with staff all over the world!
Aly
Account Manager
Aly is from a suburban town called Greystones in Ireland. She graduated from University College Dublin with a BA in Psychology in 2018 and recently relocated to Toronto. She has spent her summers at Camp B'nai Brith of Montreal in Quebec since 2014. Having worked as a mother's helper, general counsellor and the head of programming, she has a keen interest in everything camp-related.
Aly loves to travel, and Canada has been her one of her favourite countries so far. She is a self-proclaimed organisation junkie, and can't wait to combine her travel and organisational interests as part of the placement team!