Who we Are
Year-round Staff Team
(please scroll down for Board of directors)
Executive Director
Terra McKenzie
Terra has always had a special place in her heart for Fircom. It began when she was fourteen and participated in Fircomβs Teen Camp program and it grew when she attended Mom and Kids Camp with her daughters, Isabelle and Jessica, in 2011. Over time, Terra took a more active role in the Fircom community, first as Camp Director in Summer 2012 and then as the Mom and Kids Camp Coordinator over the past seven summers.
Terra has a background in education and felt ready to settle back into camp life after working as an Elementary School Principal in Bogota, Colombia for three years. She brings knowledge and experience to her role, as well as a passion to live out the mission of camp β to create communities of belonging, and experiences to grow on. After the challenges of running a camp during covid times, Terra was so happy to run a successful 2022 and 2023 camp season, and is now excited to lead her team and integrate her inspirations with the magic of camp that she loves so much.
Community Engagement Director
Neerava S. Kroeger
Neerava loves to spend her time expressing creatively from her silent centre. She has led yoga & meditation for adults and children since 2001, sings, plays piano, directed and performed music for countless events since 2004, explored and trained in multiple healing modalities, and knows she hit the jackpot when discovering the Dalian Method in 2013. Neerava loves exploring the human condition, sharing her music, meditating in the forest and organizing anything!
In 2004 Neerava attended Fircom summer camp as a volunteer and brought her two daughters (now grown) to experience the magic of Fircom. From 2003-2009 she worked at InspireHealth leading classes, support groups, healing sessions and acting as the Palliative Outreach practitioner. In 2009, Neerava felt her family needed her working closer to home, and from 2009-2014, she was music director for Tsawwassen United Church while also running her own yoga studio in the back of the church (and coaching a LOT of volleyball!). In 2016 and 2017 Neerava was happy to return to Fircom offering music, yoga & meditation for the United Church YAYA May retreats. Since June, 2022 Neeravaβs life took an unexpected turn when she was hired on to Fircomβs full time staff team, and enjoys sharing her gifts, communication skills and creativity in many ways.
Hospitality & Events Director
Debrick Avila
Born in a small town by the beach and raised in a big city, Debrick learned to love the best of both worlds. Before moving to Canada in 2018, he worked for a few years in the fashion industry, design and event planning, but also at day camps back in Mexico. He has a bachelor's degree in Image Consulting and Visual Merchandising.
Debrick is always looking to grow as a professional and as a human, he brings creativity and amazing organizing skills with him, whether he is out in the forest with kids and moms leading activities and playing, or he is welcoming guests and touring them around he will always give his 100%.
In his time off you can find him hanging from a tree, taking a nap, or looking for the best brunch place in the city.
Food Services Director
Michelle Irvine
Michelle was born in the city of Toronto, and has called BC home for many years. Raised in a family of skilled outdoors enthusiasts, Michelle spent most of her summers in Ontario cottage country with her many cousins. Camping, canoeing, stargazing, learning about the land and our interconnectedness and responsibility to it was a major part of her upbringing.
Michelle attended a summer camp for inner city youth in Ontario from ages 5 to 13, and was a camp counsellor there as a teen. The positive impact potential of summer camp is something she understands well, and she is passionate about exploring ways to make summer camp feel accessible, welcoming, and inclusive to campers and camp staff of all backgrounds and walks of life.
At Fircom, Michelle finds joy in being with the kitchen team and working closely together. She is interested in the health and nutrition aspects of food, creating welcoming dining experiences, and working to assure our guests that we will do everything we can to meet their dietary needs. In her off time, Michelle enjoys catching up with her loved ones at home in Vancouver, reading, art and music.
Head Chef
Brent Sebela
Brent is a Chef with over a decade of experience. His first visit to Camp Fircom was in 2022 as the Chef for Improv Camp. After a week of theatre and delicious meals, he never left. Brent finds passion in connecting with guests and elevating food quality. He is embarking on his 3rd season with Camp Fircom and looks forward to meeting new people and enjoying the beauty of Gambier Island.
2024 Program And Waterfront Director
Emily Mikkola
Emily (aka Eagle) grew up on the west coast immersed in nature. Whether playing outdoors with her sister, camping with her family, or swimming in the lake at her grandparents cabin, Emily felt at home in the great outdoors.
In 2018, Emily first joined Camp Fircom as a counsellor, discovering the magic of outdoor education. That summer guided her future education as she began pursuing her new path. Through outdoor daycare, running a UBC forest school, and working alongside Sea to Sky outdoor school, Emily has a passion for getting kids outside. Emily worked as a counsellor at Camp Fircom for a few years, performed a myriad of camp jobs during covid, before moving onto the role of Program Coordinator in 2022 and 2023.
In her time away from Fircom, Emily completed her BA at Simon Fraser University and her teaching degree at Vancouver Island University. Now a certified teacher in BC, she is excited about sharing her knowledge and passion for nature with the next generation of stewards. In her new role as Program Director Emily hopes to instil her love of camp with every camper, parent, and counsellor who steps foot on the Fircom Dock, and for them to leave knowing that the land loves them back, regardless of where they may be heading to next.
2024 Summer Camp Director
Laura Powell
Laura (Hawk) came to Fircom for the first time in 2016 as a volunteer and instantly knew sheβd be coming back ASAP!! Fun fact: her first camp name was Pancake! Having grown up camping and going on canoe trips every year, Laura enjoyed spending time in nature with all of the happy campers.
In 2018, she returned as a counsellor to spend all summer making new friends, learning new skills, and creating lasting memories. The following year, she returned as a lifeguard to experience a whole other side of camp while spending each day out on the water paddling and swimming. During covid Laura worked a few weeks at Fircom, and in 2023 she returned as the Waterfront Coordinator, excited to spend the whole summer at camp again.
Since graduating from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Global Business and Digital Art, Laura has been searching for her next path and Fircom is where she found it. As the Summer Camp Director, she hopes to provide every camper with awesome memories and the spark of joy and inspiration that she first felt so many years ago. Laura looks forward to stepping into another new role at Fircom, and canβt wait for what lies ahead!
Board of Directors
Camp Fircom is lucky to be led by a talented team of volunteer board members!
We are currently recruiting for Board Members with the following expertise:
* Treasurer: Treasurer Position Description
* Human Resources: HR Position Description
* Fund Raising: Fund Raising Position Description
Current Board Members:
Edna Aguinaga-Gallegos
Board Chair
I am Edna, I am originally from Mexico, and moved to Vancouver, Canada in 2008. I am an Industrial Engineer with a Masters on Environmental Science and Technology. I am one of the Founders of Travesia Partners, a boutique sustainability consulting company that provides services for Sustainability strategy and reporting in developing and developed countries.
I bring to Fircom my passion for nature and kids/youth engagement, as well as my practical skills in strategic planning, financial management and fundraising. I learned about Fircom when my husband and my son attended Dad and Kids Camp in 2019. It was a great experience for them so the following year we came to one of the Family Vacation packages and I fell in love with the place. I joined the board in April 2020.
My favourite memory at Fircom is sitting by the fire with my kids, having the opportunity to truly connect with them while enjoying the amazing nature that surrounded us.
My 100 year dream for Fircom would be to expand our reach to year round activities, that would allow us to include all types of guests in our camps, where we create the space for people to become part of our community.
Chris McClymont
Treasurer
Christopher McClymont is an experienced Chartered Professional Accountant with over 12 years of accounting experience in private and public companies. He is currently the Director of Finance for InvestX Capital Ltd. and the CFO of Invictus Financial Inc. Previously, he was a Financial Analyst at WesternOne Inc., where he was responsible for financial reporting, budgeting, treasury, and mergers and acquisitions. Christopher also served as the Controller of Britco Structures, overseeing the sale of the company for $100 million. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (2004), a Diploma of Business Administration from the BCIT (2007), and a Certified Management Accounting accreditation (now Chartered Professional Accountant, 2012). In addition, Christopher volunteers in the CPA community to help students achieve their membership, and serves as a Director and Treasurer of Camp Fircom.
Rich Overgaard
Secretary
Rich was a staff person at Camp Fircom in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including the role of Camp Director. He previously served on the Board, including Chair throughout the 2010s. He was married at camp, continues to volunteer at camp, and plan his own events there. Fircom has remained a big part of Richβs life since his early 20s. He is also a long-time member of the CampOUT! Community Advisory Committee that supports queer and trans youth in accessing inclusive camp programming.
Professionally, Rich is the Director of Communications for a large educational organization and oversees a sizeable staff team and annual budget. He has an academic background in environmental geography, political science, and public relations. He is also a proud cat dad and uncle to several Camp Fircom alumni.
Daphne Woo
Member at Large
Daphne was first introduced to Camp Fircom when participating at the Community Catalyst Retreats in 2012/2013. This was where she found reconnection with the land and a renewed sense of belonging after living in The Netherlands for a decade. For this reason, Daphne continues into her third term on the board, feeling gratefully committed to be part of the team that works hard to expand the sense of belonging for all who gravitate towards the Fircom oasis and community.
The flexibility of time spent working in community comes alongside being self-employed for Daphne. She is a textile artist with a focus on education and advocate for slow ways, after working in the fast-pace industry of international sportswear for 20+ years. Within her business, Amacata Design Concepts, and application of natural dyes as a talking point, Daphne works to shine light on the direct connection between climate emergency and social inequity. She enjoys allocating time with close friends, family, in the garden, in the trees, and close to water. Other volunteer roles include mentoring, and being on the board for the Sunshine Coast Fibreshed. You will also find Daphne on the anti-racism and strategic planning committees.
Ana-Luz Cobon
Member at Large
Ana-Luzβs first summer was at Teen Camp in 2001!
Ever since then, she has served a variety of roles including: volunteer leader, disher, and cook. She moved into the role of camp chef when Fircom reopened in 2011.
Ana-Luz has a passion for food and sustainability. As a mom and postpartum doula, she is also thinking about how we foster and nurture community through lifeβs constant changes. Ana-Luzβs favourite places at camp, in no order of importance: the dock, kitchen, Canoe Cove, Halkett Bay lookout, farm, chicken coop, and the ocean. Now, Ana-Luz passionately serves on the board in her second term, and sits on the Anti-Racism and Strategic Planning Committees.
Ron Injates
Member at Large
Ron first came to Camp Fircom with an off-season youth group in about 1986. That began decades of volunteering at the camp for work parties, on committees and on the Board.
This is Ronβs second stint on the Camp Fircom Board. Ron was on the Board the first time in 2005, and along with other committed Board members, shepherded the camp though the redevelopment phase of the Camp Futures Project until the camp re-opened in 2011.
Ron has a keen interest in all aspects of operations at the site, and all the systems that bring you hot & cold running water, flushing toilets and electricity in an off-grid setting. He is most happy getting his hands dirty on site. Ron also serves on the Property Committee.
Ron is committed to the mission of the Society and its support of Children and families. Ron is married with an 8-year-old son, and is a 20-year veteran of the Vancouver Police Department.
Stewart Burgess
Member at Large
Stewart has been involved in summer camps since he was a teenage participant and then as a leader at George Pringle Memorial Camp on Vancouver Island. He continued working at summer camps in New York and Pennsylvania during university including a summer as an assistant camp director. Outside of camp he has two young daughters, works in Vancouver as an architect and volunteers in the community with a focus on public space and disc golf advocacy.
Alison Humphrey
Member at Large
Alison first came to Camp Fircom as a Mom and Kids camper in 2018 and has been fortunate to be back every year since. In addition to being a camper she has been a member of the Fundraising Committee, participating in 3 fundraising hikes and raising money for the Campership Fund. Last year she was proud to become an honourary lifelong member of the Camp Fircom Society. She also loves volunteer weekends and Camp Fancy.
Her professional work over the last 19 years as a Registered Midwife taught her to think on her feet, work with the resources available to her, and act from a place of compassion for others. She is a small business owner as a managing partner at Westside Midwives in Vancouver for the last 9 years.
Alison has 3 children who are neurodivergent, and a partner who is Jewish and immigrated to Canada in his teenage years. Camp has been such a welcoming space for Alisonβs family, and she is hoping as a board member to continue the work of making camp a welcoming place for ALL families. Her degree in Womenβs/Gender Studies from the University of Toronto also helps inform her perspective on inclusion and diversity.
She is a full member of the United Church having been baptised and confirmed in the St. Andrews United Church community in Sudbury, Ontario. She currently live on unceded ancestral Musqueam territory, also known as UBC Campus in Vancouver.
Eric Hamlyn
Member at Large
I am the Minister of Faith & Families at Lynn Valley United Church in North Vancouver. My call to ministry came through my involvement in United Church Camping back in the early 1990βs when I was involved in West Haven United Church Camp in Newfoundland. I served on the Board there for a number of years before moving to Vancouver in 1996. My connection to Camp Fircom started in 1997 when I was on summer staff as a Chaplain. In the late 1990βs I served on the Board and at one point Co-Chaired for a couple of years.
In a previous ministry position as the Youth and Young Adult Ministry Facilitator covering 40 congregations from the Lower Mainland, I was a regular renter of Camp Fircom for the May long week-end of an event called May Retreat. We would have anywhere from 70-100 youth and young adults and their leaders on site for an amazing, transformative, fun weekend.
Iβm very interested in helping to build stronger bridges of support between Camp Fircom and the United Church. I have always felt some disconnect between the two and would like to work towards making that change. I am very proud to be part of a church that does not claim to have all the answers and continues to seek ways forward
Laura Rudderford
Member at Large
I am an artist, youth advocate and mental health worker grateful to be living in Whistler, on the shared unceded territory of the Squamish Nation and Lil'wat Nation. I first discovered Fircom in 1995 when I was a teen camper and since then, Fircom has continued to hold a special place in my heart, leading me to continued involvement through being a leader, staff member, and now a board member. I am bringing my 15+ years of experience working in the non profit sector, my knowledge of programming for children and youth, and my huge amount of enthusiasm for Fircom and the communities it creates. My current work has me deeply involved in policy, advocacy, fundraising and direct service in a variety of roles in the non profit world. I have worked as a child and family counselor in the Sea to Sky corridor and recognize the immense benefits that spending time in nature can have on one's physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. I am especially passionate about breaking down barriers to creating equitable access to the outdoors, and ensuring that Fircom is able to provide that for generations to come. Additionally, as a Legal Administrator, I bring my familiarity with policy driven strategic communication and documentation.
My favourite camp memory is circumnavigating the island in a voyageur canoe, in the pouring rain, eating soggy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, singing camp songs and laughing so much my belly hurt. Today, some 20 years later, I am still friends with many folks from that adventure.
My 100 year dream for Fircom is simple: that we are able to continue creating communities of belonging all year round with unrestricted funding and high levels of environmental sustainability.
Blair Odney
Blair is the United Churchβs ex-officio member to the Societyβs Board of Directors. In that role Blair helps maintain the linkage between the Society and the Pacific Mountain Regional Council of the Church and helps connect the resources of the Church to the Camp Fircom Society.
The board can have up to 10 members, not including the Representative from Pacific Mountain Region of United Church of Canada. If you are interested in joining the board, please contact the board chair directly at boardchair@fircom.ca.
