It is with sadness that we share the news, that Kristen will be leaving as Camp Director at the end of this year. Kristen’s time as Camp Director has left a bright mark on Camp Kirk. She helped create a new 5-day session for younger campers, strengthened our Leader-in-Training program, launched a music program that quickly became a camper favourite, and helped more people learn about Camp Kirk through her outreach and webinars. For all of this—and for the steady, caring leadership she brought—we are deeply thankful.
She also offered these words for our campers and families:
“What I can say with confidence is that the heart of Camp Kirk does not belong to any one person. It lives in the staff who show up for your children day after day, in the routines and traditions that make camp feel familiar and safe, and in the way this community believes that neurodivergent kids deserve spaces where they can be fully themselves. Even as I move on from my role, please know that from a distance I will be cheering your children on, carrying their stories with me, and hoping they continue to find spaces where they are deeply seen and celebrated for who they are.”
Behind the scenes, we’ve been working closely with our Board to make sure this transition is smooth and that the heart of camp stays strong and steady.
Welcoming Our New Camp Director
We’re excited to share that Claire Beddoe will be stepping in as our new Camp Director in January, after spending this month transitioning with Kristen.
Many of you already know Claire—she first joined us as a counsellor in 2018, moved into the Assistant Camp Director role for three summers, and has spent the last year and a half with us full-time after finishing her Bachelor of Education at Trent. Claire knows Camp Kirk inside and out. She knows our campers, our traditions, and our silly camp songs; she knows what helps our campers shine; and she brings so much warmth and joy to everything she does.
We’re thrilled for her to step into this role, and we know she will carry forward the spirit of Camp Kirk with care, creativity, and heart.
While I am going to really miss working with the incredible Kristen, I’m thrilled to be stepping into the role of Camp Director in 2026. My hope is to honour not only the wisdom and guidance of the four wonderful Camp Kirk directors I’ve had the privilege of working with since I started, but also the countless lessons I’ve learned from campers and staff alike. My hope is to nurture a space where every camper and staff member feels known, supported, and empowered to shine. Most of all, I’m excited for the memories we haven’t made yet: the songs, the friendships, the quiet moments in the pines, and the big, silly bursts of laughter that remind us why this place matters.
This community has given me so much, and I’m truly honoured to carry forward our mission and represent a place that means the world to so many of us. Here’s to more campfires, more bugbites, and another year where I somehow still get to call this my job.
And as Claire moves into her new position, we’re also looking for the right person to become our new Assistant Camp Director—someone who loves our values, understands the magic of Camp Kirk, and will fiercely support our neurodivergent campers and families. If you can help spread the word, we’d be so grateful. Click here for the Job Posting.
A Note About Our Office Team
We’re also saying a heartfelt goodbye to Michele Garry-Jones, our part-time Office Manager for the past two years. Michele has supported so many families with patience, kindness, and genuine care. We’re thankful for everything she has brought to our team.
Starting in the New Year, Heather McLimont—who many of you know from her Events & Marketing work—will be stepping into the Office Manager role. Heather brings lots of warmth and enthusiasm to everything she touches, and we know she’ll continue to support our families with the same heartfelt energy.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at deirdre@campkirk.com.
With warmth and gratitude,
Deirdre
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