Welcome to our blog. Here is a brief bio for each of the staff . . . it is going to be an awesome summer!
Jeff Balfour - Director
I was born and raised in the Brantford area and have been working with youth and children for the past 15 years. I have served as youth pastor at two great churches; Onondaga- Salt Springs Community Church near Brantford and Dresden Community Church in Chatham-Kent.
My heart's desire is to create a safe place for people to gain a deeper understanding of the Christian faith and to encourage people to take "the next step" in their journey with Christ.
I also love spending time with my family (wife Sherri and two children), working in the yard, and driving anything with wheels and an engine.
I am excited about the summer at Huron Feathers and about the many opportunities that will await us!
Ben Bouman
I'm Ben Bouwman. I'm from a town called Puslinch, Ontario, which is just south of Guelph. I live in a big house with just my parents, because all of my four siblings (two brothers and two sisters) are married and have kids. I have ten nieces and nephews, and two more are on the way! I think my family is pretty sweet. I also have a girlfriend named Kira, and I think she is pretty sweet too. Being away from all these people for two and a half months might get a little emotional for me, so if you ever see me looking melancholy at the beach, it might be because I miss these people. Don't worry though, just give me a high five and tell me a joke or something, and I'll be just fine!
As I write this I am in the process of finishing my second year at Redeemer University, where I am majoring in philosophy and minoring in Biblical studies. I love academics too, and someday I'd love to be a professor, but that's a long way away. So if you ever get the insane urge to be bored out of your brain and you see me at the beach, feel free to ask me "Hey Ben! What are you thinking about?" or "What is that weird-looking book you're reading and how come there's no pictures in it?" I find all that philosophy stuff to be quite exciting. Those are the two big ones, it seems, family and schooling, so there you have it.
Some of my other interests include white water canoeing, rocks, art, and music. But most of all, I'm interested in God, and what He is doing, no matter where He's at work. See you on the beach!
Esther Cubitt
Hey! I'm Esther Cubitt. My whole life I have lived near New Lowell, Ontario, which is a beautiful, small place nestled in the country. I am the youngest of four children, with 3 older brothers. I have incredible parents who reflect their love and thankfulness to God, continually setting an example for their children and grandchildren.
During the year, I am a student at Redeemer University College, where God has greatly blessed me with a community of people who share the same passions as me.
Things I love include family, friends, singing, music of all kinds (but mainly worship), spending time with children, adventures, walks, flowers, any type of tea, green "stop-lights", and most importantly, Jesus Christ. He's the One that puts the smile on my face.
I'm grateful to God for opening the door to work at Huron Feathers this summer. After being on staff at several camps in the past, I am excited for this new opportunity to grow and learn from serving in the Sauble community. In my mind, summer is made complete by being around youth of all ages, on the water, in God's creation. I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for me this summer, as I try to answer to His call on my life.
It's going to be an exciting few months. See ya at the beach!!!
Melissa Darling
Hi! My name is Melissa Darling, and I'm from Cambridge, Ontario. I have two older sisters and four nieces and nephews. I am currently living at home with my parents and our family dog, Wallace.
I've spent the winter running aquatic programs at a community centre in Guelph and also at Retirement Centre in Cambridge. Both centres have gracefully allowed me extended holidays for the summer, so that I can return to Huron Feathers. God has blessed me with the opportunity to return to Huron Feathers for a fifth summer. I can't wait to get back up to the sun, sand and waves at Sauble! I have been a lifeguard for seven years, and I want to make sure that everyone is safe in the sun and waves. You might have guessed that I love the water, I also love kids, animals, sports cars, and taking photographs. Last summer I took over two thousand photographs.
Sauble Beach is beautiful and it's filled with outstanding people that have become like family to me. I'm really looking forward to connecting with the Sauble Beach community again this summer.
Nicole Jasper
I'm Nicole Jasper and I'm from Owen Sound, Ontario. My family has been living there for almost five years now, where my dad is the pastor of a local church and my mom works at a bank. I'm the oldest of the three kids in my family, I have two younger brothers who are currently in high school.
Since graduating high school in 2007, I've been away from home for two years now (don't cry Dad!). I'm currently wrapping up my first year at Providence College, which is a small Christian liberal arts college near Winnipeg, Manitoba. Last year, I spent eight months as an independent missionary in Ukraine, where I taught English classes and worked in an orphanage. At school, I am working towards my Bachelor of Arts in Worship Studies, as well as my TESOL certificate, which will allow me to teach English as a foreign language anywhere in the world. I've previously volunteered and been on staff at my home church in the children's, youth, and worship music departments.
As you might be able to tell, worship (particularly worship music) and working with children and youth are two of the passions God has given me, and I'm so excited to get to do both this summer at Huron Feathers! I'm also really excited about returning to Ontario (what my non-Manitoban friends and I refer to as "the promised land") for the summer, because I get to be near my family, and because I absolutely love the area! I can't wait to get to the beach and meet all of you, and see what God's got up his sleeve for this summer!
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