Pauline Hodgetts & Donald Marston
Pauline or “Polly” has spent her life in camping. Daughter of founder Birnie Hodgetts, she was raised in Georgian Bay at Camp Hurontario. She was a camper and staff member at several girls’ camps in Ontario, and a high school teacher in Toronto for 22 years. Polly has been the director, owner and operator of Camp Hurontario since 1978. She is an active member within the Ontario Camping Association and the Society of Camp Directors.
A director of Camp Hurontario since 1978, Don Marston, Polly’s husband, has many years of outdoor camping experience at Hurontario. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Camps Association and a Fellow of the Society of Camp Directors. His credentials as both a lawyer and a professional engineer fit well with his keen involvement in all aspects of Hurontario’s operations and activities.
Russell Marston
Son of Polly and Don, Russell has spent his life in camping. With his upbringing at Hurontario and experience at a well-established tripping camp, Russell has developed excellent camping skills. Certifications in whitewater rescue, wilderness first aid, and canoe-tripping back up years of tripping experience. In the winters, Russell is a principal Glenlyon Norfolk School.
Julia Marston
Daughter of Polly and Don, Julia has also grown up at Hurontario and spent many summers at well-established girls’ camps. Before returning to Hurontario to direct the new IntroCamp programme, Julia worked as a director and counsellor at a co-ed camp in Temagami. During the winter, Julia works as a teacher at an elementary school in Toronto.
David Freel – Managing Director
Our management team’s full-time Managing Director, Dave Freel, enjoys a long and popular history at Camp Hurontario that provides him with a perfect background for his important leadership role.
A camper since age 7, Dave has many years at Hurontario as an LIT (“leader in training”), a CIT (“counsellor in training”), an Instructor, Counsellor, Senior Tripper, and Director.
An extremely skilled canoeist and kayaker, Dave’s multiple canoeing trophies include the triple crown of Hurontario canoeing competitions: the Hartwood (for junior doubles), the Hodgetts (for intermediates doubles) and the coveted senior Muntzweller trophy for singling canoeing skills. His many canoe trips have included a wide variety of routes, including Hurontario’s challenging Kesagami River trip, which he led as a senior tripper, into James Bay.
Always an important contributor to Hurontario’s magic culture, Dave’s special talents and achievements also include his versatile skills as an accomplished musician on acoustic and electric guitar, harmonica and piano.
A graduate of Dalhousie University in Halifax, and an experienced Associate Faculty Member in the boarding program at Pickering College, David Freel’s mission is to continue to inspire Hurontario’s campers by providing them with the benefit of the same amazing summer opportunities he grew up enjoying at Camp Hurontario on Georgian Bay.
Staff Directors
The team of directors is supported each summer by a group of staff with an average of ten summers at the camp. The staff directors provides programme, guidance, and leadership to the campers and staff of Hurontario.
