Free Spirit Tours has been operating since 1998 offering innovative programming in outdoor pursuits. Whether your interest be on the water or on land we have something for you.
All our programs take place in the picturesque Georgian Bay area surrounding Collingwood, Ontario. We offer hiking, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, caving and sea kayaking tours to all age groups. We also offer team building programs for corporate groups and clubs.
The owners, Jennie Elmslie, Matt Code pride themselves in leading a team of highly qualified instructors to give you a rewarding and unforgettable experience!
The Free Spirit Team:
Kids Camp:
Kim Bauer
Kim, born and raised in Collingwood, can’t seem to get away from the escarpment! She graduated from Brock University in 2008, with a Bachelor of Physical Education. She values a healthy active lifestyle and loves being outdoors, particularly camping and cycling. Kim is enthusiastic about the environment and very keen on living simply. She loves to laugh and learn new things. She has flown a kite in every province and looks forward to tackling the northern part of Canada sometime soon! Kim has been connected with Free Spirit Tours for a handful of years now, and together they maximize every season; rain or shine!
Rosa Furness
Originally from Prince Edward Island, Rosa now calls her farm near Shelburne she shares with her dogs, cats and horses home. Rosa studied Outdoor Recreation at Lakehead University, which led her to a career in Outdoor Education. She has her instructor certification in alpine skiing, sea kayaking and canoeing. She holds a diploma in photography and has received her reiki level 2. “Failure is only possible if you don’t try” reflects Rosa’s leadership style. A member of the Free Spirit Team since 2000, Rosa can be found guiding a group of new paddlers down the river, leading a group of kids through a cave or introducing a group to the exciting world of rock climbing!
Denise Baranski
Wasaga Beach has always been a special place to Denise as this is where she spent her childhood summers and understands the value of outdoor play… and especially summer camp. After graduating from Loyalist College, from the Recreation and Leisure Program she wanted to do more with her passion of the outdoors and children, so she completed her Outdoor Education at the University of Alberta. Following that she got her teaching degree at Trent University. Her favourite camp activity is sea kayaking in Georgian Bay with Free Spirit Tours, of course. And it is almost a guarantee that in the summer you will find her enjoying a BBQ and campfire with friends and food, reminiscing about the week and the good times that were had by all!
Amy “Chai” Gilbert
Chai has an educational background in Community Development and Therapeutic recreation. Over the last 8 years she has coordinated nation-wide youth exchange programs and facilitated leadership training workshops and retreats. Working with Free Spirit Tours, Chai developed the Natural Leaders program to meet the needs of today’s youth. Chai brings strong leaderships skills, extensive outdoor recreation and camp experience to the program. She is dedicated to helping youth lead the way towards a more sustainable future by providing relevant and meaningful life experience. In her spare time she can be found teaching yoga, running with her dog, and volunteering for local grassroots organizations.
Andrew Robertson
Andrew has been involved with the Kids Camp for 3 years and it’s his love of it, that keeps bringing him back! He has his qualifications in first aid, sea kayaking and canoeing. And then in the winter he is the Head SBX (Snowboard Cross) Coach for the Alpine and Georgian Peaks Ski Clubs. Andrew likes to keep busy and is constantly challenging himself with all the outdoor pursuits that are available here in the Blue Mountain area.
Rachael Plater
Rachael is currently working on her undergrad in Outdoor Adventure Leadership at Laurentian University. A local to the town of the Blue Mountains she loves the area and spending time taking advantage of what it has to offer. Her favorite outdoor activities are rock climbing, paddling and discovering new places. She is certified as an NLS lifeguard, Wilderness First Responder, First Aid and CPR C, Sea Kayaking Paddle Canada 1, ORCKA Flat Water 1, Moving Water 1A, ORCKA Canoe Tripping 3, Rescue 3 International, Survival in the Bush Inc. and NCCP Mountain Biking 1. She is passionate about introducing people to the great activities and joy that the outdoors offer!
Martha Darby
Martha is a Beaver Valley local. She’s fully certified in standard first aid and is passionate about the outdoors. She’s entering her 1st. year of university majoring in Journalism and English. She loves to explore and wander the area, usually with a camera strung around her neck. She is extremely creative and has a great eye for capturing moments on the rock or out in the water on both video and still photographs. It’s with this talent that she makes some of the best keepsake dvds for the Outdoor Kids Camp.
Josh Fletcher
One thing about Josh…is that he loves his sports! Any and all sports, as well as any activities Free Spirit does! He is always on the go… and you’ll never find him sitting still. He is currently heading into his fourth year in the Outdoor Adventure Leadership program at Laurentian University and loving it! He has a multitude of certifications, such as; Wilderness First Responder, Survival in the Bush, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, NLS, ORCKA Level 3 Canoe Tripping, ORCKA 1A Moving Water, ORCKA 1 Canadian Style, and Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Level 1….just to name a few!
Paddling Guides
Neal Jankowski
Neal grew up on a farm, and went to a high school in the city of Hamilton. He then moved to Waterloo to get a B.Sc. During the last two summers of University he moved out to B.C. to train and work as a raft guide on Toby Creek in the Purcell Wilderness near Panorama Ski Resort. After graduating University, he moved to his cottage to be a snowboard instructor at Blue Mountain. It was there that he heard about FST! And in regards to this summer he says; “I’m stoked for another season of paddling and climbing!”.
Jim Samis
Jim has lived here in the Collingwood area for a number of years and probably knows it better than anyone. He has a vast amount of knowledge on birds, astronomy, orchids, animal tracks and the local rivers. Ask him a question about something you see on the river or in the bay and he’ll have the answer for you! He is a certified instructor for sea kayaking and mountain biking but one of his real claims to fame is that he is a 2 time finisher of the “Beaver River Rat Race”!
Kristin Welsh
Kristin grew up in Belleville, then moved to Thunder Bay to attend Lakehead University. After a couple of years of travel and working, she moved to British Columbia for the Paramedic program. She worked in BC for 4 years both on Ambulance and Ski Patrol. She moved back home to her roots just under to years ago. She used to yodel, now she just kayaks. Her other hobbies include aerial silks, gymnastics, climbing, eating vlasic pickles and spending time with great friends and family…maybe even over a glass of wine. She have 3 cats but refuse to believe that she is a cat lady, despite what her friends say. She is in love with Wasaga Beach, Collingwood, and the Blue Mountains and is thrilled that she has a playground in her backyard!
Joel Dawson
Joel grew up, and still lives in the Flesherton area. While growing up, Joel’s family outings consisted of camping, hiking, and canoeing trips. This is where Joel gained his love for the outdoors and first started to develop paddling skills. After high school Joel attended Humber college where he studied Jazz performance, majoring on the bass. When not on the water, Joel fills his time as a professional musician and music teacher. Joel also enjoys woodworking; much of the outdoor furniture at the Beaver river location was built by Joel.
Kim Edwards
Kim landed in the Georgian Triangle with a passion for sustainable living and mindfulness. She is inspired by the effect that outdoor activities has on ones drive to live more sustainably, thus Kim facilitates many outdoor activities from apple tree pruning to paddling the Beaver River. She is guided by the Dalai Lama’s words: “Although attempting to bring about world peace through the internal transformation of individuals is difficult, it is the only way.” Kim also has a bunch of certifications (including a Masters in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability from Sweden), and is working on her permaculture and horticulture skills with Free Spirit Gardens. When you come for a paddle in Heathcote be sure to take a look at the new vegetable gardens, there may even be a treat to taste!
Climbing & Caving Guides
Mark Toma
Although, he grew up in the Nation’s Capital, Mark has happily made his home in Collingwood and loves all that this area offers to the outdoor enthusiast. When he is not working, you will often find Mark out in the woods hiking the trails with his trusty sidekick Sawyer. A retired soldier with a Bachelor’s degree in history, Mark combines his love of the outdoors, passion for physical fitness and enthusiasm for learning in his role in Free Spirit Tours. What he likes most about his job is encouraging people to challenge themselves and succeed, both on the rock and under.
Leslie Timms
Leslie Timms has been an outdoor adventure addict for most of her life. Throughout high school she endured full summers of ORCA canoe certifications and multi-week canoe expeditions all across Ontario. With a passion for white water canoeing and canoe trip guiding, she landed a spot in the elite Outdoor Adventure Program at Algonquin College. After completing two years of high intensity guide training, she graduated at the top of her class and with a new found passion for rock climbing. Leslie is now recognized as one of the top female rock climbers in Canada and she spends the majority of her winters traveling the world in search of inspiring rock climbs. Although originally from Kingston, Leslie fell in love with the Niagara escarpment and moved to the Beaver Valley in 2009. Leslie is now a fully accredited PCGI Lead Guide and Wilderness First Responder and she is really excited to be launching her own climbing guiding service, On the Rocks. www.ontherocksclimbing.com
Andrew Dixon
Andrew moved to Canada from England in September 2010, and came to Collingwood to work at Blue Mountain Resort. His favorite sport is mountain biking, but it is closely followed by rock climbing and hiking. In the winter you’ll find him downhill skiing every chance he gets but he’s also got his eye on another endeavor, which is ice climbing. His previous guiding experience is with the Duke of Edinburgh award and British Cycling.
Lauren Watson
Lauren is a Torontonian, born and raised. Since she was 19 she has 4 seasons in the Whitewater rafting industry, working mostly in Ontario with one season in the Canadian Rockies. After finishing a Geography/Studio art degree at the University of Guelph she proceeded to let climbing systematically take over her life. Now, after two years of travel with a climbing resume that extends from The Canadian west to Patagonia, Lauren is excited to spend the summer re-uniting with southern Ontario rock. She is an 80 hr Wilderness first responder, an ACMG Top Rope Instructor and gym instructor, a Swiftwater Rescue technician, a photographer and a veteran mountain unicycler. She can’t wait to share the secrets of the rock with you.
