Our Directors and Year-Round Team
Amy Woods
Camp Director, 37th Year Staff Member
University of San Diego, Int. Relations / Master in Education, BA International Relations, USF, MA USF, Education – Teaching English as a second language
WSI, Lifeguard, CPR, First Aid, BB Pathogen
Amy is the Director of Roughing It Day Camp and works year-round at camp overseeing the entire operation including the hiring and training of summer staff, the safety programs for campers and staff, parent relations, and camp communication. Amy began her camp career as one of our first Roughing It Day Campers in 1973! She grew up at Roughing It and has held every position we have including group counselor, swim counselor, Swim Club Director, Swim Director, riding counselor, and Program Director, Head Counselor. She is the Camp Director and Head Counselor this summer at Roughing It. She grew up in Lafayette, graduated from the University of San Diego, and received her Master’s degree in Education from the University of San Francisco. Amy’s son, Cecilio is a third-generation Roughing It camper. She is the heart and soul of Roughing It and is looking forward to “..being back at Camp and helping every camper to thrive!”
Ann Woods
Founder/Owner/Director, 51st Year Staff Member
University of California, Santa Barbara – History, BA UCSB
Lifeguard, Watercraft, WSI, ARC, CPR, First Aid
Ann founded Roughing It in 1972 with Hobie, and together they serve as our Camp Directors. Ann started out as a Camp Counselor and Head Counselor at Kennolyn Camps. She also worked as a horseback riding instructor and swimming instructor with WSI and Lifeguard certification. Before starting Roughing It, Ann worked as a third grade teacher in Los Angeles and for the Martinez School District AB1331 Pre-School Program. Ann has served on local and national boards for the American Camping Association and continues to be active in the organization. She and Hobie were featured on CNN in 1999, and Ann has been interviewed by Redbook, USA Today, SF Chronicle, San Jose Mercury, Sacramento Bee, Contra Costa Times, and Diablo Magazine.
Hobie Woods
Founder/Owner/Director, 51st Year Staff Member
University of Southern California — Recreation Admin, BA Social Science/International Relations, MS Recreation Administration
Eagle Scout, WSI, ARC, Watercraft
Hobie founded Roughing It in 1972 with Ann and has worked as the Camp Director ever since! Hobie worked alongside Ann at Kennolyn Camps as a counselor, Head Men’s Counselor and Director of Trails and Woodcraft. He studied International Relations at the University of Southern California and served as the Outdoors Programs Director at Tom Sawyer Camps. He got his masters degree at San Francisco State University while working as a Recreation Director for the City of Oakland. Hobie then served six years of active duty as an officer in the US Navy during the Vietnam War, serving in submarines and supply ships. After leaving active duty, he directed the recreation programs for the Naval Station on Treasure Island for five years. He then worked at San Francisco State University for five years as an instructor of Recreation Administration. He served many years on the board of directors of the Northern California Section of the American Camping Association, and served two terms as its president. He completed 22 years of service in the Naval Reserve and retired as a Captain after being recalled to active duty during Operation Desert Storm. Hobie’s favorite part of camp is leading opening and closing circle every day and visiting all of the campsites to see all the happy campers.
Michael "Mike" Rostkowski
Transportation Coordinator, 24th Year Staff Member
California State University, East Bay — Computer Science
WFR, CPR, First Aid,
Mike is a full-time administrator at Roughing It Day Camp. He began as a maintenance person in 1999 and was a group counselor before taking over the supervision of all camp transportation. Mike lives in Martinez where he grew up and graduated from Cal State University, East Bay majoring in computer sciences. He is our ‘go-to’ for help in tech support and web designer during the year as well as overseeing camp supplies and setting up all the logistics and sites for camp. Mike is known for his friendly nature and willingness to lend a helping hand no matter what the computer or supply or bus challenge is. His goal is to have safe, timely bus transportation and camper drop-off for all our campers and parent
Misty Walker Lohe
Camp Administrator – Marketing & Alumni Coordinator, 20th Year Staff Member
University of California, Santa Barbara — Psychology
Misty joins us for her twentieth summer! She was on Roughing It staff in 1998 after attending camp as a camper. She has worked as a group counselor, program assistant, and administrator, and she currently works as a marketing & alumni coordinator in the office during the off-season. This past summer, Misty was excited to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a ride staff! She studied psychology and exercise at UC Santa Barbara, is a certified lifeguard and Wilderness First Responder, and is our parent relations coordinator. Her two children, Kaitlyn and Lauren, both enjoy coming to camp every summer!
Lindsey Jones
Camp Registrar, 8th Year Staff Member
Bingley Grammar
Lindsey has been working year-round at Roughing It for 8 years. This year, Lindsey transitioned from Registrar to Office Manager, where she oversees the camp office operations and business side. She lives in Concord with her daughters who have come to camp for many years. Her youngest, Amelia will be a CILT this summer and Maddison graduated high school this year. Lindsey is known for her attention to detail, friendly customer service, and distinct English accent on the phone!
Teresita Reyna Cruz
Marketing, 7th Year Staff Member
College of Alameda — General Education, Social Science, & Business Administration
As Family Coordinator, Reyna communicates with our camp families and ensures new camp families have everything they need for their first experience at Roughing It. She works part-time year-round and is returning for her 6th year. Reyna lives in Concord with her husband and family. Her two children will be back at camp this summer, one in the Boys 4th grade and one in the Junior High Girls groups. Many families have met Reyna at the Parent Orientation Webinars or talked with her on the phone this spring and know her friendly personality. Reyna is a positive problem solver and happy to talk with camp parents this summer to make sure camp runs smoothly for them and for all our campers!
Joanne "JoJo" Peterson
Horse Programs Coordinator, 7th Year Staff Member
CSU Fresno — Agricultural Studies
Welcome back Jojo, an Alumni Ride Staff member. Jojo was the Saddle Club Director for two summers when she was in college. She has continued to be active in summer camps and in the riding world. She brings years of camp and horse experience. We’re excited to have her help with our riding program, supporting staff in the summer, and overseeing the care of the horse herd year round. Jojo lives in Martinez with her husband and son, Adam.
Dianna LaFerry
Marketing/Media, 4th Year Staff Member
University of Oklahoma — Studio Art
Dianna is joining us for her third year at Roughing It. Originally from Oklahoma, Dianna moved to the Bay Area in 2003. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Studio Art. She has been a professional graphic designer since 1993, serving varied clients including professional sports teams. She is also a Gold + Silver Award Girl Scout who spent many years at NE Oklahoma’s Camp Wah-Sha-She. In her spare time, she is an expert seamstress and hand embroiderer. Her daughter will be a third-year Roughing It Camper this summer!
Haley Groves
Marketing / Sales, 2nd Year Staff Member
Texas State University — Print Journalism
Haley is joining us again for her second year at Roughing It. She was born and raised in Texas where she later attended Texas State University and received a BA in Print Journalism. After getting married she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico and lived there for eight years before moving to California. She has two boys, one of whom is attending camp this summer, and has loved raising them and watching them grow. Her and her family love the outdoors doing lots of camping, hiking and vacationing to National Parks. In her spare time, Haley loves gardening, sewing, knitting, reading, baking and cooking. She is also involved in the Mount Diablo Mothers’ Club where she enjoys planning events for the involved Moms and their children!
Jessica "Jessie" Haugan
Program Director & Personnel, 9th Year Staff Member
Northland College — Outdoor Education, BA in Outdoor Education
WFR, CPR, First Aid, BB Pathogen, Previously Lifeguard certified for 12 years
Jessie is joining us for her eighth summer at Roughing It as our Program Director! Jessie studied Outdoor Education at Northland College, and brings a vast range of outdoor experience from woodcraft, land travel, and camping skills, to outdoor education teaching techniques. She honed technical skills and developed teaching techniques, which she has used in her work with campers at Roughing It and other camps. Jessie also served in the United States Marine Corps from January 2004 to December 2008, and has received numerous awards and medals including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. She has also enjoyed adventures such as sea kayaking and dog sledding. Jessie is looking forward to passing on her extensive experience to campers this summer as the Program Director!
Carrie "Lootch" Swearngin
HR Assistant, 2nd Year Staff Member
Towson University — Spanish Literature
Carrie is joining us again for her second year in the Roughing It office! She was born and raised on the East coast and really enjoyed babysitting as her first job because of her love of children. She participated in an exchange program when she was 15 staying with a family outside of Madrid and really enjoyed it! She attended Towson University in Maryland studying Spanish Literature during which she did a semester abroad in Mexico City. After graduating she joined a volunteer program in Costa Rica and loved it so much she started teaching English to the locals and ended up living there for a total of nine months! Carrie moved to the West Coast working at a production house that translated and produced Hispanic Radio and TV commercials soon after met her husband and started her family! She moved to Oakland and lives there with her husband and two kids, who are attending Roughing It this summer. She loves nature, exploring and learning new things!
