2022 Leadership Staff

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Meet our Leadership Staff

Abby Post

Unit 1 Leader, 4th Year Staff Member Skidmore College — Health and Human Physiology major Hello! I am returning this year as Unit Leader. I was the kindergarten counselor last summer. This will be my 14th year at camp! I began my career at Roughing It as a First Grade (G1) camper and went on to become a CILT and Jr Counselor. I am currently a rising senior at Skidmore College in New York and plans to be a physical therapist. I hope to be a welcoming hand to new staff and assist them in organizing activities, teaching staff the RI way, helping campers try new things and grow, and especially to help make camp fun!

Sam Anderson

Unit 2 Leader, 7th Year Staff Member University of Colorado, Boulder — Journalism major

Hi all! I am Sam, and I am returning for my 7th year at Roughing It Day Camp. I was a Boys 1st & 2nd-grade counselor for two summers and a Unit Leader for two previous summers. I grew up in Orinda, graduated from the University of Colorado, and have been working year-round at Roughing It for two years where I do marketing media content and videos. I love the fact that I can directly help campers and staff find the best in themselves at Roughing It.

Alex Evans

Waterfront Director, 3rd Year Staff Member Diablo Valley College — Mechanical Engineering major I am coming back for my 14th summer at Roughing It! I was a camper (including a CILT & JC) for 12 years before joining our staff last summer. I was the B23 Group Counselor and am so excited to be back this summer as Director of my favorite camp activity, Waterfront! I am currently studying at Diablo Valley College pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I can’t wait for a great summer with fellow Waterfront staff and campers!

Sam Ghiselli

Waterfront Assistant Director, 1st Year Staff Member Baylor University — Biology major

I am going into my junior year at Baylor University in Texas where I study Biology. I am from Moraga and volunteered as a teacher’s aide at Rheem School since 2016. In high school I played on the Lamorinda Rugby Team. My passion is kayaking, and have owned my own kayaks since middle school and even have kayaks at school. I want every camper to feel welcome and that they belong at camp when they come to Waterfront! 

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Rio Nickerson

Swim Director, 4th Year Staff Member CSU East Bay — Music Education major I have been a Roughing It camper since 2013, going from camper to CILT to Jr Counselor. This is my third year on swim staff including being Assist. Swim Director in ’21, and now to Swim Director. I grew up in Danville and am now a senior at Cal State University, East Bay majoring in Music Education and hope to become a music teacher. I have combined my swim team and camp experience to my position and aim to make swimming safe and fun for every camper, just like how it was for me as a camper!

Emma MacKenzie

Assistant Swim Director, 1st Year Staff Member 
Boston University — Psychology major

Hello! I am Emma and I am new to Roughing It this summer. I am a rising sophomore majoring in psychology at Boston University and from Orinda, CA. I was a competitive swimmer for six summers and am bringing my love of the water, the outdoors and children to Roughing It this summer! I have attended numerous day and resident camps, including private and Girl Scout camps where I was a CILT. I want to be sure every camper has fun and enjoys swimming! 

Penny the Camp Dog

Camp Dog, 2nd Year Staff Member  Breed: Boxer

Hi campers! It’s Penny the Camp Dog. I’m so excited to be back for my second year at Roughing It Day Camp as the official camp dog. I spent several years as the camp dog in training under Gus, Ann and Hobie’s German Shorthaired Pointer. I am a rescue dog and Amy and her family adopted me 5 years ago through the Boxer Rescue. I love visiting with campers and going to Opening Circle and making my camp announcements. Looking forward to seeing you around camp.