2019 Unit One Staff
Meet our Unit One Counselors and Staff
Katie Christensen
Unit Leader / Unit 1, 3rd Year Staff Member
Utah State University — Elementary Education
Katie is back for her third summer at Roughing It! She has been an amazing counselor for the KP group for the past two summers and is excited to be coming back! This summer we’re excited to have her join our Admin staff as a Unit Leader! Katie just finished her junior year at Utah State University studying Elementary Education. Over this past school year she was put into an elementary school classroom and gained some great experience in teaching. In the past she has also helped raise guide dogs as well as participated in youth events with her church. Welcome back Katie!
EV Estoesta
Little Raccoons Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
Cal State University, Chico – Psychology
Welcome to summer camp EV! She will be joining our staff for the very first time as a LRC. EV has worked in different classrooms and enjoys working with kids & engaging them in fun activities. Outside of camp, EV studies Psychology at Chico State. Welcome to Roughing It EV!
Emma Grove
Group Counselor / 5th Year Staff Member
Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland / Master’s Program
We are honored to have Emma back for her 5th year as a Roughing It Staff member! A former Roughing It Day Camper, she is a University graduate who is currently pursuing a Masters degree at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland. She loves working with campers of all ages but is particularly fond of mentoring our youngest campers. So glad you’re here, Emma!
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Lillian "Lily" Cheeks
Group Counselor / 2nd Year Staff Member
UC Santa Barbara / Psychological & Brain Sciences major
Lily is returning for her second summer at Roughing It. She currently attends UC Santa Barbara majoring in Psychological & Brain Sciences with a double minor in Spanish and Linguistics. She loves art and nature, dance, and creativity and hopes to bring those skills to her camper groups this summer!
Giulia Sarti
G3 Counselor / 1st Year Staff Member
Chapman University – Psychology and Integrated Educational Studies major
Welcome to Roughing It, Giulia! She can’t wait to bring her high energy, enthusiasm, and positive leadership to the Outdoor Explorers. Born in Lucca, Italy, she grew up in Brentwood where she worked in the family orchard in the summertime. Giulia has many interests, from science to history and is majoring in Psychology with a focus on Integrated Educational Studies at Chapman University. She hopes to make camp crafting fun and educational this summer!
Ireland Clare Kennedy
Group Counselor, 2nd Year Staff Member
Mount Holyoke College — French, Chemistry minor
Ireland is back for her second summer at Roughing It! Before joining staff last year she was also a Roughing It camper a few years ago. Last summer she did an amazing job as our B1 group counselor and is excited to be coming back to camp! Ireland is currently majoring in French with a minor in Chemistry at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. Her passion for kids and an interest in pursuing pediatrics led to her great summer as a counselor. After the brutal cold front hitting Massachusetts this winter she can’t wait for a warm summer and going on lots of fun hikes with her group at camp!
Nainoa Azevedo
Group Counselor & Environment Staff / 1st Year Staff Member
UC Santa Barbara – Environmental Science major
Nainoa is passionate about being outdoors and studying our environment. He is an inspiring role model for campers of all ages with his knowledge, mentorship skills, and eagerness to help. His goal is to make camp a fun, active, safe space through appreciation for outdoors and the environment.
Trevor Nelson
Group Counselor (Assistant Unit Leader), 2nd Year Staff Member
Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo — Parks, Recreation and Tourism Administration
Trevor is coming back to camp this summer! This will be his second summer at Roughing It and as a group counselor. Last summer he was the B3 group counselor and did a great job! He really encouraged teamwork and collaboration between his campers and helped them accomplish a lot of great GRIT challenges together! Trevor currently attends Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo studying Parks, Recreation and Tourism Administration. Trevor has worked with kids in the past with his church youth group. In his spare time he loves playing music, he plays eight different instruments! He also really enjoys sports mainly lacrosse, basketball and football. Welcome back Trevor!
Romeo Vides
Group Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
This summer we’re so excited to welcome Romeo to our staff! Although new as a staff member, Romeo is definitely not new to Roughing It. He started as a B5/6 camper and participated in both the CILT and JC leadership programs here at camp over the past couple years. So this will be his 9th summer at Roughing It and we are so excited to see him step up into a staff member role! He’s very patient and encouraging with Pre-K and K campers and is also great at helping campers try new, fun camp activities! He’s a terrific bus spirit leader always encouraging his bus and bringing high energy and a great camp spirit.
Erin Woods
Group Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
Diablo Valley College / UC Davis — Conservation and Wildlife Biology
Welcome new staff member Erin! Erin will be joining our staff this summer as a Group Counselor and we are so excited to have her! She grew up in Pleasant Hill, CA until moving to Dublin, Ireland after her freshman year of high school. She really enjoyed Ireland and also traveling all over Europe and Asia during that time. She plans to transfer to UC Davis in the Fall to pursue her passion of Wildlife and Conservation Biology. Erin has lots of experience with children including babysitting for multiple families and educating young kids about animals at Lindsay Wildlife Museum. She also loves being outdoors and is very passionate about nature and wildlife!
Brett Sterrer
Group Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
Lewis & Clark College – Economics
Please welcome Brett back onto our staff! Brett has attended Roughing It Day Camp for eight summers and later became a camp counselor at Kennolyn Camps. Brett is a junior at Lewis & Clark College and is studying Economics. He enjoys working with kids and can’t wait to make your camper’s experience a fantastic one!
Hayley Dennings
Group Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
Welcome to camp Hayley! We are welcoming her to camp as this summer’s G2 Counselor! With her compassionate personality, she has contributed so much to her school and community! Hayley is super excited to work with younger girls and to help them blossom so much at camp and in real life. Welcome to staff Hayley!
