2023 Unit Two Staff
Meet our Unit Two Counselors and Staff
Rio Nickerson
Unit Leader, 4th Year Staff Member
Cal State University — Education and Music major
Rio has been a Roughing It camper since 2013, going from camper to CILT to Jr Counselor. Previously a swim director in 2022, Rio is returning this year as a Unit Leader. He oversees the older group counselors, assists Amy the camp director, and makes sure the camp day goes smoothly. Rio started camp as a third grader (B3) and has since gone through 2 years in the Roughing It CILT program, 2 years as a junior counselor, 1 year as a group counselor, 1 year as assistant swim director, and 1 year as swim director (summer ’22). Rio graduated May 2022 from Cal State University East Bay with a major in Education and Music. He is attending the teacher education program this fall at CSU East Bay and will become a high school music teacher
Ally Petek
CILT Group Counselor & Assistant Unit Leader, 1st Year Staff Member
UC Santa Barbara — Law major
Ally is returning for her second summer at Roughing It. She grew up in Orinda, CA and is a rising junior at UC Santa Barbara, studying Law and is captain of her Debate Team. As a kid, she attended lots of day and overnight camps, and remembers how special and exciting camp-life always was. She loves spending time with kids and being outdoors. Ali was the sports counselor and then Girls Junior High Counselor at Roughing It summer 2022. She is helping the campers in the CILT program to become leaders at camp and is also on our administrative team as Assistant Unit Leader
Dalton Davis
B4 Group Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
Gonzaga University
Dalton has been a part of many camps growing up, including Roughing It, and now he is joining us for the first time as a camp counselor! He loves the outdoors and has lots of experience with canoeing, rowing, fishing and kayaking. Dalton is currently attending Gonzaga University, and in high school he spent time as an ecological leader. Dalton brings his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his campers!
John Adrian
B4 Assistant Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
Chico State University
John is here for his first summer at Roughing It! Born in Canada he spent the majority of his time outdoors, where he would hike, camp, and play hockey. John currently is a student at Chico State, has experience in Jiu Jitsu, and is an avid chess player. He brings a great energy to the camp that really resonates with our campers
Lila Odile Pepples
G4 Group Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
Vassar College — Art History major
Lila is enjoying her first year at Roughing It! She used to work at Camp Galileo as a science instructor. She is currently a junior at Vassar College studying Art History. She hopes to enter the art world after graduating and work in museums. Lila loves working with kids and wants to help them experience nature and time outdoors, so they can develop an appreciation for the environment.
Caitlin Smith
G4 Group Counselor, 3rd Year Staff Member
UC Santa Cruz — Computer Science major
Caitlin has been working at Roughing It since 2021! She is from El Sobrante and goes to UC Santa Cruz for computer science. When she’s not at camp, she enjoys a good hike. Caitlin believes that camp is a special place and is excited to be a part of the Roughing It team again for a third year!
Brian Kwong
B56 Group Counselor, 2nd Year Staff Member
UC Santa Barbara — Environmental Science major
This is Brian’s second year at Roughing It as a group counselor. He is from San Ramon and goes to school at UC Santa Barbara. He is majoring in environmental science. He loves hiking, the outdoors, and learning more about the environment. Brian was previously a summer camp counselor for three summers at Lindsay Wildlife Experience, where we focused on arts and crafts along with active time outdoors. That experience influenced him to choose his college major. Brian is thrilled to be back again this summer
Graham McWeeny
B56 Assistant Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
Colorado College — Organismal Biology and Ecology major
Graham is currently a student at Colorado College where he is planning to major in organismal biology and ecology. In his free time, he likes to ski every weekend and he plays on Colorado College’s D-3 ultimate frisbee team. Graham was inspired to become a summer camp counselor because of the profound impact that camp counselors had on him while he attended Camp Augusta, theater camps, and sports camps. Their commitment and awesome attitude helped him grow and develop, and left a lasting impression on him that he hopes he can do that for our campers in his first year with us at Roughing It
Josh Korngiebel
Games & Group Counselor (B56), 2nd Year Staff Member
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo – Math major, Computer Science minor
This is Josh’s second year back at Roughing It as a counselor! He is from Alamo and is currently attending Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. He is a math major with a computer science minor. He has been playing soccer for as long as he can remember and began assistant coaching for a U8, U10, and U12 girls soccer teams. He is also a certified soccer referee
Sylvia Larkin
G56 Group Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
Brown University — Sociology and Environmental Studies major
Sylvia is here for her first summer at Roughing It! She was born in Washington, and has always had a passion for the outdoors. Sylvia is currently a student at Brown University in Rhode Island, where she is studying Sociology and Environmental Studies. As a kid, attending camp was where she acquired valuable skills for outdoor living and forged lasting friendships. She has also been a camp counselor at Camp Jojo in Colorado. This summer will be Sylvia’s first time living in the Bay area and she is looking forward to getting to explore the city and the nature in the region
Jacqui Rolen
G56 Assistant Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
Marist College — Fashion Merchandising with a Business concentration
Jacqui is a first-time staff member at Roughing It from Orinda. She graduated from Miramonte High School and now attends Marist College. Her area of study is fashion merchandising with a business concentration. Her plan is to work on sustainability within the industry with natural fibers and dyes. Jacqui was a junior counselor and counselor-in-training at Foothill Horizons Summer Camp in Sonora for 4 summers
Briac Poilane
JHB Group Counselor, 2nd Year Staff Member
McGill University — Environmental Economics major
Briac is a second-time group counselor at Roughing It! He is French American and born and raised in San Francisco with his parents and 3 little brothers. He just finished his second year at McGill University where he studies environmental economics. When he’s not at Roughing It, he enjoys skiing, running, photography, hiking, and music. He has been interested in the environmental sciences for as long as he can remember and he can’t wait to be back at the reservoir
Matt Winer
JHB Assistant Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
San Diego State University — Philosophy major
Matt is from Walnut Creek and attends San Diego State University as a philosophy major. He has grown up playing soccer and eventually became team captain of his high school team. When he wasn’t playing soccer, he would train children how to be better goalkeepers. Matt loves to create a fun and positive atmosphere at camp
Aliana Istanbullu
JHG Group Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
Colorado College — Geophysics major, Education minor
Aliana is from Massachusetts and is a student at Colorado College. She plans to major in geophysics and minor in education. She previously went to a boarding school in Southern California where she was the recipient of the physics and outdoors award. She recently took a backpacking course with the National Outdoor Leadership School and spent a month backpacking in a remote part of Wyoming mastering Leave No Trace principles. Aliana has a passion for backpacking, camping, and rock climbing! Although this is her first year at Roughing, she has also been a camp counselor and an outdoor adventure counselor and rock gym specialist
