2023 Swim Staff
Meet our Swim Staff
Meghan Hughes
Swim Director, 1st Year Staff Member
ASU – Tourism & Recreation Management
This is Meghan’s first year at Roughing It. She is currently enrolled at ASU for Tourism and Recreation Management, graduating December 2023 and has worked as a manager for Starbucks. She’s taught children beginner swimming for 5 years at LMYA. She also has 9 years of experience on swim teams and working with children of all ages in the pool. Meghan worked for 10 years for Starbucks and has been a manager and recipient of their scholarship program. She’s an avid hiker with a love for the outdoors and is ecstatic for camp this summer
Jack Bender
Assistant Swim Director, 1st Year Staff Member
Texas Christian University – Accounting major
Jack has been swimming his whole life. He was on the De La Salle Varsity Swim and Water Polo Teams, has experience teaching at swim and water polo camps, and is also scuba certified! He loves to travel and has been to 9 different countries where he was able to fully appreciate each of their cultures. Jack brings a love for sports ranging from football, basketball, water polo and swimming. He is currently enrolled at Texas Christian University pursuing accounting. He is enjoying working with the campers at the pool this summer and is especially impressed with the progress the Junior High and CILT campers have made in waterpolo! Jack is happy to be at the pool this summer!
Arik Nashan
Swim Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
Texas A&M University – History & Russian majors
Arik is a Roughing It camper alumni back as a swim counselor! Arik lives in Moraga and goes to college at Texas A&M University. There he is studying history and Russian. He was also awarded the Patriot ROTC Scholarship for his college. Arik enjoys trips with friends to various National Parks and running. He was on a year-round swim team for 5 years and now swims recreationally.
Juliana "Jules" Kiepen
Swim Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
Syracuse University – Broadcast & Digital Journalism major
Jules is a great addition to our Roughing It swim counselor team! She is from Walnut Creek and just finished her first year at Syracuse University. There she studies broadcast and digital journalism and writes for the school’s newspaper called “The Daily Orange.” Jules has been swimming her whole life starting out on the swim team at six then going on to teach swim lessons to kids in high school. Jules brings positivity and spirit to cam
Sadie Snyder
Swim Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
UCLA – Environmental Science major
Sadie is from San Francisco and just graduated from Gateway High School on the honor roll. She will be attending UCLA in the fall as an environmental science major. Sadie is focusing on sustainable architecture as environmental architecture is a big interest of hers. Sadie has been swimming most of her and was in a lifeguard training program earlier this year.
Blake Wilson
Swim Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
University of Nevada, Reno – Criminal justice major
Blake grew up in Martinez and is a Roughing It alumni camper! He graduated from De La Salle High School and just finished his second year at University of Nevada, Reno studying criminal justice. Blake was an athlete on the Forest Hills Swim Team for 8 years and won the Coach Award trophy. Additionally, he worked at Forest Hills as a pool attendant. As a former camper, he understands the values of the camp
Cate Flowers
Swim Counselor, 1st Year Staff Member
UC Berkeley – Public Health major
Cate is from El Cerrito and attends UC Berkeley where she intends to major in public health. She was captain of her mountain biking team at El Cerrito High School. She has also been a volunteer swim coach for the East Bay Sea Serpents. She was a junior swim coach at Orinda Park Pool teaching children swimming. Cate is an enthusiastic instructor and makes swimming lessons a fun learning experience for campers
