2024 Summer Leadership Staff
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.
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!”
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 parents.
Meghan Hughes
Program Director, 2nd Year Staff Member
Arizona State University – Tourism & Recreation Management major
A Bay Area native, Meghan grew up in Lafayette playing soccer and swimming for LMYA. Her first Summer at Roughing It Day Camp she spent her days by the pool as the Swim Director. In 2023, she graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Tourism and Recreation Management emphasizing on Recreation. After graduation she re-joined Roughing It as part of the Year-Round team taking on a new role as Program Director – HR Coordinator. In Spring of 2024 she took on a volunteer position as co-chair on the Local Council of Leaders for the American Camp Association’s NorCal chapter of E.P.I.C — Emerging Professionals in Camp. She is thrilled to be a part of the Roughing It team!
Samuel Anderson
Unit 1 Leader, 9th Year Staff Member
University of Colorado Boulder – Journalism major
CalState TEACH -Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential (In Progress)
Sam returns for his 9th year at Roughing It Day Camp. He was a Boys 1st & 2nd-grade counselor for 2 summers and a Unit Leader for 2 previous summers. Sam grew up in Orinda, graduated from the University of Colorado, and has worked year-round at Roughing It where he does our marketing media content and videos. Sam is known around Camp for his ready smile, clear problem-solving, and kind way of helping campers and staff find the best in themselves. We are so excited to welcome Sam back as a Unit Leader this summer!
Abby Post
Unit 2 Leader, 6th Year Staff Member
Skidmore College — Health and Human Physiology major
Abby is returning this year as a part-time Unit Leader. Abby was the Unit leader last summer. This will be Abby’s 16th year at camp! She began her career at Roughing It as a First Grade (G1) camper and went on to become a CILT and Jr Counselor. Abby graduated from Skidmore College last May in New York and plans to be a physical therapist. Abby is a welcoming hand to new staff and assists all the group counselors in organizing activities, teaching staff the RI way, helping campers try new things and grow, and especially to help make camp fun!
Brian Thomas
Unit Leader, 2nd Year Staff Member
Harvard University – Economics major
Brian is enjoying his second summer here with us at Roughing It, and his first as an Assistant Unit Leader! He is from Moraga, and is currently attending Harvard University, where he plays on the men’s volleyball team and studies economics. With plenty of sports experience and involvement in Harvard clubs, he has a lot to bring to the reservoir. Brian attended a variety of camps when he was younger and is excited to bring his experience working with children back to camp!
Ally Petek
CILT Group Counselor & Assistant Unit Leader, 1st Year Staff Member
UC Santa Barbara — Law major
Ally is returning for her third summer at Roughing It. She grew up in Orinda, CA and is a rising senior at UC Santa Barbara, studying Law and is captain of her Debate Team. As a kid, she attended many day and overnight camps, and remembers how special and exciting camp-life always was. She loves spending time with kids and being outdoors. Ally was the sports counselor and then Girls Junior High Counselor at Roughing It in the summer of 2023. Now, she is assisting campers in the CILT program to become leaders at camp and is on our administrative team as Assistant Unit Leader.
Phoebe Schmidt
Program Director, 2nd Year Staff Member
University of Michigan — Organizational Studies and Communications major
Phoebe is a rising senior at the University of Michigan studying organizational studies and communications. She’s lived in Orinda her entire life and is very familiar with the surrounding area. She’s attended several camps in the area and brings that experience to her third summer at Roughing It. She was a G3 counselor summer 2022 and is now the Assist Program Director working with the Res Staff and helped Roughing It to hire staff in May. In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes, making jewelry, spending time with friends, cooking/baking, reading, and music. This year she enjoyed a semester abroad in the spring!
Ryan Sintchak
Waterfront Director, 2nd Year Staff Member
Santa Clara University
Joining us for his second year, Ryan is from Moraga and just finished up his first year at Santa Clara University. In high school, he was a Scholar Athlete 4 years in a row at Campolindo High School for soccer and football. He became an Eagle Scout and Mountaineer for Troop 212 Moraga in 2022. Ryan brings a ton of fishing experience here to Roughing It. He has a merit badge in fishing, has taught kids to fish, and even has been fishing in Alaska. This summer, Ryan is taking on a new role of Waterfront Director and is excited to welcome the campers to the reservoir!
Connor Stevens
Assistant Waterfront Director, 1st Year Staff Member
Chico State University – Anthropology major
Connor is spending his first summer here with us, and we are excited to have him! He is a rising senior at Chico State University, where he studies Anthropology. He loves to be outdoors and on the water, with extensive kayaking experience and has participated in Outward Bound. Connor is excited to share his knowledge and help campers learn to kayak and experience the reservoir!
Blake Wilson
Swim Director, 2nd Year Staff Member
University of Nevada – 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 third 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 and swim counselor, he understands the values of the camp and is excited to bring them to his new role of swim director!
Leah Transue
Assistant Swim Director, 1st Year Staff Member
University of Nevada
Leah has been swimming her whole life, beginning on the swim team when she was 5 years old. She was on the Las Lomas swim team for all four years of high school and has been teaching swimming to children since she was 13 years old! She loves sports and even played soccer through high school. She is transferring from DVC to University of Nevada in Reno, where she is excited to get started! Leah is looking forward to bringing her experience with teaching swimming at the pool this summer and to meeting all the campers!
Penny the Camp Dog
Camp Dog, 3rd Year Staff Member
Breed: Boxer
Hi campers! It’s Penny the Camp Dog. I’m so excited to be back for my third 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 six 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.
