The truth is
I would not have become the person I am today without RRR!
Making decisions for classes at 7 years old (with the help
of a big sister and Rue as my counselor), remembering to wear
your bathing suit under your jeans so you could go from the
barn to the pool without the dreaded trip back to your cabin,
remembering not to sign up for your pool class right before
horseback … I could go on and on. The mistakes we made
there were safe and there was a support system to catch you
if you fell.
Later I enjoyed working with the campers younger than me.
First in WE as a big sister myself and later as a CIT Mom.
In 14 years I grew and strengthened my commitment to myself.
I felt loved unconditionally and I formed everlasting friendships.
Some of them recently re-kindled after a 15-20 year gap as
if no time had passed at all. In the last year I received
a letter from a former CIT that spoke of my influence on her
life. How it made her a better mother and a better woman.
I have saved that letter for my children to read one day.
I will always feel like Skeet and Sandy helped raise me and
they always saw the person I could be! I can never thank them
enough for that.
Sunni Becker Markowitz
Years at camp: 1974-1988 |
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Summer
Camp for Girls 7-14 |
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| STAFF |
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Executive
Director
Rue Hatfield |
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Director
Shanna Watson |
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Director
Liz Sierra |
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Mary "Skeet"
Anderson, Owner
Mary earned her degree in Elementary
Education from Texas Tech University and was Field Director
for the Girl Scouts for 17 years before joining the RRR staff
in 1966. Her experience has proven an excellent background for
working effectively with children in camping activities. She,
along with Sandy Bateman, purchased Rocky River in 1971 with
a clear goal in mind — to continue the magical traditions
that were built so lovingly by founders, Carol "Mama"
Knolk and Jane Brown. Skeet’s enthusiasm and excitement
for the experience of camp is clearly contagious to her cherished
campers.
Email: skeet@rockyriverranch.com |
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Rue Hatfield, Executive
Director
As Skeet’s niece, Rue literally
knows camp from the ground up. She has been a Rocky River camper,
counselor, Assistant Director and Director. She has now stepped
into the mentoring roll of Executive Director and has taken
Rocky River to the next level, creating a team of Directors
that will ensure the enduring spirit of Rocky River for many,
many years to come. Rue earned her Bachelors degree in Child
Development from Texas Tech University and her Masters in Education
from Texas State and taught both kindergarten and second grade.
Her never-ending love and respect for children are the basis
for the continuing success of Rocky River Ranch.
Email: rue@rockyriverranch.com |
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Shanna
Watson, Director
Shanna joined the Rocky River family in 2003, bringing her vast
camping experience with her. Her camping career started while
she was earning her BA in Child Development from the University
of Texas. She spent her summers at John Knox Ranch, where she
was a counselor, Trip Leader, CIT Director, and eventually became
the Assistant Camp Director. She then accepted the position
of Camp Director at YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow, which she held
for three years. Shanna has been a member of the ACA Texoma
board for the past six years and is currently serving as the
Vice President of Education. In addition to Summer Camp Director,
Shanna organizes the registrations of our Great Escape Women’s
Weekends in the off-season.
Email: shanna@rockyriverranch.com |
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Liz Sierra, Director
Entering the front gate of Rocky River
for the first time at nine years old, Liz knew she had found
her second home. She spent the next nine summers at RRR, going
through every level of leadership training as CIT, Junior Counselor
and Counselor… until she was eventually lured away by
the call to art school. In addition to Summer Camp Director,
Liz’s formal training in commercial art and design is
what she brings to Rocky River during the off-season as Site
and Marketing Director. She has been an Artistic Director for
Whole Foods Market and a Set Designer in New York City theatre,
where she utilized her RRR counselor’s skills in many
children’s productions. She is committed to adapting Rocky
River to fulfill the needs of modern campers while maintaining
the spirit of the camp that encouraged her to follow her dreams.
Email: liz@rockyriverranch.com |
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| Counselors |
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| College
students and graduates are carefully screened for counselor
positions. Applicants who exhibit strong leadership qualities,
personality, teaching abilities, patience and sincere
desire to help campers learn new skills and inspire them
to be valuable members of society, are chosen. We select
counselors with training and experience in working with
children as well as skills to share with them. |
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We feel
it is important that counselors enjoy and understand
children, are good role models, work well with other
adults and enjoy the out-of-doors.
Our counselors share a sense of joy
in the camping experience... from participation to leadership.
We understand the importance of choosing most carefully
the people who will help provide a child the experience
of a lifetime.
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Many of
our counselors are “home-grown” and understand
the Rocky River philosophy and way of life from personal
experience.
Campers between the ages of 13 and 16 are encouraged
to participate in our special leadership program. Participation
in this program, from Trainee to Counselor-in-Training
to Junior Counselor, teaches valuable leadership skills
that they will use for the rest of their lives. |
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