Counselors/Staff
Greetings from Camp RYLA! Meet the people who make District 5130 RYLA Camp a once-in-a-lifetime leadership learning experience.
Cassie Pitkin, RYLA Camp Director
Camper year: 2006
Years involved with RYLA: 13
Schools attended: Petaluma High School, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
3 words to describe leadership: Brave. Ethical. Motivating.
Cassie attended RYLA in 2006 as she was about to start her senior at Petaluma High School. She attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she earned her Bachelor’s in kinesiology (but is now afraid of blood) and her Master’s in Counseling and Guidance for Higher Education. A trained rape crisis counselor, Cassie has served in AmeriCorps and has been a proud year-round coach of Special Olympics. After working as a head academic advisor for the College of Engineering at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, she is now an Instructor Manager for the Enterprise division of General Assembly. Cassie enjoys every part of RYLA, but really looks forward to watching campers learn more about themselves than they ever thought possible as they create bonds that will last a lifetime.
Nelson Le, Counselor
Camper Year: 2008
Years with RYLA: 10 years
Schools Attended: Piner High School, Santa Rosa JC
3 Words to Describe Leadership: Accountability, Respect, Courage
Summer 2008 Nelson attended his first summer camp RYLA. After graduating high school he took a short break from school before heading to the Santa Rosa Junior College and getting his AA in Art. Nelson is in training to become an optician and traveling the world. What Nelson loves about RYLA is seeing the campers grow and create bonds within a week that will be everlasting.
Paco Villegas, Counselor
Camper year: 2013
Years involved with RYLA: 4
Schools attended: Casa Grande High School, Santa Rosa Junior College, California State University Monterey Bay
3 words to describe leadership: Humble, Empathetic, Empowering
Paco grew up in Sonoma County and attended Camp RYLA in 2013. After high school, he enrolled in the local community college, and then eventually transferred to California State University Monterey Bay. He is in his last semester working towards a Bachelor’s in marine science and is currently working as an undergraduate researcher for the Watershed Environment and Ecology Lab. Camp RYLA was a pivotal moment in Paco’s life and all the life lessons and memories acquired from that experience are kept close to him. What he loves most about RYLA is being able to inspire and motivate young adults to better themselves and their community.
Jacob Reynolds, Counselor
Camper year: 2017
Years involved with RYLA: 2
Schools attended: Fort Bragg High School, Sacramento City College
3 words to describe leadership: Honesty, Courage, Patience
Summer 2017 Jacob attended his first RYLA camp. After graduating Fort Bragg Highschool, he moved to Davis, CA where he attends Sacramento City College. Jacob plans to transfer to Sacramento State University to work towards a bachelor's degree in business administration. Jacob is currently working in student housing property management in Davis, CA. Jacob’s favorite thing about RYLA is the shift and growth the campers experience while there for just one week. RYLA changed Jacob for the better. He hopes for the same outcome for future generations of RYLA campers.
Maggie VanWeele, Counselor
Camper year: 2013
Years involved with RYLA: 9
Schools attended: Analy High School, University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington
3 words to describe leadership: Honesty, Support, Individualized
Maggie grew up in Sebastopol and attended RYLA in 2013 before her senior year at Analy High School. After Analy she went to the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington where she played varsity volleyball for the Loggers and earned a double major in Business Leadership and Environmental Policy. After undergrad she moved to Victor, Idaho to explore the Teton mountain range. In Teton Valley she dabbled in hobby farming, skiing, and worked in an amazing local restaurant called Forage Bistro. She lives in Boise, Idaho now with her boyfriend Eric, cat Stevie and dog Fred. She is the tasting room manager at Telaya Wine Co, a family owned boutique winery. RYLA has always been a very special place to Maggie. A place to be challenged, encouraged, loved and motivated. Maggie loves supporting new campers every year on their own journey to becoming leaders for their communities.
Ricky Sims, Head Counselor
Camper Year: 2009
Years involved with RYLA: 10
Schools attended: Petaluma High School, Humboldt State University
3 Words to describe Leadership: Consistency, Humbleness, Motivated
Ricky Sims attended RYLA in 2009 as a camper before he started his senior year at Petaluma High School. He attended Humboldt State University where he played football for 4 years and studied Kinesiology. Ricky is currently living in Reno where he is the Senior Operations Manager for Fedex ground. Ricky to put it lightly is very passionate about RYLA, he truly loves watching young men and women go through the changes that he once did at this camp that have impacted his life to this day.
Sierra Koenig, Counselor
Camper Year: 2012
Years Involved with RYLA: 8 years
Schools attended: El Molino High School, University of Colorado Boulder
Three words to describe leadership: Empathize, Adapt, Guide
Sierra attended RYLA the summer before senior year at El Molino High School. She then completed 1 year at Sonoma State University and decided to transfer to the University of Colorado Boulder, where she majored in Communication with a minor in Business. After graduation she moved to a small mountain town outside of Boulder and worked as Marking Coordinator for a local brewery. Sierra now lives in Denver and works as a Travel Advisor for a luxury travel and hospitality company. She is most excited about watching the campers grow as individuals and as a group, the bonds and strength acquired at camp are a force to be reckoned with.
Rose Duncan, Counselor
Camper Year: 2017
Years Involved with RYLA: 2
Schools Attended: Middletown High School, Montana State University
3 words to describe leadership: Direct. Encouraging. Focused.
Rose was an attendee of RYLA in 2017 in the summer prior to her senior year at Middletown High School. After graduation, she found her way up to the mountains of Bozeman, Montana. She is currently pursuing a nursing degree at Montana State University and will be graduating in the fall of 2022. At RYLA, she found a group of young leaders just like herself to connect with and was able to build her self-identity. Her first year as a counselor, Rose is looking forward to encouraging campers to develop themselves as leaders and community members.
Elif Myers, Counselor
Camper year: 2014
Years involved with RYLA: 2
Schools attended: Fort Bragg High School, Santa Rosa Junior College, Sonoma State University
3 words to describe leadership: Honesty, vulnerability, kindness
RYLA has held a special place in Elif's heart since first attending in 2014. From interpersonal growth to leadership skills, she is grateful for all this wonderful camp offered her. Now almost 10 years after being a camper, Elif is stoked to share the experience with younger generations. After graduating from Fort Bragg High School, Elif attended Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University. Graduating with a degree in Geography, Environment, and Planning, Elif has worked a variety of jobs in the environmental field. Currently, Elif lives in Seattle, Washington where she leads environmental research projects and studies geology. In her spare time, you can find Elif rock climbing, playing guitar, or car camping at various parks.
Frankie Fontanilla, Counselor
Camper year: 2012
Years involved with RYLA: 2
Schools attended: Fort Bragg High School, Saint Mary's College of CA
3 words to describe leadership:
Frankie attended RYLA as a camper in 2013. Inspired by leadership and community service, she attended Saint Mary's College of CA to study Allied Health. After graduating, Frankie served two years in the Peace Corps. She lived in a small village in Botswana, where she was an HIV/AIDS Capacity Building Volunteer, working with the local school and health post to increase awareness and access to resources when it comes to Youth Development, Gender Based Violence, and HIV/AIDS. Always looking for ways to practice and leadership and mentorship, Frankie is so excited to be a counselor and get to know tomorrow's leaders.
Krystian Schwarz, Counselor
Camper year: 2012
Years involved with RYLA: 2
Schools attended: Fort Bragg High School, St. Mary's College of CA, University of San Francisco
3 words to describe leadership: Thoughtful, Inspiring, Inclusive
Krystian attended RYLA way back in the summer of 2012. He built upon his experiences gained at camp and went on to study at St. Mary's College of CA. Krystian has worked in many areas (teaching, recruiting, & human resources) but has always strived to give back to his community and the people around him through his work. Krystian is currently working at UC Berkeley in recruiting and attending the University of San Francisco in the Masters of Fine Arts: Writing program.
