Mary earned her degree in Elementary Education from Texas Tech University and was Field Director for Girl Scouts for 17 years before joining RRR 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 founded 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.
Rue Hatfield 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 is now the Executive Director and oversees all areas of camp. Rue earned her Bachelors degree in Child Development from Texas Tech University and her Masters in Education from Texas State, followed by several years of teaching 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
Shanna WatsonShanna 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. Before coming to RRR she spent time as the Director of a YMCA camp and worked with teen girls at a Texas Wilderness Program. Shanna is dedicated to hiring, training and supervising our amazing summer staff and is whole heartedly committed to the mission of growing independent girls. Her vision, leadership and compassion inspires others and she is an outstanding role model for campers and staff alike.
Email: shanna@rockyriverranch.com
Hannah BrockHannah fell in love with camp and with Rocky River as a 9-year-old girl and has not missed a summer since. She grew up in Austin and then attended Southwestern University in Georgetown. During college she majored in Education, getting her teaching certificate in Early Childhood through 6th grade and Special Education. After graduation, she spent a year in Utah working for Playworks, a non-profit organization focusing on the positive effects of play. During the summer of 2014, she came on board at RRR full time. As Day Camp and Program Director, she creates activities that are thoughtful, intentional, creative and fun.
Email: hannah@rockyriverranch.com
Kate and her older brother Cody learned all about camp life from their mother Rue, and great-aunt Mary while growing up at Rocky River. She attended sessions every summer and made lasting friendships during her childhood years at camp, in the leadership program, and as a cabin counselor. Rocky River also allowed Kate to build a life-long love for animals, that was fostered by both Mary and Sandy. She grew up a stone’s throw away from the barn and spent hours of her days happily riding and doing farm chores. She rode for years on the RRR Drill Team performing in the Wimberley 4th of July Rodeo. As an adult, her first full-time position at camp was in programing and scheduling weekend events, which led to her training in the climbing wall and trail riding activities. She then certified through AAHS to become a full time instructor and has been the RRR Barn Director since 2008.
Taylor started at Rocky River Ranch when she was 6 years old and has been coming back every summer since. She went on to be a counselor for 4 years, before starting as a Program Coordinator in the Summer of 2020. She attended Texas A&M University and received a BBA in Consulting Management with a Minor in Youth Development. Right after college, she started full time at RRR in the Spring of 2021. As Program Director, she brings creativity and organization to our Trainee program, ropes courses, and evening programs.
Summer and her family have enjoyed living in Wimberley since 2010. She attended summer camp in Massachusetts, where she grew up, and holds those sweet memories close to her heart. Summer’s daughter, Tessa, has been a camper at RRR for 8 years and is excited to join the counselor staff in 2021! Summer graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and minored in Child Development. Summer has been working at RRR since 2014 in different capacities and she currently handles all camper registrations, paperwork, online communication, and is happy to answer parents’ questions.
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.
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.
Many of our counselors are “home-grown” and understand the Rocky River philosophy and way of life from personal experience.
Rising 9th - 12th graders can participate in our special leadership program. Participation in this program, from Trainee to Staff-in-Training (SIT) to Junior Counselor (JC), teaches valuable leadership skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.
The perfect summer is waiting for your daughter aged 5 to 14 at Rocky River— filled to the brim with new friendships, challenging activities and, most importantly, lots of fun! Check out our day camp and resident camp options.
In the hot summer months, we’re an all-girls camp, but the rest of the year, we offer year ‘round fun at our Great Escapes for women and Mother-Daughter weekends!
Rocky River Ranch is the perfect solution for your special event! We host family reunions, church retreats, teacher work days, company picnics, Girl Scout groups, and more with lodging for up to 150 guests.