Meet Our Staff
Rick Perkins
Camp Director
Rick started at camp in 2017 after a full career with the National Park Service working at multiple National Park Service sites including Hopewell Culture NHP, Isle Royale National Park and Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska. Rick has been a resident of Hocking County for the past 17 years attended Hocking College and Ohio University where he obtained degrees in Outdoor Education and Field Biology. Rick and his wife Christina raise goats, chickens, pigs and “rescue” horses.
In addition to his National Park Service career Rick spent over four years directing a residential Marine Biology field station on Andros Island Bahamas, and worked at Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center as a resident Naturalist.
Rick serves on numerous non-profit boards, including International Field Studies, Arc of Appalachia and the Athens Conservancy. Rick is married and has two girls that love coming to camp. In addition to hiking, birding, and getting lost in the woods, you might see him cycling the hills around Hocking County.
Matt Smith
Youth Camp Director
Matt got his start at Camp Oty'Okwa as a very young camper. Today Matt coordinates our BBBS youth programs. He brings over 11 years of experience working with children and young adults to our programs.
Matt holds a Bachelor's degree from Ohio Dominican University. He is also a licensed social worker.
Matt is a sports fan of football and hockey and can often be found listening to a Blue Jackets or Buckeyes game.
Rachel Gratz
Life Skills Director
Rachel Gratz began working full-time at Camp Oty’Okwa in December 2018, although she has been involved with camp seasonally since 2002. She graduated from Ashland University with a degree in social work and completed her Master’s in Social Work from Ohio State University. She worked at a couple other camps on a seasonal basis during college but always kept coming back to Oty’Okwa. She is the Life Skills Director and is implementing Life Skills Camp, a new program focused on teaching young folks aged 14-21 a variety of skills to help them live on their own as an adult. She plans and facilitates engaging workshops to prepare youth for independent living, focusing on youth who have been exposed to crime or trauma, are involved in the foster care system, “aged out” of traditional camp programming, or just need additional skills to be successful in the community. Rachel has been involved with Habitat for Humanity for over ten years and currently serves on the Habitat Young Professionals Board for Habitat MidOhio. She lives in the hills near Athens and enjoys gardening, cooking, building and making things, and just being outside.
Betty Garrett
Operations
Betty is a native of the Hocking Hills area. Betty is the backbone of our hospitality here at Camp. She has spent over 20 years with Oty'Okwa, working to improve or service to you during your stay. In her spare time, Betty enjoys listening to Blake Shelton, baking, and spending time at home with her family.