Our Staff - Seasonal & Full Time
Todd Lighthall - Executive Director
Todd's focus at Oswegatchie is oversight of the facility and finances, as well as the management of the NY FFA Leadership Training Foundation. Todd spent a lot of time at Oswegatchie throughout his childhood, growing up as the son of an FFA advisor. He first worked at Oswegatchie in 1989 as a counselor and has been part of every summer since. Todd holds a master's degree in education from Cornell University.
In 1994, Todd became the first full-time year-round Oswegatchie employee. He and his wife, Shari, live and work at Oswegatchie; together they have played an essential role in shaping the Oswegatchie of today. They have two daughters and enjoy all that Oswegatchie offers as a family. Their favorite activities include hiking, cross-country skiing, and swimming in Long Pond.
Email: [email protected]
In 1994, Todd became the first full-time year-round Oswegatchie employee. He and his wife, Shari, live and work at Oswegatchie; together they have played an essential role in shaping the Oswegatchie of today. They have two daughters and enjoy all that Oswegatchie offers as a family. Their favorite activities include hiking, cross-country skiing, and swimming in Long Pond.
Email: [email protected]
Robin Waite - Office Manager
Robin handles day-to-day office operations. She is the contact for all Oswegatchie retreats and programs. She was also a camper and worked her first summer as a counselor in 2002. Her full-time life on the property started in 2006. Robin has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from SUNY Oneonta.
Robin and her husband Bill have two sons and love the opportunity to raise them at Oswegatchie. Their favorite family activities are biking, splashing in mud puddles, and exploring the trails around Oswegatchie.
Email: [email protected]
Robin and her husband Bill have two sons and love the opportunity to raise them at Oswegatchie. Their favorite family activities are biking, splashing in mud puddles, and exploring the trails around Oswegatchie.
Email: [email protected]
Rolland Krohn - Summer Camp & Program Director
Rolland Krohn is the charismatic leader of our summer camp program. He was initially hired full-time in 2017 as the ropes course director and, in 2023, took on the challenge of overseeing the entire programming. Rolland is there to make sure the experience is worthwhile and safe. He also continues to manage the annual training of 20 ropes staff and the day-to-day operations at ropes.
His family has been a part of Oswegatchie for decades and has been a big part of our summer camp program.
Email: [email protected]
His family has been a part of Oswegatchie for decades and has been a big part of our summer camp program.
Email: [email protected]
Bill Waite - Event & Facility Manager
After serving as the Program Director for 23 years, Bill has transitioned to a support role as the Event & Facilities Manager. In this role, he works to maintain Oswegatchie and create sustainable operations. Bill’s background includes a college degree from SUNY Morrisville in forestry and a bachelor’s in environmental education from Unity College in Maine. Bill is married to Robin and enjoys hiking, biking, and canoeing.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Kelly Allen - Foundation Development Assistant
Kelly is responsible for tasks of all kinds across camp property and for the NY FFA Foundation. Most notably, she manages the camp store and donor databases while assisting Todd, Robin, and Rolland with day-to-day tasks. Kelly also runs the social media accounts for the NY FFA Foundation and assists in creating and managing fundraising campaigns.
Kelly has been a life-long member of the Oswegatchie community, first attending summer camp as an "advisor kid" in 2001. She joined the summer staff in 2021 as an office assistant, returned for a second summer in 2022, and proceeded to never leave. Kelly earned her bachelor's degree from Binghamton University in biochemistry and environmental planning in 2022.
Email: [email protected]
Kelly has been a life-long member of the Oswegatchie community, first attending summer camp as an "advisor kid" in 2001. She joined the summer staff in 2021 as an office assistant, returned for a second summer in 2022, and proceeded to never leave. Kelly earned her bachelor's degree from Binghamton University in biochemistry and environmental planning in 2022.
Email: [email protected]
Oswegatchie Summer Camp Staff
Each summer, Oswegatchie hires approximately 45 staff members to fill the various roles for our summer program. Staff come from diverse backgrounds from across NYS and sometimes other northeastern states. Yearly, 90 percent of our staff have Oswegatchie or FFA backgrounds. Each staff member undergoes an interview, reference check, and background check before being hired. Once hired, all staff arrive on the property before the camping season begins for a 10-day intensive staff training period. Click here to find a summer camp application.
