Camp RIO Staff

 Nancy is from a long line of Brownsville natives dating back to her great grandparents. Her mom even attended Camp Lula Sams as a Girl Scout in the 1950s! Although she was not born here, her family returned to Brownsville in the mid-1980s. She attended Oliveria Middle School and St. Joseph Academy. Her passion for camp began while attending Texas A&M in College Station. Nancy spent the summers working at various youth camps and decided that one day, her life's work would include introducing children to the wonders of the outdoors. Her degrees in Biology and Kinesiology laid the foundation of knowledge, and 12 years in the classroom have given her the experience to provide a quality camp program. She has been the Director of Camp RIO since its inception in 2015.

 Howard was born in Baltimore, MD, to a military family. As a child, he traveled all over the world, including Japan, the United States, England, and Germany. Howard served in the Army for nine years and received an honorable discharge. As a child, he learned many outdoor skills from his grandfather at their log cabin homestead in Pine Bush, NY. As an adult, Howard served as a Colorado high angle rescue volunteer. Working with a variety of equipment in the military, and a passion for the outdoors created the perfect match for Howard's role at camp. 

 Mary Barba is a Brownsville native. She graduated from UTRGV with a degree in Early Childhood Education and worked as an elementary teacher before joining the Camp RIO team as an instructional guide. In her years at Camp RIO, Mary has served as a guide, scout leader, and ODED Manager, now working as the Curriculum and Data coordinator. Mary loves to see students experience the wonders of nature for the first time and is passionate about providing memorable experiences for everyone who visits. Mary enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two kids. She will never turn down iced coffee or Mexican candy.  

 Moises is the backbone of camp operations. Always ready with a tool in hand and a warm smile, he’s the go-to person for solving any issue—big or small. His natural leadership shines through as he inspires those around him with his dedication and can-do attitude. Whether he's repairing equipment, maintaining the campgrounds, or lending a helping hand wherever needed, Moises consistently sets the standard for hard work and positivity, embodying the very best of what camp life is all about. 

Allison is a Registered Nurse with a diverse background spanning intensive care, emergency, pediatric, school, and special-needs nursing. As Camp RIO’s nurse, she helps ensure that campers, teachers, and staff have a safe, healthy, and supportive environment while participating in camp programs. She especially enjoys helping campers with medical needs feel confident and included in outdoor experiences.

Originally from Chicago, Allison now calls the Rio Grande Valley home. Outside of camp, she stays busy with her large, blended family and three rescue dogs. She brings a calm, practical approach to the unexpected and believes that preparation, compassion, and a little humor can make almost any situation more manageable.

 Miriam joined the Camp RIO team as our Business Clerk in 2022. Her incredible attention to detail, and unmatched ability to multitask make her an irreplaceable part of keeping Camp running smoothly. She is always willing to help anyone out however she can and keeps us all supplied with little treats from her desk. Miriam is the proud mom of three successful grown sons, and a recently new grandmother to a beautiful baby boy. Miriam enjoys working out, shopping, and traveling. We could not do what we do every day without Miriam working so hard behind the scenes.