Our board
Rae-a Moughty
FOUNDER, DIRECTOR & Program lead
Rae-a is a passionate advocate for the outdoors and bringing wilderness education to everyone! You can expect Rae-a to be leading your Campfire Institute experience!
Rae-a is a Registered Maine Guide in the specialties of hiking, canoeing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, ATV, snowmobile, stand-up paddleboard, and sea kayaking.
Rae-a believes it can be transformational when you are matching the rhythms of the wilderness - whether it’s moving only as fast as you can paddle or appreciating the magic of the flora and fauna. She shared this love of nature with her students and community during twelve years at School Around Us, leading wilderness trips and directing the theater performances. Rae-a launched a “pop-up” overnight summer camp in 2015 is super excited to bring the excitement of Girls* Camp to year round programming!
BECKY STAPLES
VICE CHAIR
Becky Staples enjoys creating immersive and transformative experiences for kids and families that promote challenge, fun, and growth. She brings 20 years of camp experience to the Campfire Institute along with her background as a teacher and a therapist.
She has her M.S./Ed.S in Marriage and Family Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her B.S. in Education and Child Study from Smith College.
Becky has worked with groups in the classroom and in various therapeutic and business settings as well. She is excited to share her love of camp, music, art, and games with a new generation of campers.
Emily Pines
Emily is deeply passionate about social justice and integrates this commitment into both her professional and personal life. Last year, she founded her own counseling practice, where she takes great pride in advocating for children and families through innovative and thoughtful approaches. Emily has an MA in Counseling Psychology from Rollins College and BA from Emory University. Emily has extensive and diverse experience working with children and teens, and she feels a deep, personal connection to this age group. Recently, Emily discovered a passion for Ecotherapy, and she is currently undergoing a yearlong training program to specialize in this field. This new direction aligns with her belief in the powerful connection between nature and mental health. Other passions include time in her community garden, hiking and exploring trails in Maine and spending time with her family.
aimée castenell
secretary
Passionate about race, politics, human rights & tech! Bio Coming soon!
Connor Fahey
Connor has been part of Campfire Institute for several years. He joined Campfire Institute as the OUT Program launched their canoes onto the Saco River for their first OUT on the River Trip. Connor has participated in several OUT Adventures as a co-leader or support on these trips and is excited to be part of the Board of Directors! Connor believes life is a journey to discovering your purpose, then striving to live as close to that purpose in your everyday life. He feels very lucky to have found his early in life. Life can be hard and Connor’s passion to helping others is driven by his purpose; to help people become more open-minded, accepting, and non-judgemental of themself and others. Connor is passionate about his work mentoring youth and young adults, especially those in the LGBTQIA+ community and historically underrepresented groups. Connor considers himself a lifelong learner. He has a B.A in Psychology and a B.A in Sociology from the University at Buffalo. Shortly after graduating he began working at a wilderness therapy program for youth which sparked his desire to return to school. He attended Southern New Hampshire University and received a M.S in Community Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in children, youth and families.
Laura Carol Godin
My name is Laura Carol Godin (camp name: North Star) and I am so excited to be joining the board of Campfire Institute. I am a Maine transplant from all over and proud to now be a member of our Queer community here in Portland. I work for STRIVE \; we are a non-profit organization that offers intensive personal, educational and community supports for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I am a former restaurant owner and farmer and love anything that has to do with growing and sourcing local and seasonal food. I am a dog lover; my two babies are Maggie & Delta, and I am also the proud bonus parent of my partner's dog, Jo. You can find me running all around South Portland/Cape come Spring as I am training to run my first marathon in November. Being out in Nature is what I crave when I need to re-center and ground myself; the Maine outdoors is where I am most alive.