Build a Community of Support OUTdoors: Rae-a Moughty, Campfire Institute

Guides Gone Wild

Today we head OUTside with another fabulous wild guide, Rae-a Moughty, Founder and Director of Campfire Institute, an amazing organization that offers wilderness enrichment adventures for girls and LGBTQIA+ youth.
I connected with Rae-a right after she’d wrapped up the Institute’s OUT on the Snow program held at Evans Notch Lodge over MLK weekend. We were both so fired up by the great time had by the teens, and we wanted to harness that energy to try to spread the word about Campfire Institute and all of its programs still on tap for 2024.
Rae-a is an educator, registered Maine Guide, and all around ray of sunshine, as you’ll hear. Her passion for her work literally pours out of her, and she can’t grow her programs fast enough to keep up with the demand from all corners of Maine.
After you're done tuning in today, make sure to click on the link below to watch the beautiful video Jenny Woodward created with Rae-a (aka "Cricket"), featuring some of the teens that have found their voice and powerful connections through Campfire Institute programs. These kids are amazing and totally, authentically themselves, right down to the classic teen eyerolls!
It is NOT too late to sign up for Campfire Institute’s fabulous 2024 programming, so head over to CampfireInstitute.org - and even if you aren’t actively looking to register YOUR child or young adult for a program, you might just think of smashing that DONATE button and helping to sponsor another.
Please also follow @campfireinstitute on Facebook and Instagram - and there’s even a @campfireinstitute TikTok for the youth in your life to get their stoke on without having to stoop to joining you on the old folks’ socials!
And finally - if you are a retreat leader or guide looking for a low-key, affordable and comfy place to basecamp YOUR next group adventure, I hope you’ll check out Evans Notch Lodge - it's a sweet spot for groups like Campfire Institute, and we will work with you to achieve your vision for your event, retreat, bootcamp, whatever. Contact @evansnotchlodge on Instagram or Facebook, or come on over to EvansNotchLodge.com for more info.
Make sure to check OUT these links from our conversation!:

• Campfire Institute: https://www.campfireinstitute.org/
• @campfireinstitute on Instagram
• The OUT Retreat Weekend 2024
• Check out the amazing work Campfire Institute does in this video: http://vimeo.com/jennywoodward/campfire
• OUTdoor Leadership Training with Maine Tourism & Campfire Institute
• Equality Maine
• Give the gift of Equitable Wilderness!
• Ari Leach of Blackbird Guide Services on Guides Gone Wild

Chapter

1. Campfire Institute (00:00:00)

2. Outdoor Spaces for Queer Teens (00:09:30)

3. LGBTQ+ Experiences (00:13:03)

4. Camp Experiences (00:25:22)

5. Nonprofit Wilderness Program Funding and Plans (00:29:13)

6. Podcast Interview (00:38:28)

7. Zoom Meeting (00:43:39)