About Us
Directors
Carl Acosta
Carl and Maddie Acosta came to Southwoods with the goal of taking camp to the next level. With 11 years of experience in camping, they knew a gem when they saw one, and Southwoods was the perfect landscape to foster their vision of giving children the tools to be resilient, independent, but above all, happy people.
Carl’s work with children started on the soccer field as a coach and instructor. After playing at Cal Berkeley where he held the title of the school’s highest-scorer, Carl went on to lead soccer camps in the Virgin Islands and coach in Marblehead, MA. Utilizing his Bachelor’s Degree in Ethnomusicology, he taught piano and guitar lessons, enjoying sharing not only his passion for athletics but music as well.
Maddie Acosta
After Maddie’s first summer at camp in 2013, the director asked what they would have to do to get her back the next summer. Her answer? “What do I have to do to never leave?!”
Since then, Maddie has held numerous leadership positions, and now as the Director of Camp Southwoods, enjoys teaching granny skills, leading hikes, mentoring our CSW teenagers through their journey into adulthood, and training staff to be the compassionate, resilient people parents want in their campers’ corner. From that first summer and every one since, Maddie loves seeing campers grow from little kids to open-hearted community members, ready to take their 3 C’s into the world and make it a better place.
Maddie is a graduate of Radford University and currently holds the distinctions of Registered Maine Guide, New York Guide, Wilderness First Responder, and Wilderness First Aid Instructor. She currently lives in Bridgton, Maine with her husband and co-director, Carl, and their dogs Sigrid and Tippet where she enjoys cooking, fiber arts, and cheering on the Portland Hearts of Pine.
Office Manager
Marita Blake
Marita found camp after graduating from CU Boulder with an operations and marketing degree and immediately loved working to make lifelong memories with the kids, getting to know staff members and spending the summer outdoors. She spent uses the tools from being the Leader-in-Training director, camp media manager and her time as a counselor to give parents that “fly-on-the-wall-feeling” from their own living rooms.
Marita lives in Brooklyn and enjoys cooking, hanging out with her pet lizard Walter (spot him over the summer at the coveted “America’s Next Top Lizard” elective), pottery, and reading. Marita’s kindness and camp spirit welcomes every family, nervous camper and staff member that calls, emails, or comes onto camp.
Operations Manager
Brent Blackmon
Brent found Southwoods after a few years of working in engineering. After his first summer, he fell in love with the way people connect at camp, the campfire songs and the memories beyond the weeks you spend here.
Brent uses his experience as a counselor to prepare staff members for their perfect summer spent outdoors, and supports them along the way through staff training and as our head of lower camp.
Brent enjoys reading, hanging out with his cat Plop, working out, and trying out new card games. His welcoming energy and smile makes every new staff member feel at ease and his drive to get even the toughest jobs done ensures everyone has what they need for a great time here at camp.
