Bryan Brazel
Camp Director
How long have you been at Mountain Mist? I attended the camp for 10 years as a camper. This will be my tenth year as a staff member, and my third year serving as the Director.
What is your favorite camp game or song? The best camp game has and always will be star wars dodgeball!
What is your favorite camp memory? Fostering valuable relationships with the exceptional individuals I have met throughout my many summers at camp.
What are you the most excited about for this summer? I am looking forward to facilitating a summer filled with engaging activities, including games and songs, and ensuring our campers enjoy the experience, especially with the addition of the new splash pad.
What do you do during the school year when you are not at camp? I am a certified fifth-grade teacher in Meriden, holding a degree from the Quinnipiac School of Education.
Faith Barbieri
Assistant Camp Director
How long have you been at Mountain Mist? This will be my 6th year working at Mountain Mist and second year as assistant director.
What is your favorite camp game or song? My favorite camp game is Star Wars dodgeball and Alaskan kickball! My favorite camp song is the milkshake song.
What is your favorite camp memory? Winning MTV day with the Voyagers!
What are you the most excited about for this summer? I am most excited to play all camp games with every village this summer!
What do you do during the school year when you are not at camp? When I’m not at camp, I work as a licensed masters level social worker and homeless family liaison within the school system.
Maria Torres
Tee Pee Village Director
PreK Ages 3-5
How long have you been at Mountain Mist? I have worked at Mountain Mist for 14 years.
What is your favorite camp game or song? My favorite song is The Beaver Song.
What is your favorite camp memory? My favorite camp memory is when I got elected Art Barber Camp Counselor of the Year in 2019!
What are you the most excited about for this summer? I am looking forward to seeing new faces and all of the kids having an awesome time at camp.
What do you do during the school year when you are not at camp? I am a secretary at an elementary school during the school year.
Kadence Shields
Pioneer Village Director
Completed Kindergarten
How long have you been at Mountain Mist? I have been on staff since 2021! This will be my 6th summer at Mountain Mist as a counselor and my 2nd summer as the Pioneer Village Director!
What is your favorite camp game or song? My favorite camp game is either FFEACH or Pokémon dodgeball!
What is your favorite camp memory? My favorite camp memory was working on MTV Day with my fellow counselors. I love collaborating with my campers and putting together choreography that they enjoy to music that they love. Getting to perform for the rest of camp is always my favorite part of the summer.
What are you the most excited about for this summer? I am so excited to be back with my other pioneer counselors to have another great summer! We work so hard as a team to make sure that the kids have fun and we do too!
What do you do during the school year when you are not at camp? During the school year, I go to Coastal Carolina University! I am studying Elementary Education. When I come home for breaks, I substitute teach in the Meriden Public Schools!
Camila Acosta
Discoverer Village Director
Completed Grades 1 & 2
How long have you been at Mountain Mist? This will be my 13th year at Mountain Mist and my 5th year as a counselor. Camp has been such a huge part of my life growing up, and I’m so excited to be back again this summer.
What is your favorite camp game or song? My favorite camp game is Capture the Flag because it always gets everyone involved and brings so much energy. One of my favorite camp songs is the Moose Song. That song is definitely a classic.
What is your favorite camp memory? Some of my favorite camp memories are from our MASA competitions. But getting to watch campers grow more confident throughout the week and seeing the friendships everyone builds so quickly are starting to become my favorites.
What are you the most excited about for this summer? I’m most excited about meeting new campers, reconnecting with returning campers and staff, and making this summer the best one yet. I’m also excited for all the traditions and memories that make camp so special every year.
What do you do during the school year when you are not at camp? During the school year, I am a college student studying nursing at the University of Connecticut. I also work as a CNA during my breaks.
Griffin Papallo
Explorer Village Director
Completed Grades 3 & 4
How long have you been at Mountain Mist? This will be my 5th summer as a camp counselor.
What is your favorite camp game or song? My favorite camp game is Star Wars dodgeball.
What is your favorite camp memory? The Royal Rumble show last summer.
What are you the most excited about for this summer? I am really excited to take on the role as the Explorer Village director. I have an awesome summer planned for the campers and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.
What do you do during the school year when you are not at camp? I just finished my junior year at Springfield College. I am majoring in occupational therapy and minoring in psychology.
Jalen Malone
Voyager Village Director
Completed Grades 5 & 6
How long have you been at Mountain Mist? I have been working at camp for 8 years, 7 as a village director.
What is your favorite camp game or song? My favorite camp game is capture the flag.
What is your favorite camp memory? My favorite camp memory is MTV Day every year!
What are you the most excited about for this summer? This summer I am most excited to work with the Voyagers.
What do you do during the school year when you are not at camp? When I’m not at camp, I work at Platt High School as a PE/Health teacher as well as the boys tennis head coach and girls basketball assistant coach.
Kyle Cookson
Adventurer & Navigator
Village Director
Completed Grade 8 through age 16
How long have you been at Mountain Mist? This will be my 7th summer working at Mountain Mist.
What is your favorite camp game or song? Handball Basketball, Eagle Ball, and Four Square
What is your favorite camp memory? Overnight Camp
What are you the most excited about for this summer? Hiking the mountain and M.A.S.A. Olympics
What do you do during the school year when you are not at camp? Work and coach basketball at Maloney High School and also work at programs for the YMCA.
Ethan Brazel
Archery instructor
How long have you been at Mountain Mist? I was a camper for 11 years and this is my 7th year on staff.
What is your favorite camp game or song? My favorite camp games are Falcon Ball and Chicken in a Henhouse. My favorite camp song is the Beaver Song.
What is your favorite camp memory? My favorite camp memory is hiking up the mountain and cooking out on the top of it.
What are you the most excited about for this summer? I am most excited to show new campers how fun archery is.
Max Giacco
Climbing Instructor
How long have you been at Mountain Mist? This will be my 5th year at Mountain Mist, my 3rd as the climbing instructor.
What is your favorite camp game or song?
Song: Moose Song
Game: Star Wars Dodgeball
What is your favorite camp memory? Misty Mania 2025
What are you the most excited about for this summer? I am excited to put on some great skits & have fun with all campers and counselors.
What do you do during the school year when you are not at camp? I am currently in the process of completing my masters program for athletic leadership at Springfield College, but I graduated undergrad with a degree in physical education.