Edwin Kagin on Camp Quest

EDWIN KAGIN

ON

Containing a variety of Edwinian musings on the subject of the first Secular Humanist resident summer camp in U.S. history for the children of atheists, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers, Brights, or whatever it is that such folks call themselves. . . .

Edwin and Helen Kagin at their retirement from Camp Quest 2005

WHAT IS CAMP QUEST?

Camp Quest is the first residential summer camp in the history of the United States for the children of Atheists, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists, Humanists, Brights, or whatever other terms might be applied to those who hold to a naturalistic, not supernatural, world view.

Camp Quest was started in 1996 based on an original idea of Edwin Kagin, and operated by the Free Inquiry Group, Inc. (FIG) of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Edwin served as Camp Director for its first ten years. It is now operated by Camp Quest, Inc. an independent non-profit Kentucky Corporation with a board of directors drawn internationally from leaders of various organizations which share the goals of Camp Quest. Camp Quest is its own organization, and while endorsed by several organizations and groups, it is neither owned nor controlled by any other group.

The staff of Camp Quest is composed of volunteers. No staff is paid. They get to camp on their own, and are provided with room and board while at camp. Even so, these volunteers return year after year.

Camp Quest has always maintained an educational purpose, to develop an interest in science, history, literature and critical thinking in young people. Its purpose is to provide children of irreligious parents a residential summer camp dedicated to improving the human condition through rational inquiry, critical and creative thinking, scientific method, self-respect, ethics, competency, democracy, free speech, and the separation of religion and government guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.

Edwin and Helen, departure from Camp Quest