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marfknox
SFN Die Hard
USA
3739 Posts |
 Posted - 03/26/2006 : 18:38:59
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Odds are that if you are an active Humanist, Atheist, Skeptic, or other type of freethinker (or Bright if you prefer), you've at least heard of Camp Quest, a summer camp for Humanist kids started in 1996. Camp Quest has grown and now there are 5 new Camp Quests around the country, in addition to the original one near Cincinatti, Ohio. http://www.camp-quest.org/
As much as I like most of what the Center for Inquiry does (CSICOP, Prometheus Books, Philo, Free Inquiry Magazine, etc.) they don't often play nice with other organizations with similar or even exactly the same goals. Here be an example. Obviously it makes more sense to support the spread of more Camp Quests around the country and to channel donor money for humanist camps into one big endevor because that would maximize visibility, press, and growth. But instead, they present: Camp Inquiry, http://www.campinquiry.org/ which is pretty much a copy of Camp Quest, with a snazzier website.
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"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong
Check out my art store: http://www.marfknox.etsy.com
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Edited by - marfknox on 03/26/2006 18:40:23
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26020 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2006 : 22:17:54 [Permalink]
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Unfortunately, is right.
Judging by the descriptions they provide, Camp Quest is a normal summer camp, with "a few minutes" of humanist (or whatever) stuff thrown in at mealtimes. Camp Inquiry, on the other hand, describes itself as being focused on skepticism. Again, just judging by the web sites, I wouldn't have sent my kid to Camp Quest even if there were no Camp Inquiry, simply because Camp Quest appears to be so half-assed.
You know, as much as I like CSICOP, the JREF, the Skeptic Society or whathaveyou, I prefer to spend my time helping out at the SFN. Obviously, it would make more sense to only have a single skeptical organization for the whole world, and to channel donor money for the skeptical "cause" into one big endevor because that would maximize visibility, press, and growth. But instead, here we are.
Seriously, I used to have the same ideas about new groups who might "compete" for donors with the National Psoriasis Foundation, but then I realized that every group brings something different with them. The only time it's truly a waste of resources is when a smaller group takes in a bunch of money and then fails in their mission. Maximizing visibility, press and growth depends upon the total population of like-minded people, not the number of organizations they want to create. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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marfknox
SFN Die Hard
USA
3739 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2006 : 22:54:46 [Permalink]
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Dave,
Even if it seems so, Camp Quest isn't half-assed. I was a counselor there for 2 summers. The founder and all of the Board Members are very active in the freethought movement. The camp does stress all humanistic values. Sadly, their website is pretty lame.
I agree there should be different groups within the freethought movement - skeptics, atheist, humanists, etc. All these groups do bring something different. But Camp Quest and Camp Inquiry are both secular humanist summer camps for kids. There is no difference in their mission, and the leaders of Camp Quest have been actively seeking the wide support of organizations like the Center for Inquiry for the past 10 years. |
"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong
Check out my art store: http://www.marfknox.etsy.com
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| Edited by - marfknox on 03/26/2006 23:26:25 |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26020 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2006 : 02:30:12 [Permalink]
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What can I say, Marf? The evidence I have at hand tells me that Camp Inquiry and Camp Quest go about their missions (even if identical) in different ways. I can't read your mind to know what actually goes on at Camp Quest, nor can I read anyone else's mind to find out what actually happens at Camp Inquiry.
Again, the former's web site claims to do mostly normal summer camp stuff with "a few minutes" of humanistic "lessons" thrown in at mealtimes, while the latter appears to teach active skepticism even during regular camp activities. If I were forced to send my kid to one or the other just based on what I see now, I know which one would get my $500. "Stressing humanistic values" isn't even much of a consideration for me for what I'd want my kid to get out of a summer camp like them; it's the active teaching (all day) of logic, science and other methods of skepticism which make Camp Inquiry more appealing given the shallow knowledge I have of the two. (And I'd never heard of either one until your post.)
And likewise, there are dozens of psoriasis patient groups in the world, all with the exact same mission: to provide support to patients, promote awareness of the disease and raise funds for research. I know for a fact that there's bitterness between some of them over "recognition" and whatnot, but it's misplaced. And your posts sound like they're driven more by bitterness that CSICOP didn't "recognize" Camp Quest for 10 years than they're driven by (for example) actual evidence that Camp Inquiry is actually doing harm to the freethought movement as a whole by splitting the available resources (the campers' parents' wallets). |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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