Comments on: Camp Quest Co-Founder Helen Kagin Dies at 76

By: Rieux

Rieux — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:07:47 +0000

I knew her as well, from my stint as a Camp Quest counselor.

It’s all true. Even ten years after I’d last been to CQ, I saw the “eyes light up” thing when Helen saw me at a conference, too. She was wonderful, and this news is very sad.

By: john and fran w

john and fran w — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:13:18 +0000

Thanks for such a lovely tribute to Helen. It was our pleasure and priviledge to have known Helen and worked with her at Camp Quest Ohio and Michigan. We spoke often of her friends, such as you, who loved her. We greatly respect her memory.
BTW, Silverman is spokeperson for American Atheists. That’s the way he talks. We have had kids come to camp as Christians and leave as Christians. We don’t do conversions.

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:43:48 +0000

I’m with Chad on that quote. That made me squirm, and that’s exactly what makes me vaguely uncomfortable with Camp Quest. It treads a fine line between being a fun science camp where kids are taught rational thinking and being a camp where kids are taught to be atheists, and it should do all it can to stay firmly in the former category. Indoctrination is my biggest complaint against religion, and I don’t want us to be accused of the same thing! It was probably just careless word choice, but it was definitely *not* the right way to say that.

By: Blenster

Blenster — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:21:12 +0000

Thank you for this Hemant. She is indeed missed by many…

By: hoverFrog

hoverFrog — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:13:42 +0000

Camp Quest is an excellent idea and one that provides a worthy alternative to faith promoting camps. Setting them up is work well done and for that Helen Kagin can be said to have contributed to the betterment of society. My condolences go out to those whose lives she touched.

By: Craig Fine

Craig Fine — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:54:15 +0000

I am sorry to hear of her passing, and I am even more sorry that I didn’t get the chance to ever meet her.

By: Norm

Norm — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:44:36 +0000

I only met Helen a few times at conferences, but always heard about what a wonderful woman she was from those who knew her better. All of us involved with Camp Quest are feeling her loss, and we will make sure she is honored in a lasting way.

By: Chad L

Chad L — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:29:47 +0000

something sticks out to me, I realize you where quoting but (it makes “atheist children” happy.) bothers me quite a bit.

By: Revyloution

Revyloution — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:22:12 +0000

Thanks Helen, for all you’ve done. It was a life well lived.