Who We Are

The Center for Inquiry

Camp Inquiry is one of many educational initiatives offered by the Center for Inquiry, a research institution devoted to the appreciation of science and reason, and their applications to human conduct.

The mission of the Center for Inquiry is to foster a secular society based on science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values.

Center for Inquiry—Transnational
3965 Rensch Road
Amherst, NY 14228
(716) 636-4869

 

The James Randi Educational Foundation

The James Randi Educational Foundation was founded in 1996 to expose charlatans and help people defend themselves from paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. The JREF offers a still-unclaimed million-dollar reward for anyone who can produce evidence of paranormal abilities under controlled conditions. Through scholarships, workshops, and innovative resources for educators, the JREF works to inspire this investigative spirit in a new generation of critical thinkers.

 

Meet the Camp Inquiry 2011 Staff

Karen Strachan, Camp Director
Karen brings years of experience in a variety of leadership roles in education, science, and art. Strachan is Lead Educator for the Memphis Zoo, where she also serves as Camp Director. She is currently teaching inquiry-based classes and oversees program development and administration. Strachan has worked at the Memphis Zoo, ranked the No. 1 zoo in America by several leading websites, for the past three years. Her experience in education is vast, having worked with groups ranging from Pre-K to 12th grade. Originally from Longview, Texas, Strachan received a Bachelor of Arts in both Anthropology and Sociology from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.

Levi Camp Inquiry 2011Levi Sponeybarger, Camp Coordinator
This will be Levi’s second summer as camp coordinator for Camp Inquiry. Prior to that, he worked as a counselor and head cook for two summers. During the rest of the year, Levi works fulltime for the Salamanca City School District, where he maintains the district’s online student management software and serves as the senior class advisor and cheerleading advisor. He enjoys working in an educational setting and seeing young minds think and grow.

Joelle Hester Camp Inquiry 2011Joelle Hester (RN, CNOR, BSN, MSM), Camp Nurse
Joelle Hester is a Registered Nurse with more than 20 years experience in the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Industries. Over the course of her career, she has worked as a Surgical Nurse, Labor and Delivery Nurse, Clinical Educator, Clinical Trials Researcher and Manager. Joelle has always demonstrated strong leadership, attested to by the many awards and recognitions she has received. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Healthcare Management. Joelle has served as Camp Nurse for Camp Inquiry for the last three years.

David Hester Camp Inquiry 2011David Hester, Camp Assistant
David is a Visionary Technologist and Futurist, deeply involved in the IT Industry for more than 30 years. His expertise spans multiple domains including Communications, Systems Architecture, Identity Management and Security. He has delivered leading edge solutions supporting strategic business processes to hundreds of clients worldwide. He has extensive Consulting experience with major clients in a wide range of industries including Banking, Healthcare and Government. David has managed the Camp Inquiry Blog for the past two years, and assists with a variety of tasks including transportation, safety and cooking.

Shadi Camp Inquiry 2011Shadi Afshar, Teacher/Counselor
Shadi will be returning for her second year as a teacher/counselor at Camp Inquiry. She will be graduating this year with double honors in philosophy and environmental studies from York University, and will be continuing her studies in the field of education at the University of Toronto next fall. Shadi's interests include the study of ethics, epistemology, environmental thought, ecological economics and photography. She has served as the president of her school's undergraduate philosophy association.

Craddock Camp Inquiry 2011Justin Craddock, Teacher/Counselor
This is Justin's second year as a Teacher/Counselor at Camp Inquiry. Justin spends his time performing magic, playing chess, and running. He briefly ran the University at Buffalo Freethinkers (a campus secular group) and helped co-found Buffalo Freethought (a secular humanist community group based in Buffalo). Justin is pursuing a degree in philosophy at Buffalo State College and performs close-up, sleight-of-hand magic for a living.

Corey Camp Inquiry 2011Corey Farach, Teacher/Counselor
Corey earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Florida Atlantic University in 2009. He now lives in Brooklyn and volunteers for secular nonprofit organizations such as The Impossible Music Sessions, advocating the free expression of music, and the Center for Inquiry New York City branch, advocating reason, science and the freedom of inquiry. Corey was awarded Freethinker of the Year in 2010 by CFI–NYC.

Conrad Camp Inquiry 2011Conrad Hudson, Teacher/Counselor
Conrad is currently a junior at the University of Kansas, where he studies accounting and is the vice president of the Society of Open-Minded Atheists & Agnostics, a group with over 200 members. He’s spearheaded Darwin Day activities, interfaith panels, charity fundraisers, and public events to increase understanding between non-theists and the religious.

Stephanie Camp Inquiry 2011Stephanie LeRoy, Teacher/Counselor
This is Stephanie's third year as the arts facilitator and teacher/counselor at Camp Inquiry. She is the Assistant Director of Center for Inquiry–NYC and recently received her BA in studio art at Hunter College in New York City. While in college she founded four student groups in New York dedicated to free inquiry and secular humanism.