Who We Are
About Us:
​
Camel's Hump Nature Center is run by Friends of Johnston, Inc (FoJ). The Friends of Johnston, Inc. was formed by a group of concerned citizens in 2012 to save the Johnston Estate from commercial development as a strip mall and apartment complex.
The Friends of Johnston, Inc. serves as the umbrella organization to coordinate efforts and to provide specialized skills and resources needed for the development and implementation of a plan for appropriate historic restoration, repurposing and programming for the estate. As part of this effort, the farm has been repurposed to create an early childhood education program to provide children in the community more access to nature.
​
Staff and Volunteers of Camel's Hump Nature Center:
Victoria Bastidas
President of FoJ and Lead Program Leader
Victoria is a volunteer Executive Board member and founder of the Friends of Johnston, Inc. She received her Masters of Education from Desales University and Environmental Education from Arcadia University. She pursued additional field training in arboriculture, wetlands delineation and storm water management and is a Penn State Master Watershed Steward. She is honored to be Vice Chair of the Northampton County Open Space Committee and received the PA Environmental Educator’s Daisy S. Klinedist Educator of the Year award in 2011. Since 2008, Victoria has worked with the local environmental and service organizations to engage and educate students of all ages in hands-on collaborative environmental education projects to restore the Archibald Johnston Conservation Area. Victoria's goal is to foster unique educational opportunities, practical skills, and positive social action in her community.
Julie Pineiro
Volunteer Environmental Educator
Julie works at Camel’s Hump Farm on a variety of projects, and spending time with the students in the Nature Center is one of her favorite things to do. Graduating with a BS in Natural Resources from Cornell University, her commitment to the environment and interest in sharing her love of the natural world with others has led her to teach environmental education for more than 25 years. She has worked in a variety of nontraditional settings including nature centers, zoos, and Scouting units, and through those teaching experiences she has come to especially enjoy guiding young children in discovering nature.
Julie is trained as a Master Watershed Steward with Penn State Extension and also as a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist. When she is not occupied with keeping track of her busy family and volunteering with a number of environmentally-oriented groups in Bethlehem, Julie is happiest when she is hiking.
Meghan Baumer
Volunteer Administrator
Meghan provides administrator support and outreach for Camel's Hump Nature Center. She designed the website and assists with volunteer coordination for FoJ. She received her M.A. in Social Ecology at the University of California, Irvine and has worked in environmental education and non-profit volunteer management. Currently, she conducts research and outreach for state wildlife agencies for the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University.
We need your help so we can grow!
