Camp Quest

Atheist parent, camp quest

Camp Quest (noun): 1. Summer camp beyond belief! 2. A place for fun, friends, and freethought for kids ages 8-17.

Have you heard of Camp Quest?

The Camp  Quest's website offers this bit as an explanation as to what they offer:  

Camp Quest in a Nutshell
Camp Quest is a place for fun, friends, and freethought for kids ages 8-17. Our camps provide a traditional sleepaway summer camp experience with a wide range of activities including sports, crafts, games, swimming, and campfires. In addition to our traditional summer camp activities, Camp Quest offers educational activities focused on critical thinking, ethics, scientific inquiry, philosophy, and comparative religion.Camp Quest is open to all children and teenagers within the age range, but it is particularly geared towards building a community for children from atheist, agnostic, humanist and other freethinking families. Our goal is to provide a place where children can explore their developing worldviews, ask questions, and make friends in an environment that is supportive of critical thinking and skepticism.

John went to CQ last year and he just returned from camp again this year. For yeeeeears, ever since hearing about Camp Quest, I wanted one of my kids to go away to this camp. Finally, last year, John went to camp and truly loved it. He found himself in leadership roles last year. He enjoyed an activity called Socrates Cafe, he loved chess, he loved the hiking and swimming, and the camp games and songs were his favorite.

These pics are from last year, 2015 Camp Quest.

John and a few friends

John and Charles

John and Laura

John and Sarah

This summer, 2016, John had what he called the best time ever!
When he arrived to this gorgeous camp at a park about an hour from Kansas City, he was put into the leadership group. The leadership group isn't just a euphemism for babysitting. He had regular meets with the leadership group, with his mentor Sarah (see pic above), and supervisory lessons in leadership with Jordan (see pic down below). I was impressed and John was honored and moved to be a better person. Both of these women were incredibly vibrant, brilliant, and motivating.

While picking him up from camp today Jerry and I were incredibly proud and delighted to see how the week went for John. I talked to many of the kids today and I loved what one boy, Liam, had to say when I asked him about CQ. His reply: I figure I'll be back in 357 more days, so I'm happy.

Here are a few pics from Camp Quest this year. Notice that many people from last year returned again this year. If you are interested in locating a Camp Quest in your neck of the woods, look here.

Laura and John

John and Sarah

John and Sarah with some of their campers photobombing

The Amazing Mx. Captain Jack dancing down the line,
Bigfoot in the back

Counselor Mauricio, pretty sure he is NOT Jesus

Jordan, LT leader and all around Counselor Extraordinaire

  Have you or your kids had experiences with Camp Quest?  

Tell me about it!