Above, Macailia of Barberton and Lena Tvedten of Quitman, Ark. enjoy S’mores together this week at Camp Quest. This is the 12th year for what’s called Camp Quest and the first time for the host campground to be in Clinton County. Forty-eight campers registered for this week’s session at Camp Graham. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/BRIAN UNDERWOOD, CAMP COUNSELOR
A summer camp beyond belief Young skeptics hold camp in Clinton County
When the kids attending summer camp this week at a campground near Clarksville gather near the campfire at night, it's unlikely they will think there's a God in Heaven watching out for them beyond the starry sky. The youths who register for the camp session, where they're encouraged to be inquiring freethinkers, often doubt or deny a supreme being exists.
This is the 12th year for what's called Camp Quest and the first time for the host campground to be in Clinton County.
Camp Quest is the first residential summer camp in U.S. history for the children of atheists, skeptics, freethinkers and humanists. Camp Quest started in 1996 at a campground in northern Kentucky and later moved to Ohio. The program has expanded to five additional camps around North America: California, Minnesota, Michigan, Ontario and a Tennessee camp which is on hiatus this summer.
Forty-eight campers registered for this week's session at Camp Graham in Clinton County, a record high, said Amanda Metskas, president of Camp Quest Inc.
"If you add up all five of the Camp Quest sessions running this summer, I expect a total of around 150 kids," she said.
Many of the daily activities are typical summer camp experiences, such as archery, canoeing, crafts, high ropes courses, singing, volleyball, swimming and water balloon or sponge fights.
Less common are discussions about famous people, either living or dead, who are or were an atheist or religious skeptic. Examples of American freethinkers include abolitionist Frederick Douglass, actress Jodie Foster, actor Christopher Reeves, contemporary writer Alice Walker and American Revolution pamphleteer Thomas Paine, who was called an infidel among other things.
At meals where they don't cover freethinkers, a world religion or philosophy is briefly addressed.
"These are not 'this is what is wrong with what these people think' sessions. That said, we do occasionally use examples from religions when talking about errors in critical thinking," according to the Camp Quest Web site.
Metskas said, "We make it very clear [to parents] that we don't indoctrinate campers. We teach kids to think critically about their world and to be respectful of people with different worldviews."
Sometimes the campers, especially those from the more rural areas, don't know anyone other than their parents who isn't religious, and that inspires their parents to send them to Camp Quest, said Metskas.
"One family who has sent campers to Camp Quest for years started sending their kids when their daughter came home crying from school one day and asked if they were the only family who doesn't believe in God," she said.
Meeting other like-minded campers and making friends is a big part of the reason kids go to Camp Quest, Metskas said.
"Many of our campers return year after year to reconnect with friends from all over the country," she said.
Camp Quest has been gaining popularity and interest every year, said Metskas, adding it would be hard to point to any one cause of the increase.
"Mainly, I think that as more people find out about our programs, we attract more campers," Metskas said.
All camp staff members are volunteers. There is a biology professor from the University of Kentucky who leads a lot of the science activities. A graduate student in religious studies runs a comparative religions program at camp. Fred Edwords, communications director for the American Humanist Association, is the camp programs director, and he teaches campers about well-known freethinkers.
The camp director, August Brunsman IV, is executive director of the Secular Student Alliance, a non-profit that supports student humanist and skeptic groups.
Reader Comments Posted: Monday, July 02, 2007
Article comment by:
Stanley M. Bradley
My name is Stanley M. Bradley I'm 57 and I was one of the staff members at Camp Quest. It would have been my 8th year as a staff member, but last year I had to stay home and take care of my sick mother who died on April 19, 2007. As for the liberal media and Hollywood I don't know much about that because I was brought into this world in Fairfield County in 1949 by the same doctor that brought my father and mother into this world. I grew up around a small town called Lithopolis, and served my country first in the USN and then for 2 years in the Ohio Army National Guard. There really isn't any indoctrination at Camp Quest like some of your readers think there is. A good example of that is at previous Camp Quests my wife Beth who is a Presbyterian elder has a few times served as a staff member at Camp Quest. The only things we teach at Camp Quest is common sence and science. Based on some of your readers comments it's plain that they believe that only Christians in this country have the right to free speech.
Posted: Sunday, June 24, 2007
Article comment by:
Robert Riehemann
Thanks for a nice article that didn't try to inflame our religious friends. When people come to different conclusions about fundamental things, it's nice to know that some people can discuss their differences instead of starting a war.
Posted: Friday, June 22, 2007
Article comment by:
Pamela Ficke
Come on WNJ,front page news for the atheist camp? It's bad enough that a 4-h camp is allowing it there, but then you guys go and give it front page coverage. I'm just speculating here but in a county of over 100 churches, do you really think this is pleasing to your base???
Posted: Friday, June 22, 2007
Article comment by:
Jim McIntosh
I'm glad we live in a country with freedom of speech, but this definitely concerns me as I believe it is a sign of the times in which we live. As a Christian, I am concerned that our children are being taught this by the liberal media, and Hollywood. And whether they admit it or not, it is indoctrination. And finally, if a parent sends their child to this, then don't be surprised when our country goes further down hill morally, and otherwise. For we reap what we sow.
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