Comments on: Camp Quest: Not a Camp for Atheist Children

By: paceminterris

paceminterris — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:06:01 +0000

Sounds like Camp Jesus for atheists or something like that.

By: Bjorn Watland

Bjorn Watland — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:33:55 +0000

I think that WayBeyondSoccerMom brings up a good point. While these kids come from different families, with the adults identifying as atheists, humanists, Unitarians, etc., the kids may not. However, depending on the school and region, it can be very hard for children who are not Christian. Just the fact that you don’t go to church is enough to be excluded. Camp Quest is a community where you are free to express yourself, have ideas, examine your reasons, but also be around a bunch of people who aren’t trying to get you to go to church or are trying to pray with you.

By: WayBeyondSoccerMom

WayBeyondSoccerMom — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:58:01 +0000

My two children, ages 12 and 15, are attending their third Camp Quest this summer. They have loved the two previous Camp Quests, at two different locations, and are excited about going again this summer. I wish more parents would send their kids. We live in a very religious Christian environment, and for one week each year, my kids feel completely free to discuss ideas and thoughts with kids their ages and the adult counselors. For 51 weeks each year, my children are careful in what they said around classmates and neighbors, and the one week at Camp Quest gives them the freedom to really explore how they feel about things without their parents, along with same great traditional camp adventures like hiking, swimming, and goofing around.

By: ckitching

ckitching — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:54:21 +0000

All this talk of “oh we’re just encouraging critical thinking” tends to come from who think critical thinking should lead to atheism, ya know? It all rings a bit dishonest to me.

I think that critical thinking and evaluation provides benefits that are far more important than simple atheism. It’s one of the best (and only) defences against con artists and other attempts at deception or manipulation. It can be a defence against self-delusion to help prevent you from making bad decisions.

That little voice asking “Wait, is that really right?” as you get ready to commit yourself into believing something you want to believe can be the difference between making a decision you regret for a long time, and being happy with your decisions over the long haul. Personally, I know most of the decisions I over-analyzed are not the ones I tend to be ashamed of, despite the fact that over-analysis carries it’s own faults.

By: CybrgnX

CybrgnX — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:23:39 +0000

Sorry guys but Camp Quest is an athiest programming campain.
Proof:
Describe the camp as a place were they teach the kids about critical thinking and use of logic and thinking properly. to any religious person and you will be told it is a place of the devil were kids are turned into athiests.
Because EVERY religious person capable of getting 4 from 2+2 KNOWS that critical-skeptical-logical thinking is the BANE of all forms of magic and religion.

By: WTFWJD?

WTFWJD? — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:25:46 +0000

If what Mike and Mike say is true, this sounds like the best camp ever. I always had to go to Catholic camp, and it was super fun until they made us go to church.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:43:54 +0000

I’d also reconsider the use of ‘groom’ to describe working with children. This isn’t a Catholic camp, after all.

By: Mike Caton

Mike Caton — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:54:08 +0000

Having been a counselor at Camp Quest I can back up Hemant – we don’t make kids agree to any kind of statement. It’s pretty much like a regular summer camp except more fun, and with better learning opportunities. The one in California is the best, but maybe I’m a little biased.

http://www.camp-quest.org/

By: Janet Marcum

Janet Marcum — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:34:08 +0000

You might want to send your post over to Rational Moms. Their newest post title is sending the message you are hoping to dispel.

By: anothermike

anothermike — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:11:40 +0000

I suppose you get to call your camp anything you want; people can choose where to send their kids, and hopefully, let the kids participate in the decision as well. No question that keeping kids away from religious radicals and other nut-cases makes sense for responsible parents. Is Boy Scout camp better or worse than Jehovah’s Witness camp? but you could call your camp Free-thinker’s camp, Science Camp, or even Don’t Give a Damn Camp, for that matter. Camp Quest sounds pretty good to me, and I am going put the bug in my grandson’s ear. Hope it is available in the Portland, Oregon area.