Frequently Asked Questions about Camp Quest

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.

No. Campers at Camp Quest are encouraged to think for themselves and are not required to hold any particular view. We firmly believe that children should not be labeled with worldview labels by adults, and instead should be encouraged to ask questions and explore different worldviews as they grow.

We do present atheism and humanism as valid and reasonable options for an ethical and fulfilling life, and most counselors at camp consider themselves to be atheists.

Yes. Campers at Camp Quest explore different worldviews, and many children aren't decided yet on their beliefs on the God question. Campers who believe in God may get a lot of interested questions from their fellow campers, but the camp environment fosters asking these questions in a spirit of dialogue and mutual respect. As far as we know, campers who believe in God have all had fun, made friends, and had a great Camp Quest experience.

See all of our Camp Quest locations to find our dates and locations for this summer. Typically our week-long sessions start in late June and continue through mid-August.

Registration fees vary by location, but typically range between $400 and $600 for a week-long session. Go to the registration page to learn more.

We never want financial concerns to prevent a child from attending Camp Quest. The Helen Kagin Memorial Campership Fund provides camperships that can be used at any Camp Quest camp. Additionally, Camp Quest camps often have their own campership programs. If the cost of camp is holding you back from registering, please apply for financial aid. If you have questions about camperships, please ask us.

Camp Quest sessions range in size from around 20 campers at our smallest camps to around 80 at our largest. Typically campers are fairly evenly distributed throughout the age range of 8-17. Most of our camps offer Counselor-in-Training (CIT) programs for campers who are 16 and 17.

Camp Quest camps all use volunteers as cabin counselors and program leaders. Our volunteer counselors range in age from 18 to 80.

Because our counselors are making a week-long volunteer commitment, rather than committing to be on camp staff all summer, we are able to attract a very dedicated and experienced pool of counselors from a wide range of fields. In 2010, for example, Camp Quest Ohio had 32 staff members from a variety of backgrounds including a high school biology teacher, a physician, a software engineer, a learning specialist, three nonprofit activists, and several graduate students. We also have several college-age counselors, many of whom are former campers.

If you are interested in applying to be on staff, please check out our volunteer information and online applications.

Yes. We do criminal background checks on all counselors.

There are two main ways to help out Camp Quest. The first is to donate.  Donations help support our current camps, and help new Camp Quest camps launch. You can also donate to the Helen Kagin Memorial Campership Fund. Campership donations provide free or reduced registration for campers with financial need.

The second way to help is to volunteer by becoming a counselor or activity leader at a current Camp Quest, or helping to start a new Camp Quest. You can find links to the websites of all Camp Quest locations here.

Another option for volunteering is to spread the word about Camp Quest, or help us with projects throughout the year. Contact us to offer your assistance.

First, be sure to check out our online press kit.

Contact information is located here. If you are seeking information about a specific camp for media or publication purposes, choose that location in the Category dropdown and your message will go directly to that camp. If you are seeking information about all of the Camp Quest programs, submit the form with the default category or call us at the number provided. Amanda Metskas, the Executive Director of Camp Quest Inc., would be happy to talk with you, or put you in touch with others who can give you the information you are looking for.