It wasn't long after I came out as an atheist that I first heard about Camp Quest and learned what it was about. That a group of atheists would put together a learning environment that encouraged critical thinking and emphasized HOW to think rather than WHAT to think would have been a radical idea when I was growing up, six-plus decades ago. That Libby not only had a chance to experience it both as a camper AND as a counselor and reports herself as to the enormous benefit she gained from that time tells me that CQ is not just doing something right. They're doing something of incalculable value.
Thank you, Libby, for your story, and THANK YOU, CAMP QUEST!
I hear you. I did several years at Camp Edwards in Wisconsin, which was a YMCA camp, sponsored by the Elgin, Illinois branch of the Y. It was a good time and all, but the Christian backdrop was constant. Maybe not as bad as bible camp, and frankly, I generally had a pretty good time there.
But something like Camp Quest would likely have been a massive improvement.
I went to a Presbyterian bible camp so probably not as bad as a fundie camp but what a waste of my summer. I lucked out by having a fellow gay tentmate so we could commiserate at how much bullshit it was but neither of us could be out except in conversations with each other. Sadly I lost contact with him after a few years.
If you and your tent mate would have came out; the entire camping experience would have been horrible, you would have been insulted, degraded, harassed, and even have violence committed against you and your tent mate while the counselor look the other way (unless they would do all that themselves) and if you would complain to your parents, they wouldn’t believe you!
You are 100% correct. This was the 1970s. If you met me on the street, then or now, you would have no idea I was gay but he was was more obvious. I worried about him the entire time we were there.
I was 14 when I went to camp, and I made a friend who was gay. That guy was harassed, insulted, and beaten up. I was scared, so I didn’t do much. I tried to get the counselor to do something, but was told the beatings was to get the “gay” out of the boy to make him a “man”. After I went home I told my parents about what happened, I was punished for lying. I still feel bad that I wasn’t able to do more to help him. After all this time, I can’t help feel I let him down!😔
I guess that would make me a weak, woke, leftist social warrior; according to today Christian fascist.
Boy Scout camp, two years. If there was anything religious, it didn't take because I don't remember it.
3 years in a school sponsored backpacking trip to Colorado. No religion at all (except for one minor incident. The counselors responsible for it got in trouble.).
Thank you so much for this post. Advancing the concept of Camp Quest may well be the biggest contribution that Friendly Atheist might make to the future of your country. As a Canadian, we don't have access to Camp Quest and accordingly most of youth camps are run by Christian groups (the most evangelic price themselves very low, guess why?) I have been on the board of the Y of 3 cities that I have lived in and Campership programs were always number 1 on my list of priorities. At one time the Y was referred to as the YMCA (guess what the C stood for?) but thankfully the Ys that I have been associated with are now completely secular.
Hemant, advancing Camp Quest and other humanist organizations through common sense education will go a long way to improving the lives of 'mercans, maybe even no new Trumps?
So, how long do you think it will take for some jesusfucker to try to have this camp close down! The jesusfuckers will make claims that it an indoctrination camp for satanist, woke or some other bullshit, so the government will be forced to close it down. Of course, that assuming that the camp isn’t threatened with violence by the jesusfuckers themselves.
Remember the Christian fascist dumbasses think that they (they alone) are allowed to have public spaces for the spreading of their religion (that they alone can dictate who can use the space, what can the space be use for, etc.).
Christians can’t seem to understand that other people (even people they hate) have Human Rights and Civil Liberties as well! Therefore, are allowed to use public spaces too!
We definitely have emergency plans for everything and we make very deliberate choices to maintain safety. We certainly have healthy rational fears and we know we could be targeted.
Summer camps? I don't think we have them. Great way to get rid of your kids for a while I suppose. I must've come across the concept in American TV series or something but made a minute – camp run amuck? Was that a thing? I'll look it up. Also hello mudder hello fadder – it all comes back to me now.
Bart took over Camp Krusty on the Simpsons. Summer camp hijinks is a well worn trope of American pop culture. Movies, TV shows, music, you name it. Back in the 60s, there was even a show called Camp Runamuck. I don't remember it but just now found it.
Camp Quest changed my life! I started going at age 12, and now as a 23 year old, it's the thing I can point to most clearly that has benefitted me the most. The sense of community, belonging, and affirmation that CQ provided me as a youngster (and as an adult) has been everything. I highly encourage anyone who is enthusiastic about CQ after reading this to donate or look into a camp near them, to volunteer at, or send a young person to.
It wasn't long after I came out as an atheist that I first heard about Camp Quest and learned what it was about. That a group of atheists would put together a learning environment that encouraged critical thinking and emphasized HOW to think rather than WHAT to think would have been a radical idea when I was growing up, six-plus decades ago. That Libby not only had a chance to experience it both as a camper AND as a counselor and reports herself as to the enormous benefit she gained from that time tells me that CQ is not just doing something right. They're doing something of incalculable value.
Thank you, Libby, for your story, and THANK YOU, CAMP QUEST!
I wish I could have gone to a camp like this instead of two weeks of bible camp.
I hear you. I did several years at Camp Edwards in Wisconsin, which was a YMCA camp, sponsored by the Elgin, Illinois branch of the Y. It was a good time and all, but the Christian backdrop was constant. Maybe not as bad as bible camp, and frankly, I generally had a pretty good time there.
But something like Camp Quest would likely have been a massive improvement.
I went to a Presbyterian bible camp so probably not as bad as a fundie camp but what a waste of my summer. I lucked out by having a fellow gay tentmate so we could commiserate at how much bullshit it was but neither of us could be out except in conversations with each other. Sadly I lost contact with him after a few years.
If you and your tent mate would have came out; the entire camping experience would have been horrible, you would have been insulted, degraded, harassed, and even have violence committed against you and your tent mate while the counselor look the other way (unless they would do all that themselves) and if you would complain to your parents, they wouldn’t believe you!
You are 100% correct. This was the 1970s. If you met me on the street, then or now, you would have no idea I was gay but he was was more obvious. I worried about him the entire time we were there.
I was 14 when I went to camp, and I made a friend who was gay. That guy was harassed, insulted, and beaten up. I was scared, so I didn’t do much. I tried to get the counselor to do something, but was told the beatings was to get the “gay” out of the boy to make him a “man”. After I went home I told my parents about what happened, I was punished for lying. I still feel bad that I wasn’t able to do more to help him. After all this time, I can’t help feel I let him down!😔
I guess that would make me a weak, woke, leftist social warrior; according to today Christian fascist.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d47c4722f3cf7e1b4e73c93eb1d47982f8cce56392ac07b951610c03350c60ac.jpg
Motherfucking snow piles.
They were great when I was a kid.
I went to secular summer camps so I missed the fun(die) indoctrination. Come to think of it, I didn’t miss a thing.
Boy Scout camp, two years. If there was anything religious, it didn't take because I don't remember it.
3 years in a school sponsored backpacking trip to Colorado. No religion at all (except for one minor incident. The counselors responsible for it got in trouble.).
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ac7355773dd11086278fead621f57888fa0c28864c19779d4c364d51d7d27b66.jpg
Libby and Hemat,
Thank you so much for this post. Advancing the concept of Camp Quest may well be the biggest contribution that Friendly Atheist might make to the future of your country. As a Canadian, we don't have access to Camp Quest and accordingly most of youth camps are run by Christian groups (the most evangelic price themselves very low, guess why?) I have been on the board of the Y of 3 cities that I have lived in and Campership programs were always number 1 on my list of priorities. At one time the Y was referred to as the YMCA (guess what the C stood for?) but thankfully the Ys that I have been associated with are now completely secular.
Hemant, advancing Camp Quest and other humanist organizations through common sense education will go a long way to improving the lives of 'mercans, maybe even no new Trumps?
https://ibb.co/cc71jWj1
https://ibb.co/J66vQ0K
"Be honest."
If only that worked outside the comics.
Heh. My experiences at church camps were part of what led me to atheism.
So, how long do you think it will take for some jesusfucker to try to have this camp close down! The jesusfuckers will make claims that it an indoctrination camp for satanist, woke or some other bullshit, so the government will be forced to close it down. Of course, that assuming that the camp isn’t threatened with violence by the jesusfuckers themselves.
Remember the Christian fascist dumbasses think that they (they alone) are allowed to have public spaces for the spreading of their religion (that they alone can dictate who can use the space, what can the space be use for, etc.).
Christians can’t seem to understand that other people (even people they hate) have Human Rights and Civil Liberties as well! Therefore, are allowed to use public spaces too!
We are celebrating 30 years right now, haven’t got to us yet! We run great camps and we know we are held to a higher standard.
Good, happy anniversary for you and your camp!👍
We definitely have emergency plans for everything and we make very deliberate choices to maintain safety. We certainly have healthy rational fears and we know we could be targeted.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7bc1af0ba5f36676419a4ddabb74be45a84b703cf971fb634c607dccf797c28f.jpg
So, is this true?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fe447ef5b31908161b8af7a6f53519140fb153a4c5f1761a20c161cd1685ac4b.jpg
Apparently it is and not the first time he has done it.
#Defacon2
Summer camps? I don't think we have them. Great way to get rid of your kids for a while I suppose. I must've come across the concept in American TV series or something but made a minute – camp run amuck? Was that a thing? I'll look it up. Also hello mudder hello fadder – it all comes back to me now.
Bart took over Camp Krusty on the Simpsons. Summer camp hijinks is a well worn trope of American pop culture. Movies, TV shows, music, you name it. Back in the 60s, there was even a show called Camp Runamuck. I don't remember it but just now found it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Runamuck
Camp Quest changed my life! I started going at age 12, and now as a 23 year old, it's the thing I can point to most clearly that has benefitted me the most. The sense of community, belonging, and affirmation that CQ provided me as a youngster (and as an adult) has been everything. I highly encourage anyone who is enthusiastic about CQ after reading this to donate or look into a camp near them, to volunteer at, or send a young person to.