Not religious? There’s a summer camp for you

CLARKSVILLE – Under the cover of trees during a recent day at a camp called Quest, kids gather into a “talking circle” and are asked to write down their most pressing questions and put them in a hat. The sky’s the limit, they’re told.

Camp Director Shawn Jeffers reads them, one by one. Let’s talk about artificial intelligence, one camper has penned. “Why don’t we see baby birds,” writes another. One child nervously raises her hand and launches into an argument of why books are, in fact, better than movies.

In another group across the field, discussion lingers on depression and ways people can help those in need. Though eclectic in nature, the discussions largely focused on acceptance of all people, no matter their beliefs.

It’s a little hard to tell by looking but this is a camp for the decidedly not religious. It’s for children who define themselves – or their families define themselves – as secularists, humanists and atheists. It’s the only summer camp of its kind in our region and one of only about a dozen nationwide. It’s celebrating its 20th anniversary, and it’s twice the size it was last year.

Here, in the woods of Warren County, campers get the opportunity to sculpt their own version of the Ten Commandments, life rules really, to make the world a better place: Take turns. Take care of the planet. Treat everyone equally. Have fun.

The point of the camp is scripted on the counselors’ T-shirts: Being good for goodness’ sake.

Parents of the campers here want their children to be understood and safe and OK without what is traditionally referred to as faith.

For them, Camp Quest is an intellectual playground, where their children are invited to play.

For more information on Camp Quest Ohio go to www.ohio.campquest.org