Secular Summer Camp Coming to Seattle

If you want to know what I've been doing for the last month and a half (besides Seattle Atheists, of course), it's been this: making Camp Quest NorthWest a reality. Part of me still can't believe we're really doing this, but it's happening! And I'm honored to be a part of it. Here's our official release:

SEATTLE, WA - In the summer of 2012, Camp Quest NorthWest is bringing a new kind of summer camp to the Pacific Northwest. With science experiments and s’mores, campfires and activities to foster critical thinking, Camp Quest NorthWest provides a secular twist on the time-honored summer camp experience for campers aged 8-17.

On August 20, 2011, Camp Quest NorthWest will host a half-day “Taste of Camp Quest NorthWest” Potluck event at Cottage Lake Park in Woodinville from noon - 6:00pm. The event is open to everyone, including parents, children, and volunteers. “We want to serve campers a slice of the Camp Quest experience,” says Chuck Wolber, Camp Director.

In many ways, Camp Quest NorthWest is a traditional sleepaway summer camp, with camp activities like sports, crafts, games, swimming, and campfires. But the camp also has an important intellectual side, says Wolber. “Camp Quest provides the opportunity for inquisitive children to explore the boundaries of their minds. That’s why we have educational activities like Socrates Café and code-breaking. We put a focus on the important stuff like critical thinking, ethics, scientific inquiry, philosophy, and comparative religion.

Excitement is high among Seattle-area freethinkers who are pitching in to help the fledgling camp. The Humanists of North Puget Sound have offered to match all donations up $10,000 until the end of 2011, which will be used for facilities, speakers, supplies, and “camperships.” In addition, earlier this year, Seattle Atheists raised $2,700 for the camp with its “Rapture Relief” campaign.

Camp Quest NorthWest is a chapter of Camp Quest Inc., a fast-growing 501c3 secular summer camp organization based in Columbus, Ohio. There are currently 13 active Camp Quest chapters across the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Norway.

For more information about camp registration and upcoming events, and how to volunteer, Camp Quest NorthWest’s website is at campquestnorthwest.org.

The End Is Nigh...But Probably Not

Okay, by now you've probably heard about Family Radio's Harold Camping preaching that the End Times are upon us (while sinking a disgusting amount of advertising money into it). According to this particular sect of Christianity, Judgment Day is tomorrow, May 21, which will be followed by five months of terrifying Armageddon for those left behind, and on October 21, the world will cease to exist.

Seattle Atheists, however, isn't going to just stand by while this happens. We've decided that, if the Rapture were indeed to happen, it's pretty much guaranteed that we'll be left behind, so we better be prepared to do something about all that pain and suffering. Thus, we're raising money for our Rapture Relief campaign, in which we'll do our level best to provide relief to a world ravaged by earthquakes, asteroids, volcanic eruptions, plagues, and all manner of suffering.

Um, seriously?

All kidding aside, in the more likely event that the world continues as normal on May 22, we do have an honest plan in the works. Camp Quest is a summer camp devoted to teaching children about science and critical thinking, and we want to throw in our support. In fact, the closest camp is in California, and it's time to work on opening a local chapter in Washington, which is exactly where our donations and efforts are going.


I'm excited to be working on a fundraiser for a good cause. I've heard nothing but praise for the camp from parents who've sent their children there, so I'm proud to be supporting it. The truth is, beliefs have consequences, and they can sometimes have disastrous results. Let's make sure future generations don't get sucked into any and every ridiculous idea that gets thrown at them.

If you'd like to help out, you can chip in here: