Comments on: Highly Recommended

By: what

what — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Two more years and my daughter and I will be Camp Quest Campers. I can’t wait!

By: Apple_Christmas

Apple_Christmas — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I went to the Camp Quest website ans saw that the kids participate in “activities that teach them about freethought and humanist principles.” I don’t have any kids, but honestly I don’t think I’d want my kids to have to deal with anything so heavy as philosophy and ethics on their summer vacation. I’d rather they just have some fun with the canoeing and campfires and such. I’m sure there’s plenty of that too… but I’m extremely wary of any group of adults with a strong ideology trying to influence kids in a setting where they literally can’t get away from it. Even if it’s an ideology I (mostly) agree with.

Dave, maybe you can tell us, what sort of “freethought activities” do they do at Camp Quest? I’m also curious, suppose a religious parent wants to sign their kids up. Would they be accepted?

By: remy

remy — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Apologies, **OFF TOPIC**

Spanders, (et al)

Here is a radio interview with Bishop Spong (38min.). If the link doesn’t work go to CBC pod casts and the program entitled Tapestry. Here is a theist who one can admire.

http://www.cbc.ca/podcasting/pastpodcasts.html?26#ref26

By: wisconsinatheist

wisconsinatheist — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

WOOHOO! Thread was derailed by the third post. That has to be some sort of record. Apparently, remy didn’t like the content of the thread so he/she had to make it about what he/she wanted to talk about. WAY TO GO!

By: spanders

spanders — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

thanks remy, I’ll check it out!

By: spanders

spanders — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

wisconsinatheist, knowing remy, it wasn’t an intentional derailment.

By: aviaa

aviaa — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

.... maybe you can tell us, what sort of "freethought activities" do they do at Camp Quest? I'm also curious, suppose a religious parent wants to sign their kids up. Would they be accepted?

At CQ Ohio (and I'd imagine at most of the other camps as well) the freethought acivities are fairly short and/or incorporated into other activities. We have "Famous Freethinkers", where kids listen to a three to five minute description of a freethinker from history after meals. We try to encourage various problem solving and rational thinking exercises within other exercise. It's not like school--- it's like summer camp, but with a freethought twist.

Religious families can and have send campers to CQ, though it's been a pretty rare request.

And, to clarify another statement you made earlier in your post, we're definitely less about "influence" and more about "information."

By: imaskeptic

imaskeptic — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

the whole concept of religion is to do one’s thinking them, from as early in childhood as possible…”give me the boy and i’ll give you the man”…to quote the jesuits. Thus i wouldn’t think a religious family would want any camp to teach independant thinking to their child, undoing years of brainwashing…the christian is the pencil without an eraser…”it is written”….anyway, isn’t there any safe haven from jesus freaks and hitler youths?

By: remy

remy — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

wisconsinatheist,
And just how do you think I ought communicate something that I know Spanders would be interested in?

AND, how is the thread derailed? You are not required to follow every post. I would submit that you're complaint is what has now derailed the thread.

By: rainbows4dinosaurs

rainbows4dinosaurs — Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Didn't I read something somewhere about a bunch of teachers in Virginia freaking out because they were required to hand out Camp Quest brochures along with all the Boy Scout and 4H stuff?