Formation 2008 Website Camp Quest UK | Director Samantha Stein | |
Camp Quest UK is a British summer camp which aims to promote critical thinking in children.
Overview
Camp Quest is a non-religious summer camp for children which started in the United States in 1996. After reading about Camp Quest in Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion Samantha Stein volunteered at one and was prompted into starting a similar camp in the UK. Camp Quest UK was started by Stein and a group of volunteers in 2008, supported by a grant from the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, and hosted its first camp in 2009 in Somerset for children aged 8-17. The camp is an alternative to traditional faith-based camps such as those run by local churches.
At Camp Quest UK, participants discuss philosophical ideas, learn about subjects such as astronomy, and take part in traditional camp activities. The camp aims to promote co-operation, tolerance, and empathy, and teaches children how to think for themselves on matters such as religion and ethics. During the first Camp Quest UK in 2009, attendees were tasked with proving that an invisible unicorn didn't exist; aimed to show that a negative cannot be proven.