Camp Quest UK - The first childrens summer camp for science, philosophy, critical thinking and atheist / secular free thought! CQUK » News

Response to the Sunday Times

By Richard • Jun 30th, 2009 • Category: News

A recent series of articles in the Sunday Times (printed 28/6/2009) has caused significant media interest and unfortunately the dissemination of incorrect information.

Camp Quest is often labelled as an ‘atheist camp’ as we have a non-religious ethos, but we are open to the children from parents of all belief systems and none. Articles frame Camp Quest as a ‘rival’ to other religious camps, but we do not seek to promote an agenda or change what children might think - we hope to change how they think by encouraging them to ask questions of us and themselves.

Recent articles that have used information from the Sunday Times have inadvertantly used incorrect information regarding the level of involvement of Richard Dawkins and his foundation. Camp Quest would like to apologise to Richard Dawkins and his foundation for any inconvenience.

Camp Quest would like to highlight inaccurate statements and provide corrections;

Front Page

“Dawkins sets up kids’ camp to groom atheists” (Headline)

Richard Dawkins is not setting up Camp Quest UK. The word “groom” is misleading, offensive and inaccurate.

“The author of the God Delusion is helping to launch Britain’s first summer retreat for non‐believers”

Richard Dawkins has no personal involvement with Camp Quest UK.

“The five‐day camp in Somerset is for children aged 8 to 17 and will rival traditional
faith‐based breaks run by the Scouts and church groups”

Camp Quest is not designed to rival “faith‐based breaks”. It is peerless and has no rivals.

“Dawkins, who is subsidising the camp, said it was designed to ‘encourage children to
think for themselves, sceptically and rationally’ “

Richard Dawkins has no personal involvement with Camp Quest. He is not “subsidising” the camp. The Richard Dawkins Foundation has made a small one‐off donation to Camp Quest.

Page 7

“The five‐day retreat is being subsidised by Richard Dawkins “

Richard Dawkins has no personal involvement with Camp Quest and is not subsidising the camp.

“The youngsters’ mornings will be spent debunking supernatural phenomena such as the formation of crop circles and telepathy“

These activities have been done by Camp Quest groups in the US but are currently not on the
programme for Camp Quest UK 2009.

“Stein is now helping to bring the US concept, called Camp Quest, to Britain, as an alternative to faith‐based children’s retreats”.

Samantha Stein is the director of Camp Quest UK. With a committed group of volunteers, she has brought the concept to Britain.

“A week‐long stay at the Mill on the Brue Activity Centre normally costs more than
£500 but parents who have booked their children on the Camp Quest package are paying £275”.

The price reflects the fact that Camp Quest is a voluntary organisation where staff donate their time and experience. The price we offer is also due to the fact that the children will be camping, rather than staying in the residential accommodation.

Page 14

“Richard Dawkins … has come up with a novel idea to wean our children away from
God; summer camps for would‐be little non‐believers”

Edwin and Helen Kagin founded Camp Quest in 1996 in Kentucky. This idea did not originate with Richard Dawkins.

Camp Quest is primarily intended for children of non‐religious parents, rather than as a way of deconverting the religious. Our focus is not on what the children think, but on how they think.

“Strangely, the camp concept comes from America, home of the God‐fearing, and is
taking on the many Christian camps that flourish every summer in Britain”

Camp Quest is not about “taking on” religion. We exist as a secular alternative open to children from parents of all faiths and none.