The Summer Camp of Summer Camps
The kids got to experience something special that as a kid, I wasn't sure existed
Growing up in the 90’s, the concept of “summer camp” was a distant and murky idea, something to hope for but not ultimately experience. I grew up watching movies like “Heavyweights” and “Camp NoWhere” alongside a general “summer camp” vibe in so may children’s shows. In these movies summer camp was a place where all the adults were friendly and interested in your summer, most folks got along, you got to do a ton of fun outdoor activities, and it was an all around just awesome time. It was something that my friends and I always aspired to do, but it was something that “other kids” or “rich kids” got to do. Not something that was real and attainable.
The closest I ever really came was in a boy scouts camp that was in some place that I can’t remember much about. I grew up in Germany and on or around military bases; all my classmates and social circle were nearly entirely the children of other US service personnel. That meant that the pool for meeting new people was relatively small and the opportunities to do something that not “everyone” did were few. Enter the boy scouts camp which was, according to everything I was told, that kind of camp that we saw in the movies and commercials. There was supposed to be a ton of different and exciting experiences from archery to boating to first aid training! However, there were a few problems that would become apparent to me once I arrived: We, as a family, didn’t go to any of their churches, didn’t go to any of their other events, didn’t even go to a lot of the regular boy scouts activities. When I showed up, THEY all knew each other. I didn’t. THEY went to church. I didn’t. THEY all knew were familiar with each other from other camps, I wasn’t. THEY knew the counselors and where to go and things to do. I didn’t.
I was the Odd Kid Out.
My experience with camp wasn’t great because of this. The counselors weren’t welcoming, I didn’t know where to go or what to do, and no one was too keen on helping me out. It really did a number on the concept of summer camps and new places and experiences in general. It wasn’t as if they were singling me out or being a bully, it was more that everything was already a well-oiled machine, and I wasn’t a part of it. This was also one of my first and few brushes with religion and what it means to go to a church or even the concept of prayer. When I answered “I don’t know” to so many god questions, it was a stark barrier to making new friends and finding things to do.
As a parent it has made it an extreme priority to make sure my kids are well prepared and able to do “away from home” camps with better results than I had. So many are church based so that everyone who already goes to that church already know each other. They also often make it a religious themed camp that kids can’t really escape from if they aren’t already indoctrinated into the religions. We want summer camp memories but without the brow beating of religious teachings and dogmatic recitations. Not only that, can it be a place of exploring, of learning, of welcome like we kinda saw in those 90s movies? Can a new kid just show up and get integrated in? Can they come home actually WANTING to go back? That magical summer camp experience may not be real, but I could at least make sure they have a good time and make memories. They’ve made it through other camps before, and they were great, but they weren’t that sweet spot of adventure and fun.
Then we went to Camp Quest.
The kids absolutely loved this camp. In the weeks leading up to this new camp, both were against any kind of sleep away camp because of the new people, the mandatory prayer, the missed activities, the rigorous scheduling, the list went on and on. Yet, when we came to pick them up, they had nothing but good things to tell us. They weren’t rushing to get in the car to get home and away as quickly as possible, they were paling around with the counselors, waving goodbye to new friends, showing off things they had made. Neither kid could get a sentence out before the next one cut in, they were that pumped about this camp.
My oldest listed off all her bunk mates alongside her favorite counselors and all the fun things they did. Not only did they get to do the nails and make-up that she loves, she got to create a bunch of bracelets and artwork for her friends. She caught her first fish, saw how a wasp nest is made, climbed some rock walls, found a new favorite food dish, and even had her first philosophical debates at the Socrates Café. My youngest ALSO caught his first fish, DID end up attempting every activity, and he too participated in those discussions as well. He was particularly excited to share a “hot-seat” event where you talk about your favorite new thing you’ve learned about fellow campers and counselors. Neither one had a story about how they felt frustrated or had to explain themselves to others. Only stories of how their Critical Thinking Challenge skits were a big success, and how their intereactions with nature were a ton of fun as well as educational.
The kids had found a welcoming, inclusive, safe, exciting, engaging, and all around wonderful summer camp. The staff there did a phenomenal job, with easy check-in, safety briefings, and proper counselor training and camper ratio. There was no judgement of anyone’s sexuality, identity, religious affiliation, or background. They took extreme care to ensure that safety standards were maintained like properly registering every medication at check in, and recording the application of medication to the day, time, and dosage, and reason. The staff hand delivered mail and letters to campers that we could leave behind as there were no cell phones or electronics at this camp. A wonderful screen break for the kids, even IF they collected enough numbers to fill the coming weeks with texting their camp friends.
From the sounds of it, they had that 90’s summer that I thought didn’t exist. Camp Quest is the place that really restores that hope for me and I’m so glad the kids got to experience that. This is the camp the kids say they want to go back to. This is the camp that taught the kids inquisitiveness instead of authoritative lectures when it comes to science and nature. This is the camp where no one had to hide their sexuality or be afraid to come forward with their own identity – everyone felt safe to do so and much learning was done.
I’m so glad I sent my kids to Camp Quest. Camp Quest is also great because it is secular and inclusive – none of the tuition goes to fund religious organizations or anti-inclusive groups. It goes directly to the nonprofit that uses those funds to expand secular camps like this one across the US. Too many camps or summer programs are bible camps or church groups that make inquisitive kids unwelcome. Or worse yet, try to instill some of the toxic superstitions that we find so troubling today.
I plan on sending them back next year and I really do think this camp is something special. You really can have that magical summer camp from the 90s, you just have to know where to look.
That place is Camp Quest. Thanks to the crew over there for a wonderful and enriching summer camp experience. If you’re reading this and are unsure about where to send the kiddos next summer, I absolutely recommend Camp Quest!
I am so sorry Jason. 😢 You are a far better parent.