What is Camp Quest?
Camp Quest UK provides residential (sleepaway) summer camp experiences across the UK. We offer a wide range of activities including sports, crafts, games, swimming, music, drama, and camp fires. In addition to the more typical summer camp activities, Camp Quest offers an educational program focused on critical thinking, ethics, scientific inquiry and philosophy.
Camp Quest is open to all children and teenagers aged 10-17. Our goal is to provide a place where children can explore their developing worldviews, ask questions, and make friends in a supportive and safe environment that prioritises figuring things out for yourself using reason over reaching the “correct” conclusion.
Are the campers religious or non-religious?
We welcome all children, from all backgrounds. Camp Quest’s aim is to get campers thinking and asking themselves questions, while equipping them with the tools to go off and come to their own conclusions about a wide range of topics. There is no dogma or agenda – an atmosphere of inquiry is created and the campers are encouraged to discuss their ideas.
We fully expect that a lot of children simply don’t quite know what they believe just yet (just like many adults!), and we encourage open, civil, debate. We try encourage the children to explore for themselves what they believe, rather than telling them what is true, or what they should label themselves as.
Both the parents and the children wishing to attend camp should understand that the ethos of Camp Quest is to discuss and question ideas. Our aim is to inspire children to leave with questions and a keen interest in finding the answers.
Where and when is Camp Quest?
For information about our upcoming camps click here. Please also feel free to contact us at info@camp-quest.org.uk with any queries.
How much does Camp Quest cost?
Our prices can vary each year depending on the site costs, however we keep prices as low as possible. The prices include every cost the camper could incur during the camp. Prices are listed on our Upcoming Camps page here – if there isn’t any price yet we are still finalising details. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any queries.
Is financial aid available?
Thanks to generous donations from individuals and organisations we are able to offer reduced rate places for those families who would not otherwise be able to afford the cost of camp. Please contact us if you have any further queries.
We are able to offer all parents the opportunity to pay in instalments, so please mention this when you make your booking.
How many kids generally attend? What are their age brackets?
We welcome children between the ages of 10-17. We used to have seperate junior and senior camps but have now opted for one large camp, with activities chosen that are suitable for all of the campers attending. The camp usually has 36-40 young people attending.
Who are the staff and how are they chosen?
Camp Quest is run by a team of volunteers. To find out more about them click here.
The volunteers are responsible for organising the camps, running sessions, and for the welfare of campers. Some physical activities (e.g. climbing, high ropes) are run by the qualified centre staff as appropriate.
Our leaders range in age from 18 to 73. All our volunteer staff are DBS checked (enhanced criminal background check), and any volunteers that come from outside the UK are background checked in their own country.
Are there other Camp Quests outside the UK?
There are Camp Quests throughout North America and in Norway and Switzerland. There are hopes to start other Camp Quests in Europe in the future.
I want to contact someone about including Camp Quest in a media piece or publication that I am working on. Who should I contact?
Please email info@camp-quest.org.uk if you are seeking information for media or publication purposes. We are happy to talk with you, or put you in touch with others who can give you the information you are looking for.
I want to help, what can I do?
There are three main ways to help out Camp Quest. The first is to donate. Donations help primarily by allowing low income families to pay a reduced rate for the camps. We believe financial hardship should not be a reason for a young person to miss out on Camp Quest. If you would like to donate, please contact Dianna at info@camp-quest.org.uk.
The second way to help is to volunteer by becoming a leader at a current Camp Quest, or helping to start a new Camp Quest. At present we don’t have the resources to run more camps in other locations, but we are always on the lookout for enterprising people to help us expand. If you think you have what it takes, get in touch.
You can also help us out by spreading the word about Camp Quest, or helping us with projects throughout the year. Get in touch if you can offer your skills (or would like to write about us on your blog).
