Hi all! I hope you don't mind this shameless plug. Many of you have hopefully heard of Camp Quest but you might not know we have a new, later date for this summer and we've also extended our registration deadline.

Some info....

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Camp Quest is the first residential summer camp in the history of the United States for the children of Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists, Brights, or whatever other terms might be applied to those who hold to a naturalistic, not supernatural world view.

The purpose of Camp Quest is to provide children of freethinking parents a residential summer camp dedicated to improving the human condition through rational inquiry, critical and creative thinking, scientific method, self-respect, ethics, competency, democracy, free speech, and the separation of religion and government guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.

Camp Quest was first held in 1996 and until 2002 was operated by the Free Inquiry Group, Inc. (FIG) of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The idea for the project originated with Edwin Kagin and he and his wife Helen served as Camp Directors for the first ten years of the original Camp Quest, retiring at the end of the 2005 camp session.

Currently Camp Quest, Inc., an independent 501(c)(3) educational non-profit, operates the Ohio Camp Quest and works to coordinate with and support the other independently governed Camp Quest programs. Six Camp Quest summer camps currently offer programs across North America.

CQ-Ohio is headed toward a record number, and has raised their limit to 72, so the economy seems not to be an issue. I have lots of volunteer staff applications and inquiries.

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CAMP QUEST of the SMOKY MOUNTAINS (CQSM)

Camp Quest of the Smoky Mountains will be held again this year at the Great Smoky Mountain Institute at Tremont, near Townsend, Tennessee, within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Surroundings and amenities include the following:

* Air-conditioned dorms (boys and girls separate)
* Full bathrooms (with showers)
* A cafeteria maintained by GSMIT full-time staffers
* Several hiking trails
* Fresh mountain stream
* Playing field
* Picnic shelter
* Ample sun and fresh air

SPECIAL! Early registration discount of $50 has been extended for full payment made through May 15.

CQSM will be held July 26 - August 2, 2009, for ages 8-17. Applications for campers and applications for staff are available at http://www.rationalists.org/cq/index.php. For more information on Camp Quest 2009, contact Jonas Holdeman at (865)966-6478.