# Atheist Summer Camp Is Heaven on Earth for Nonbelievers

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-summer-camp-is-heaven-on-earth-for-nonbelievers/632525>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 24, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-summer-camp-is-heaven-on-earth-for-nonbelievers/632525 "2012-08-24T20:10:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-summer-camp-is-heaven-on-earth-for-nonbelievers/632525/1 "2012-08-24T20:10:31Z")

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They probably couldn’t help themselves with that title

> [@](#):
>
> Located just north of Seattle, Camp Quest Northwest is a summer camp for atheists or children of atheists, self-described “freethinkers” or people not otherwise traditionally religious.
> 
> “We would encourage them to read, to go to church,” said Chuck Wolber, one of Camp Quest Northwest’s founders. “The best way to become an atheist is to study the Bible, and I definitely recommend the kids do that.”

My favorite part:

> [@](#):
>
> The secular sleepaway camp rents the area from a Christian camp, so camp officials cover any signs saying “Lord” or “God” with masking tape

[http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-summer-camp-heaven-earth-nonbelievers-190240069--abc-news-topstories.html](http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-summer-camp-heaven-earth-nonbelievers-190240069--abc-news-topstories.html)

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**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-summer-camp-is-heaven-on-earth-for-nonbelievers/632525/2 "2012-08-24T22:11:40Z")

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What the hell happened to just ‘Summer Camp’? When did it all become preachy?

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**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-summer-camp-is-heaven-on-earth-for-nonbelievers/632525/3 "2012-08-24T22:21:11Z")

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> [@Taomist](#):
>
> What the hell happened to just ‘Summer Camp’? When did it all become preachy?

Insurance costs have made it pretty difficult for secular summer camps to operate in the black, whereas the religious ones are subsidized by their churches and tax exempt.