Search results for: Camp Quest

Third-quarter children’s beneficiary Camp Quest gave us this report about how they are using the funds contributed by members of Foundation Beyond Belief. Members donated $3,325 to Camp Quest last quarter.

Camp Quest was honored to be selected as a Foundation Beyond Belief beneficiary for a second year. Like last year, we are using the Foundation’s support to launch new camps.  It takes about $5,000 in seed money to start a new camp. Camp Quest gives out grants of $2,500, which gets our volunteer camp organizers halfway there, and they match that amount by raising the rest from local supporters. In 2010, Camp Quest used the $2,470 raised by Foundation Beyond Belief toward a camp-starting grant for Camp Quest Chesapeake, which had a very successful first camp session in 2011 with 35 campers.

This year, of the $3,325 raised by Foundation Beyond Belief, we are using $2,500 to fully fund a camp-starting grant for Camp Quest South Carolina.  Camp Quest South Carolina held a very successful family weekend October 1-2, which was attended by more than 120 people.  They are preparing to hold their first week-long sleep-away camp session in summer 2012, and the $2,500 camp-starting grant will make a big difference.

But that’s not all! We are putting the remaining $825 raised by Foundation Beyond Belief toward another camp-starting grant.  We are very excited to announce that Camp Quest is coming to Washington State. Camp Quest NorthWest will be holding their first session August 15-21, 2012.  Support from Foundation Beyond Belief will provide one-third of their camp starting grant.

Foundation Beyond Belief’s support over these last two years is making a huge difference for Camp Quest.  We want to thank all of the members of the Foundation for their generosity. It means a lot to us to see a community of atheists, humanists, and other freethinkers coming together to support Camp Quest and so many other worthy organizations.  Thank you Foundation Beyond Belief!

Amanda K. Metskas
Executive Director, Camp Quest, Inc.

Third-quarter beneficiary Camp Quest gave us this report on how the funds they received from Foundation Beyond Belief will help them with their ongoing work.

For an organization with a small budget like Camp Quest, the $2,470 donation from the Foundation Beyond Belief makes a huge difference. Camp Quest operates almost entirely on volunteer labor, and currently we have volunteers starting new camps in a few locations. It takes about $5,000 in seed money to get a new camp started. We give out grants of $2,500 to get our volunteers halfway there, and they match that amount by raising the rest of the funds from local supporters. The $2,470 from Foundation Beyond Belief almost entirely funds our start-up grant to Camp Quest Chesapeake, which is having its first session in summer 2011 in Virginia.

In 2010, Camp Quest had more campers attend camp than ever before, and some of our locations even had to start a waiting list because they reached capacity. Launching new camps helps us meet this increasing demand and provides parents with options to send their children to camp closer to home.

We want to thank Foundation Beyond Belief for selecting Camp Quest, and we want to thank all of the members of the foundation for their generosity. It means a lot to us to see a community of atheists, humanists, and other freethinkers coming together to support our program along with so many other worthy organizations.

Amanda K. Metskas
Executive Director, Camp Quest, Inc.

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AMANDA METSKAS is Executive Director of Camp Quest, our current beneficiary in the “Big Bang” category — small charities (budgets under $1 million) making a big impact. Amanda launches our new ASK THE CHARITIES series by responding to questions submitted by our members.

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Q I’m sure you get this question all the time. We’re in southeastern Wyoming, just about maddeningly halfway between the Camp Quests in CA and MN. What are CQ’s plans for expansion, and might they include something in or around the Mountain timezone? — Dean W., Wyoming

A People regularly contact us because they want to see a Camp Quest get started in their area. We would love to see Camp Quest programs available to families everywhere, and I’d especially love to see a camp in the Rocky Mountains! Since we are a small organization with only one paid staff person, our expansion to new camps is driven by where we find local volunteers who are committed to starting camps. We help those independent groups of volunteers with training, troubleshooting, start-up grants, promotional materials, and other support. If you are interested in getting a camp started in your area, contact us and we’ll help you get going! 

Q How do you explain what Camp Quest is about to people who insist you’re indoctrinating kids with Atheism? — Paul P. (no location given)