Testimonials
Check out what some of our community members have had to say about their Camp Quest experience!
From Rita, Former Volunteer:
“One of my most meaningful moments at Camp Quest happened late one night, sitting around the campfire with a camper who was about 12 or 13. She was having a hard time, and another staff member asked if I could talk with her. As we sat there, she started sharing everything she had been learning at camp: the universe, big ideas, heavy questions, and this deep sense of awe about how vast everything is. She was so excited and so full of wonder, but also overwhelmed.
She told me she felt this intense need to share what she was discovering, but that her parents didn’t understand her interest. ‘There are people across the world who don’t even know about this,’ she said. ‘I just want to be able to tell them.’ It was an incredibly emotional moment, watching someone so young finding her voice, realizing what matters to her, and feeling frustrated that the people back home couldn’t quite meet her there. At one point, she looked at me and asked, completely sincerely, ‘Is this what they call an existential crisis?’
Moments like that are why Camp Quest matters. Camp gives kids a place where they feel safe, where they belong, and where they’re encouraged to think deeply and ask real questions, no matter how complicated things might feel at home or in their hometowns. It’s such a contrast to what we often see in schools, where compliance and authority are emphasized over curiosity and exploration. At Camp Quest, kids are invited to try new challenges, wrestle with big ideas, and find their own answers.
For me, Camp Quest was also where I found true community after leaving Christianity. Being part of a space that values curiosity, compassion, and freethought (especially for young people) has been incredibly powerful. I truly believe experiences like these help campers grow into thoughtful, confident adults who will go on to contribute meaningfully to the world.”
From Caroline, Volunteer:
“One experience that still stays with me from Camp Quest involved a camper who faced more barriers than most. She was adopted and spoke very limited English. We knew her family ahead of time and did our best to support her along with her siblings at camp, but she was understandably shy and very self-conscious throughout the week.
At the end of each session, Camp Quest Smoky Mountains hosts a ‘No Talent Show,’ a space where the whole point is that you do not need a traditional talent to participate. With a lot of gentle encouragement, this camper decided to get up in front of the entire camp. When it was her turn, she sang a song in her native language, Chinese.
The moment was breathtaking. You could feel the vulnerability it took for her to stand there and the courage it took to share something so personal. When she finished, the entire camp erupted in applause. The support was overwhelming. Staff were crying, campers were cheering, and there was a shared understanding that something really special had just happened.
What moved me most was watching dozens of kids, many of whom had been complete strangers just days earlier, embrace and celebrate someone who had every reason to hold back. Despite language differences, cultural barriers, and fear, she was fully seen and accepted. That is what Camp Quest does best. It creates a community where kids are supported exactly as they are, and where belonging is not something you have to earn. It is something you are given.”
From a Camper Parent:
“What keeps our family coming back to Camp Quest is the way it opens our children up to a wider world. It helps ensure we do not get stuck in a small bubble of our own experiences and perspectives, and instead encourages curiosity, empathy, and connection with people who are different from us.
One of the most surprising things my camper learned was how natural respect can be. At Camp Quest, honoring someone’s identity is not treated as something complicated or performative. It is simply basic kindness, modeled every day by campers and staff alike. The Camp Quest community feels like freedom from judgment and freedom from the need to justify who you are. There is room to be different, and even room to not have yourself fully figured out yet.
Spaces like Camp Quest matter now more than ever. Every child deserves a place where they can simply be a kid and feel completely safe being themselves. For many children, Camp Quest is the only place where that kind of safety and belonging exists. For our family, finding a camp grounded in curiosity, kindness, and inclusion has meant everything.
I would absolutely recommend Camp Quest to other families. The experience is unlike anything else. Being able to be one hundred percent yourself without fear or judgment is a gift, and it builds confidence in a way very few environments do. If Camp Quest did not exist, families would be missing a safe, joyful way to expose their children to a wide variety of people and experiences, without pressure or expectation.”
From Sarah, Former Volunteer
“When I think back on my time at Camp Quest, it is honestly hard to choose just one favorite memory. Some of my favorite moments happened around the campfire, during talent shows, or at Socrates Café, where we had the chance to talk openly about big ideas and ask real questions. Those moments were meaningful, but what had the biggest impact on me were the friendships.
I grew up in a small, predominantly Protestant town in central Pennsylvania, so Camp Quest gave me an opportunity to experience diversity in ways I had not encountered in my everyday life. Being surrounded by people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and stories was incredibly powerful. It challenged me, broadened my understanding of the world, and helped me grow in ways I still carry with me today.
Camp Quest was more than just a fun week at camp. It was a place where I connected deeply with others, felt a sense of belonging, and learned how meaningful it can be to truly know and be known by people who are different from you.”