The camp quest idea originates from the USA. In 1995, activists from the secular Free Enquiry Group in Cincinnati, Ohio, decided to organise a camp of their own because the boy scout movement required from its members a religious commitment, thus effectively excluding children from non-religious families. The initiators describe their aim on www.campquest.org thus:

Camp Quest provides an educational adventure shaped by fun, friends and free thought, featuring science, natural wonder and humanist values.

The first Camp Quest took place in 1996. The idea appealed to similarly oriented organisations which led to to a first offshoot in the USA in 2002, then six of them in 2006. This year, 18 camps will be held in North America.

Camp Quest UK

Since 2009 there are also Camp Quests in the UK. Their initiator, Samantha Stein, reported on her experience on occasion of the Zurich Knowledge Festival Denkfest 2011, organised by the Freethinkers Switzerland.

Andreas Kyriacou, President of the Zurich Freidenker, proposed in autumn 2012 to organise such a camp also in Switzerland. It would focus on fun and sports, scientific topics, philosophy and critical thinking. Nearly 20 persons responded to the appeal, published in frei denken to assist with the planning and realisation of the first Swiss Camp Quest. Now the scene was set!

It goes without saying that all Camp Quests are open to children and youths independent of their ideological origin.