The following is a guest post from Cael Reinhardt, an aspiring young musician who happens to live under my roof.
Camp Quest Oklahoma is a camp unlike any other. I have been a camper every year since 2011, I understand how different Camp Quest is to other camps, and all the benefits it offers in addition to the ordinary nature camp feel. Camp Quest not only gives campers the thrills and moments of excitement that the outdoors portion of the camp provides (canoeing on the lake, rappelling down the cliff, gathering for campfire songs, and so on), but also informs campers about religion and philosophy, without forcing any sort of belief system upon the attendees.
This year’s camp, though sadly cut short, taught me of the many beliefs in the world in great detail. There was an activity after dinner where everyone in the camp gathered, and listened to various speakers talk about the different religions, such as Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Dudeism, and Ancient Greek mythology. We learned about how they all had come to be, their prophets (if any), and the major ideas and beliefs. It truly was an eye opening experience regardless if you believed in it or not. You could see all the other things that average modern-day people believe. Instead of instructing what was right or wrong, they instead gave you all of the options, and left it at that for you, the listener, to choose for yourself what you believe is right or wrong. Yet, the lesson itself wasn’t the only memorable portion of the night, but the way the conveyed it to the audience made it so remarkable and unforgettable. Cabin counselors had actually dressed up in outfits, and had played the parts of the major religions. There was someone dressed as Shiva, one as Miriam (Moses’ sister), another as Jesus, another as Muhammad, another as the Greek goddess Athena, along with an actual Dudeist priest. Each one took turns telling of their religions, and the role they played in their religion, and turned it from a lecture to a fun, comfortable and interesting learning time where you could enjoy finding out what each religion stood for.
Camp Quest Oklahoma has always been a place for anyone to come and feel at home with one another. For anyone who has always felt different because of their beliefs, or non-beliefs, at Camp Quest, that uneasiness and worry fades away, and you can be yourself without worry of being judged. Camp Quest has always been my home away from home, and all throughout the year I look forward to being a part of it again. Regardless of camp being shortened this year, I look forward to going again next year.
