ALBANY, N.Y. — When Joe Fox sends his daughters away to summer camp, he's confident they'll be surrounded by kids who share his family's beliefs and values.
Caitlin, 16, and Elizabeth, 10, go to Camp Quest, which in 1996 created a niche getaway for children who are agnostic, atheist, or just not sure what to believe yet.
Parents have plenty of summer camp options, from Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to the YMCA to soccer, dance, music and drama camps. Many claim no religious affiliation while others are Jewish, Catholic or evangelical Christian. The Camp Quest concept started in 1996 with 20 kids at a site in Ohio with the slogan "Beyond Belief."
Since then, demand has grown and week-long camps have been added in Waterloo, Ont., Minnesota, Michigan, California and Tennessee. In 2007, the camps accommodated 150 kids, generally ages eight to 17. The projection for 2008 is more than 200 campers and new camps are also being considered in Vermont and the United Kingdom.