Camp Quest Smoky Mountains

Camp Quest Smoky Mountains is a secular, gender inclusive, residential camp for children and youth ages 8-17 held one week each summer. We provide an educational adventure shaped by fun, friends, and freethought, featuring science, natural wonder, and humanist values.

Our location in the Great Smoky Mountains of Eastern Tennessee allows us to promote stewardship of nature and to help campers explore the natural world every day. We also hold typical camp activities, like swimming, hiking, and arts and crafts, in addition to our signature Camp Quest offerings, like Socrates Cafe and Famous Freethinkers. We hope you'll join us! 

Camp Quest Smoky Mountains is staffed and run entirely by adult volunteers (ages 18 and up) who take a week off of work or school to guide, challenge, listen to, chase after, and play outside with a big group of energetic, freethinking kids (and adults!). Most Camp Quest volunteers love the experience so much that they keep coming back year after year.

Counselors are responsible for the safety, well-being, and education of the campers. They sleep in the dorms with the campers and participate in programs and activities with the campers. In addition to this, counselors are strongly encouraged to run one or more programs throughout the week.

Please note that all summer staff positions are unpaid, one-week volunteer positions. Staff must also arrive at camp a day early for orientation and additional training. Staff members are responsible for getting themselves to and from camp. Meals and housing are provided. Background checks are performed on all staff members.

Note: We only share our exact location with accepted volunteers and registered families for security reasons. We are located about an hour east of Knoxville in the Smoky Mountains, and we can arrange carpooling if needed to attend from the Knoxville area.