• A stronger bond among those who participate in service
• A deeper understanding of people who’s lives may be very far removed from the setting of the academy
• People outside the organization getting a face to put with a very under represented worldview
• Networking and community building with other organizations

Almost all campuses have a student organization in charge of finding worthwhile service projects for other student groups.  If you don’t already know what group this is on our campus, ask your campus office of student organizations.  They will be happy to point you in the right direction.

If your group is still young, exercise some caution during your first few service events.  Try to participate in an event where your group is not the whole show.  Odds are that at least a couple of people that tell you they will be there are going to bail on you.  Make sure that your event doesn’t turn into a disaster because of it.  Another tactic is simply to assign someone from your group to research individual service opportunities and presenting a short list of them to the group at meetings.

A specific service opportunity that many young freethinkers find especially appealing is volunteering at Camp Quest.  Camp Quest is the first residential summer camp for atheist, agnostic, Humanist, skeptic and other freethinking kids.  Camp Quest started in Kentucky, them moved to Ohio.  Additional camps have sprung up in Tennessee, Michigan and Minnesota and more may come about shortly.  The camps typically run from seven to nine days.  They don’t pay, but they do provide free lodging and food for the duration of camp.  To learn more, visit http://www.camp-quest.com    

Campers and counselors at Camp Quest gather around the fire ring