Questival

Questival was a weekend camping trip organised by the AHS and Leeds Atheist Society, inspired by Camp Quest UK, and sponsored by the British Humanist Association. Questival ran from 5 pm on Friday 13th August 2010 until 4 pm on Sunday 15th. Tickets available.

Unlike Camp Quest, which is aimed at children, Questival is for fully grown atheists, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers and all those who embrace a naturalistic rather than supernatural world view.

The event, whilst aimed mainly at students, was open to adults of all ages. The weekend features Iszi Lawrence and Rebecca Watson, and the theme was... HAVING FUN!

What's up in 2010?

Questival is ran for the first time from August 13th to 15th at Dalesbridge in the Yorkshire Dales.

Beautifully situated in the Forest of Bowland at the point where it meets the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Dalesbridge offers stunning scenery and an idyllic setting for visitors wishing to stay and enjoy the area

There were standard outdoor activities such as walking round the Dales, mixed in with the usual Camp Quest inquisition in the form of...

• critical thinking and logical fallacies
• scientific method and pseudo-science
• philosophy
• ethics
• famous freethinkers and world religions
• The Invisible Unicorn Challenge!!!

...plus a bar featuring skeptical stand-up from Iszi Lawrence and Rebecca Watson!

Iszi, as seen in the Perrier Award winning The Passion of the Hodgson, is an 'upbeat' comedian 'with nicely improvised material' which sits well within her intelligent, witty and darkly satirical set. Her first hour show 'Matter of Tact' was Time Out recommended and London Lite's Comedy Pick, and she will be shortly debuting her second show 'Science Friction'. Radio credits include appearances on BBC Radio 1's The Milkrun, BBC radio Oxford's Breakfast show and BBC 7 as a BBC New Comedy Award semi-finalist, 2005. She has also written and performed for Resonance FM's The Ten Minute Sketch Show. Along with Simon Dunn, Iszi produces the weekly podcast, Sundays Supplement.

Rebecca leads a team of skeptical female activists at Skepchick.org, hosts the Curiosity Aroused podcast, co-hosts the weekly podcast The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe, produces pin-up calendars of scientists and skeptics, and attempts to rock harder each year. She currently lives in London where she works as a freelance writer in order to fund her hardcore skepticism habit. There is currently an asteroid orbiting the sun with her name on it. She does nothing in moderation and hopes it shows. You can follow her every fascinating move on Twitter: @rebeccawatson.