KidQuest Free Camp | Gretchen Glass & Taina Lopez

Gretchen Glass and Taina Lopez are “mothers, teachers, coaches, creators, innovators, and kid-encouragers” based in Black Mountain, NC. They believe curiosity, exploration, creativity and play are essential in the journey of childhood.

They had an idea for a free, local camp to help guide kids as they discover what captivates their interests and support them as they forge friendships that will last a lifetime, and pitched it to us during our live Pitch Competition in May, 2022. We loved their idea and are happy to support their project!

Can you describe your project and what you hope to achieve from it?

Our project is KidQuest Free Camp, a way to provide kid’s access to fun opportunities to learn, create and explore their interests. We want to spread the love in our community by offering a FREE summer program so any kid can be involved in summer camp activities. (Because camp is expensive and not accessible to all kids)

This year, we are running our camp June-August on two Mondays of every month.

Why is it important to you?

Kids thrive when they socialize in a healthy and supportive environment. Tablet time can take over during these long summer days. Moving our bodies and challenging our minds with hands-on activities is what helps us grow. Collaborating with peers and navigating social situations with the guidance of caring adults builds character and confidence.

What impact do you expect this project to have?

We want kids to have a place they feel they belong and can be themselves. We are passionate about building community and strengthening the ties between kids and families. It’s so important to have your Village when raising a family and we want to facilitate those relationships through our program.

What are your plans for the project/your journey in the future?

KidQuest Free Camp will introduce our KidQuest Afterschool program. We have a new home with the United Methodist Church of Black Mountain and we will grow our aftercare business there. We would like to continue to offer KidQuest Free Camp every summer as a way to give back to our community.

Taina Lopez (left) and Gretchen Glass (right) of KidQuest