The first Quest Day of 2025 broke yesterday with a blast! The theme was revealed, the character leads announced, and campers put on teams. Quest Day is a beloved event that is a cross between Maccabiah/Color War and a Dungeons and Dragons game. All campers are assigned characters (typically based on their workshop) who they help throughout the day. Teams complete tasks throughout the day in order to increase their character’s stats. These stats are then used in the culmination of the day, in which all the characters play a live RPG (Roll Playing Game) with a collaborative goal.
Quest Day, now in its 4th year, is a much-anticipated part of our returning campers and staff’s summer. But what about our new counselors? We checked in with a couple for the hot take.
“I think Quest Day is a great way for people to interact and have healthy competition”, said Harrison who is here at Sci-Tech for the first time and is one of the 4th and 5th grade counselors.
We also caught up with Elec who was a camper here back before there was Quest Day and now is a first-year counselor. “I like that the camp is grouped by workshops who compete against each other. I also like there is not just competitive stuff but also smart and interesting stuff”.
The Quest Day theme was “Scitechlantis” (Sci-Tech + Atlantis). The challenge was for the teams to empower and equip their character (each a scientific explorer) to find the mystical underwater land of Scitechlantis.
Quest Day is split into three parts. The first part of the day consisted of each workshop team completing tasks for points, which help the scientist complete the quest. If campers successfully completed a puzzle, their character gained intelligence points. If they completed a physical challenge, characters got increased dexterity points. These points are vital for part 3!
During the second part of the day each workshop team created their own version of a movement/propulsion device and breathing device their scientist characters needs based on their job. 
Each team then presented their device to the other teams. The lessons the campers are learning in workshop was evident as they gave their presentations. For example, when the robotics workshop group gave their presentation, they incorporated a life lesson learned from their instructor. The robotics workshop team named their device “Tuby” after a beloved workshop robot. The team recounted in their presentation the instructor’s words of wisdom that the projects campers create will stay at camp but the connections they form with each other while completing the projects will stay with them.
The final event of the day is the live RPG (Roll Playing Game). The entire camp comes together in the PAC (Performing Arts Center) and the characters take the stage. The game master rolls the dice, and each workshop guides their character through a series of challenges to complete the quest. This lively closing to the day draws on everyone’s talents and skills, from the campers working together to choose the next move, to the 10th graders who take a leadership role in creating and leading the RPG, and even the instructors and counselors who play the characters.
The camaraderie, joy, and sense of satisfaction of Quest Day stays with everyone in camp, not just for the rest of the session, but as our seasoned campers recount, throughout the rest of the year. As for our new counselors, Harrison and Elec, they can’t wait for the next Quest Day!