Christian Campers Focus on Politics

Aug. 15, 2005 — -- Most summer camps are about canoeing, camp fires and games of capture the flag. But one in rural Virginia is all about campaigns -- political and advertising.

At "Generation Joshua," in Purcellville, Va., high school-aged campers put on pretend press conferences and act out political advertisements about such issues as abortion and gay marriage.

Camp officials are trying to harness the power of evangelical home-schoolers, many of whom were politicized by the court battles over teaching children at home.

"As far as I'm concerned, it's just as much fun as getting out there canoeing, water rafting, so on and so forth," said camper Judah Parker.

The week-long camp is organized around a mock presidential campaign. Three candidates each speak in strident sound bites about the hot-button issues of the day.

"I believe very strongly in the sanctity of human life," candidate Micah Derry said about abortion.

Parker spoke out against gay marriage: "For the family to be as healthy as possible, there needs to be a mother and father in the home."

Grooming Future Leaders

The camp is named after the biblical character of Joshua, who took over for Moses and led the chosen people into the promised land. The people who run the camp want to lead these young evangelicals into power in a very different land -- Washington, D.C.

"I want some of these young people to be the senators and congressmen and governors and state legislators, and maybe even president of the United States someday," said Mike Farris.

The three candidates say that, in many ways, they're normal teenagers. They like "Star Wars" and they like to joke around. But unlike most teens, they believe they're Christian soldiers with a mission to take back America for God.

ABC News' Dan Harris reported this story for "World News Tonight."