Vacation Liberty School Teaches Kids About America's Faith, Politics & Founding Values

What happens when vacation Bible school, a U.S. history course and a Tea Party rally collide? The result is Vacation Liberty School, a volunteer-run, summer program for kids between the ages of 10 and 15.

The five-day, educational experience offers talks, skits and a variety of activities that focus on American history and the nation's founding. Held in local churches across the nation, the schools run for about three hours per day and are mostly free (aside from some nominal fees).

According to Courier-Journal.com, kids learn lessons that include: “understanding false extensions of separation of church and state,” “faith's role in the Revolutionary War” and “avoiding the enslavement of debt," among others. Below, watch more information about this intriguing educational experience, centered around one such school in Danville, KY:

In discussing the intersection of faith, history and contemporary political discourse, these hybrid camp-school experiences are unique. They are run by members associated with the Glenn Beck-inspired 9/12 Project, which embraces nine principles and 12 inherent values. Like Vacation Liberty School, these values and principles involve both faith-based and political proclamations. The Courier-Journal.com explains the history of these intriguing camps:

The first Liberty school was held in Georgetown, Ky., in 2010 by 9/12 members including Lisa Abler, who fashioned a curriculum and made it available for free online on the Vacation Liberty School website.

Since then, the summer schools have been held in Owensboro, Versailles and Danville. An estimated 1,000 children have attended 40 similar schools across the country this year in states including Florida and Michigan, most using a curriculum developed in Kentucky, according to Eric Wilson, head of the Kentucky 9/12 project.

Of course, these schools have found their critics. Joseph Conn, a spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State, says that Vacation Liberty Schools are troubling. Aside from being biased toward certain religious and political views, he sees them as trying to re-write American history.

Supporters, though, claim that the materials taught are based on fact and original documentation (including the coveted words of America's founding fathers). Back in 2010, Lisa Abler created the curriculum for the first ever Liberty School. The materials she drafted have been provided for free on the Vacation Liberty School web site.

Last year, Beck featured the schools on his television show and said that they give him "great hope." Back in June, The Blaze brought you information about a Vacation Liberty School in Tampa, Florida, as well. In the end, these day camps provide families with an intriguing summer activity to consider for their children.