Noah’s Ark, the centerpiece of the Ark Encounter, is being targeted by atheist groups for “religious myths and proselytizing,” but its founder, Ken Ham, says the outside groups are “bullying” and “intimidating” kids and offered to give schools free admission to the site if they decide to defy the atheists.

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to over 1,000 school districts in five states surrounding the tourist attraction in Williamstown, Kentucky, warning them a field trip to the Ark would be unconstitutional. American Atheists sent letters in August to Kentucky schools.

“Public schools cannot organize trips for students to either the Creation Museum or the Ark Park,” FFRF wrote. “It is unacceptable to expose a captive audience of impressionable students to the overtly religious atmosphere of Ham’s Christian theme parks.”

Ham is calling out the groups for spending all their time attacking Christians. “The atheist groups like American Atheists and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have been increasingly aggressive to restrict the free exercise of religion – particularly Christianity,” he said, adding, “They’ve tried to brainwash people with an interpretation of the First Amendment… it does not mean that Christians are second-class citizens.”

Ham explained that as long as school officials visit the 510-foot-long Ark with an educational perspective and tell the students they don’t have to believe what they see, much like visiting a mosque, then they are well within their rights.

“I would like to see some public schools and public parks to stand up to them and not succumb to their bullying and intimidation,” Ham said. “Because the FFRF has sent letters to 1,000 school districts, I’m offering them free admission for the teachers, students who come on an official public school trip.”

Ham added, “And if they do sue them, we have expert attorneys who are willing to defend them in court and I’d like to see a test case go to the Supreme Court and stop this nonsense from these atheist groups who try to outlaw Christian influence in this nation.”