Family

Tech-free
at camp!
When kids
unplug, they
make lifelong
connections
By Ashley TAlmAdge
In our world of constant connectivity,
some might argue that
kids shouldn’t be expected to
“unplug” for weeks on end. And yet,
most overnight summer camps are
still tech-free zones. Why? Recent
studies reveal there are good reasons
for taking a tech break. And
seasoned camp directors are privy
to a little known fact: Kids actually
enjoy it.
“Many of our campers actually
thank us for the opportunity to put
away their phones for a while,” says
Erec Hillis, boys’ camp director at
Camp Champions in Texas. “Some of
them say that it is exhausting to try
to keep up with all the demands of
being available 24-7, and that camp
is a welcome break.”
Nonetheless, it can be daunting to
think about letting the smartphone,
iPad, and laptop go untouched for the
camp session. And parents may feel
just as anxious as their kids. After all,
we’re used to communicating with
our children whenever and wherever
the notion strikes. What to do?
First of all, it helps to know why
most camps remain unplugged.
“Because the whole point of our
camp is to enjoy nature, facilitate
communication, and empower children
by developing those skills. We
don’t allow cellphones or iPods,
which diminish interpersonal interaction,”
says Kevin Gordon, director
of Camp Kupugani outside of
Chicago.
Gordon says there’s solid evidence
to support this view, and points to a
recent study from University of California,
Los Angeles in which a group
of sixth graders unplugged for five
days at an outdoor camp. This group
showed marked improvement in
their ability to accurately read nonverbal
emotional cues when compared
to a control group of same-age
students who
hadn’t yet been to camp.
While the researchers did not
dismiss the value of technology
as a communication
and learning
tool, they concluded
that “digital screen
time, even when used
for social interaction,
could reduce time spent
developing skills in reading
nonverbal cues of
human emotion.”
It is through face-to-face
encounters that kids gain the ability
to see another’s perspective, and
develop empathy. They learn to cooperate
and contribute. All this is
important in the cultivation of lasting
friendships. In his book, “Homesick
and Happy: How Time Away
from Parents Can Help a Child
Grow,” psychologist Michael
Thompson contends it is
because campers spend so
much time together, that “camp
friendships grow so quickly and
deeply.” The camp environment itself
inspires face-to-face interaction.
Campers eat, sleep, and play in proximity
to one another.
“Kids want to interact with one
another. Camp allows kids to be
near enough to each other that they
don’t need their phones,” Hillis says.
“They can just walk over and start a
conversation.”
14 Manhattan Family • April 2016