Our Plugged-In World

The world moves at a frenetic pace. We all feel it, and social scientists rush to define it. It is a loneliness epidemic. An anxious generation. A lack of grit. A surreal state of being “alone together.” A nature deficit disorder.

We are more connected than ever, thanks to the wonders of high-speed Internet and smart phones, and yet we are more alone than ever. How is it possible that we are more disconnected than ever in a world that is more connected than ever?

I will spare you the irony of going full Luddite via a medium dependent on networked computers. I am not opposed to technology or its use any more than I am opposed to sugar or prescription drugs. Overuse is the problem, not the thing itself.

As with most other things that are harmful in large quantities, the most serious consequences of technology overuse are apparent in children and teenagers. Reliance on technology impacts brain development and social skills, among other clear detriments. There is widespread agreement among experts in a variety of fields, as well as among parents, that mitigating children’s use of and reliance on technology (especially social media) is essential to their healthy development. And yet, in practice, the tremendous benefits of technology (or at least the seeming futility of limiting its use) often outweigh the concerns. Despite the dire warnings and the general discomfort among caregivers, children and teens are spending ever more time plugged in to their devices. They themselves describe it in terms of addiction, even if the experts have yet to define it as such.

Keeping Camp Device-Free

Camp is the most compelling answer to these challenges. I am oftentimes flabbergasted by those in the industry who rush to adapt their programming to the modern technological world when we have the ready-made response to one of modern society’s most pressing and agreed-upon problems. Over the past 10 years, we at Sacred Playgrounds have surveyed more than 10,000 camper parents at more than 100 Christian camps across North America, and the most agreed-upon survey item by far is, “Camp is a place for young people to unplug from technology.” More than 97% of parents agree with this statement, and the agreement level has actually grown in recent years, even as mobile devices have become more ubiquitous. Parents want spaces for their children to be unplugged.

Camp is the last place in existence where young people put down their devices for more than a few hours without it being some sort of punishment. In fact, campers consistently say that they are happy to be without their devices. Year after year in our focus groups with campers at a variety of camps, they speak of the joy of having people look them in the eyes and the relief they feel being away from technology for a few days. Camp is not a solution to the problems associated with technology. It is a reprieve, a reset. It is a chance for young people to be reminded and reassured that they do not need their devices to be happy and that the most meaningful relationships are unmediated, face-to-face and heart-to-heart.

Keeping camp device-free means adopting intentional policies for staff use of devices. Campers repeatedly report in focus groups that they do not even think about missing their devices because no one else has them. It is precisely when other people pull out their cell phone that we tend to turn to our own. Camp works as a place to unplug because no one has their device. Effective camps find ways to talk with their staff about this reality and limit their device use, particularly in front of campers. Camps that have made these changes have seen incredible results, as we learned in a recent interview with camp leadership.

A World of Possibilities

Unplugging from devices may be the most obvious difference between camp and home, but this is only one aspect of this characteristic. One of the most fundamental aspects of camp that primes campers and staff for change is that it is a set apart space and intentionally different from home. Camp works because it disrupts the normal everyday rhythm of life. It is a reprieve, a retreat, a pilgrimage. This allows participants to consider new possibilities, develop their independence, and consider their identities apart from the constraints of their normal cycle of being. This is the main reason why camp sometimes proves transformative or life changing.

For some, it is their first time away from home for any length of time. This alone offers an opportunity to develop resiliency and identity. For others, it is a chance to be unplugged from their everyday pressures and expectations. Those who have developed a fixed mindset or understanding of who they are may suddenly be free to reimagine or reconsider their identity and life goals. It may be the first time that they are not defined by their role as younger sibling, the only girl in the house, the smart one in class, or any other number of identities chosen for them or through their life circumstances. At camp, they are opened to a new world of possibilities. Lean into this at your camp.

An essential element of this characteristic is novelty. Campers should have the opportunity to try new things, including those who have been to camp in previous years. They should have the opportunity to encounter challenges and consider new ideas. In particular, they should have the opportunity to interact with nature in novel ways. The outdoors are not simply the setting of camp programming. Consider how you are engaging and encountering the natural world, no matter if your setting is highly developed, in a designated wilderness area, or something in between.

With all the novelty and fun, make sure to provide opportunities for campers to simply be. One of the greatest gifts of camp is time and space away, so don’t waste it by overstuffing it with high-energy programming. Let campers truly unplug. Dare to let them relax. Engage them in practices of meditation, sacred silence, and prayer. In the stillness, they may just hear the still small voice of God (1 Kings 19:12).

Plugging in at Camp

It may be most helpful to think of this characteristic as unplugging from the normality of home and unplugging into the novel environment of camp. Campers and staff unplug from their devices, the routine of their everyday lives, the comforts of home, and the expectations that those closest to them put upon them. They plug into interaction with the outdoors, new relationships, a participatory environment, and a faith-centered community. This intentional separation and disorientation primes them for growth and learning in the novel camp environment. Though it is disorienting, the effective camp environment is perceived as a safe space because campers are cared for, encouraged, and are invited (not forced) into the activities and programs (see previous article on safe space at camp).

Homesickness happens, and this is okay. While profound homesickness is often a sign that you have not effectively mitigated camper concerns and anxieties, mild homesickness can be viewed positively. It is a sign that campers have a supportive home life that they long to return to. Of course, this is our ultimate goal. We are partners in this ministry with parents, coaches, teachers, and church leaders. We want to send them back from camp into their permanent spaces with new understandings and a desire to continue what they learned at camp in school, home, church, and community. We can equip and empower them for this task.

Additionally, we can empower and equip their parents. The best use of technology in the camp environment is preparing families for the experience prior to camp, keeping parents informed about how their child is doing during camp, and following up post-camp with resources to help bring families closer together and equip them to continue the faith practices learned at camp in the home. This is how we plug campers back into their home environments and extend impacts to families, churches, and communities.

Happy camping!