Overnight camp is the first time ever that they are fully disconnected.”

Kara Liberman

In today’s tech-driven world, a day without technology is becoming increasingly rare for children. Imagine a whole summer spent without a phone, computer, television, or gaming device. As technology continues to permeate every aspect of life, finding ways to completely disconnect are becoming increasingly challenging. Camp, however, remains one of the few places that offers a genuine opportunity to unplug from technology.  

While the American Camp Association highlights a range of benefits of the camp experience, including gaining skills in leadership, communication, resourcefulness, and caring, there’s one common thread that ties all these skills together — the lesson of how to connect with each other and the natural world. According to the ACA, “Children who attend camp develop connections with the world.”  

Some might think these connections are built throughout the year in school, but as schools become modernized, the disconnect from technology happens less often. During the school year, even when children aren’t actively using their phones, the classroom experience is often centered around technology. From lessons delivered on SMART Boards to research conducted on tablets and computers, kids are surrounded by screens.  

While not all camps are technology-free, most offer plenty of time outdoors, which naturally limits technology use as kids engage in sports, outdoor games, explore wildlife, and enjoy picnics with friends. Charles Pelissier, the director of auxiliary services at St. Andrew’s School in Barrington, noted, “The adventure program uses technology the least because they spend more time outdoors than other groups.” The time spent outdoors at camp provides kids with a chance to unplug for longer stretches than they might during school. 

Day camp versus overnight camp 

There are many different types of camps to choose from, and some might utilize more technology than others. And while day camps offer a lot of outdoor time without technology, for a completely unplugged experience an overnight camp might be the only option. 

Kara Liberman, the camp’s director at Camp Jori, sees the benefit in both day camp and overnight camp, though the overnight camp is the clear winner when it comes to being truly disconnected. She emphasized how rare it is for children to experience life without devices at their fingertips. “Overnight camp is the first time ever that they are fully disconnected,” she said.  

She went on to describe the awkward interactions between children when they first arrive at the overnight camp. She said, “It is obvious that they miss having their phones in their hands to use as a way to avoid eye contact.” Liberman also talked about how the kids have to learn how to socialize all over again without their devices. She detailed, “They have to learn how to start a conversation, learn how to play again; it forces them to get creative and go outside to look for bugs and rocks.”  

Pelissier said St. Andrews, which has various day camps and some overnight programs, has yet to implement a technology-free policy, though he and the staff try to foster interactions between children rather than technology. He said “While waiting for an activity or at lunch the kids end up looking down at their phones; we try to encourage them to put them away and talk to each other instead.” 

Camp Jori has both a day camp and an overnight camp. Day camp is also a technology-free experience. Kids in kindergarten through third grade attend the day camp as a a way to smoothly transition to the overnight camp experience. Liberman, who takes her own children to Camp Jori every year, has a unique perspective on the transformation from being surrounded by technology to being completely unplugged. She’s witnessed firsthand how quickly kids change once they’ve had time to disconnect. “I’ve been amazed watching my kids when they come home,” she shared. “They don’t go straight for their devices. It’s like they don’t even miss them.”  

Jenny Alario, the auxiliary program director at Gordon School in East Providence, commented on the topic of technology at camps, saying, “The school and camp are phone free, but some programs do involve technology for the learning experience.” She also noted, “The main focus is getting outside with an emphasis on fun learning through experiences and play for all ages. 

Social connections in the natural world, like Alario noted, seem to be a priority at most camps. With Rhode Island’s limited number of nice weather months, it seems most camps structure their days around outdoor activities, naturally encouraging kids to step away from screens.