Hi Folks,
IT OCCURS TO ME:
Since the issue first came up, we have always believed that camp is a place where electronic devices just don’t belong. We feel very strongly about that, as you are keenly aware. In fact, we believe that kids’ hands (anytime, anywhere) are places where most electronic devices just don’t belong, but we accept our limited jurisdiction in these matters.
Do you know who agrees with us a lot? CHILDREN AGREE WITH US! It’s true. Yes, your kids may have rolled their eyes, feigned a separation anxiety of epic proportion, or just generally resisted the notion of giving up their devices for a month or two. But the truth is they get it; they KNOW it’s healthier and even more fun for them.
Our information comes from an admittedly small research project conducted by a doctoral student and research assistant with the American Camp Association. She interviewed 45 teens (15-17 years old) at an overnight camp, and asked them about the camp’s “No-Cell Phones” policy. She asked them to compare what they thought it would be like to be campers at a camp that allows kids to have their phones with them. Believe it or not, more and more camps allow kids to have their phones a few times per week, a short time each day, or all the time. As a reminder, we do not. Just…had to say that.
She found that the kids believe camps that allow kids to have their phones would be LESS FUN! They actually recognize the devices would serve as a barrier to participation in activities, to interactions with their friends, to just having conversations with others. They understand that being without their devices makes them far more able to meet people and form closer connections, plus the advantage of being apart from the expectations and pressures of social media. These teens specifically noted that being without their phones enables them to LIVE IN THE MOMENT!!
Let us take a brief time out and just celebrate! They get it, THEY GET IT!!
This is big because now, whether it is in preparation for camp or for any other awesome opportunity to ask your kids to put away their devices, we can move confidently forward knowing that it’s not just us adults who comprehend why this is important. The kids understand it too!!
YO EVERYONE:
BRAVO TO OUR OCTOBER BIRTHDAY BOYS & GIRLS:
Matthew Kallmeyer 10/01, Miles Friedman 10/02, Ilan Reiss 10/02, Christian Rizzo 10/05, Joe Burson 10/06, Emmitt Hechtman 10/07, Carolina Ramon Rios 10/07, Andrew Kerpel 10/08, Jared Saef 10/08, Jesus Coronado 10/10, Gabe Feldman 10/10, Finn Hohenberg 10/10, Luke Hohenberg 10/10, Santiago Toledo 10/10, Alex Brotzki 10/15, Will Coovert 10/15, Leo Garber 10/15, Jeremy Grover 10/16, Zach Newmark 10/18, Jack de Riesthal 10/19, Dox Raskin 10/19, Micah Reichman 10/19, Gil Ron 10/19, Jonah Samson 10/19, Jude Eskind 10/20, Andrew Mukavitz 10/21, Eli Tenenbaum 10/21, Colin Benjamin 10/23, Anthony Gelin 10/23, Nathan Gelin 10/23, Saul Vazquez Martinez 10/24, Peter Fink 10/25, Jack Duffy 10/26, Maxwell Sonsino 10/26, Carlos Banuelos 10/28, Seth Berk 10/28, Ryan Zlotnik 10/29.
Have a great October, everyone! We’ll write again later this month.
Benches up,
Mike, Leslie & Dustin