The Real Role of Tech at Camp: Unplug Kids, Empower Staff

Remember when “unplugged” was the biggest selling point for summer camp? Good news: it still is—and it matters more than ever. Camp can be a rare haven from the constant pull of screens, a place where kids play, roam, and make friends the old-fashioned way.

So where does technology fit? Behind the scenes. When tech streamlines operations and supports staff, it quietly protects the magic kids feel at camp.

You might have seen thought leaders like Jonathan Haidt advocating for phone‑free childhoods. The spirit of that idea—more play, more friendship, less scrolling—lines up perfectly with camp. Let’s lean into it.

When Unplugged Meets Wonder

Picture this: your cabin heads out on a morning hike. No tablets, no phones—just curious eyes and muddy boots. A counselor kneels to point out tracks in the trail. Another staff member has a radio and an emergency phone tucked away in their pack, just in case. Kids are fully present. Staff are fully prepared.

That’s the balance. Campers experience nature with their whole bodies—climbing, listening, noticing—while staff quietly carry the tools needed for safety and coordination. The tech is there if it’s needed, but it doesn’t steal the moment.

Phone‑Free Childhoods: Why Camp Should Lean In

Thought leaders like Jonathan Haidt make a simple case: kids benefit when we design spaces where phones aren’t the center of life. Camp is tailor‑made for this.

• Play-based learning happens naturally when kids build forts, invent games, and solve problems together.

• Attention resets outdoors. Without constant pings, kids settle into deeper focus and calmer moods.

• Social skills grow face-to-face. Eye contact, turn-taking, conflict resolution—you can’t download those.

• Confidence builds through real-world wins: learning a knot, paddling a canoe, leading a cabin skit.

None of that requires a screen. In fact, the absence of screens is the point.

Behind the Scenes Magic

While campers are busy being kids, technology can make your camp run smoother and safer.

• Registration and health portals keep paperwork tidy and accessible.

• Staff scheduling, messaging, and incident logs help leaders stay aligned.

• Safety tools—radios, GPS check-ins for trips, weather alerts—reduce risk without putting devices in kids’ hands.

• Parent communication platforms share updates and the occasional photo, easing nerves without turning camp into a livestream.

• Facility sensors (think pool chemistry or cabin temperature) catch small issues before they become big ones.

Best of all, this tech stays out of sight. Kids feel camp as camp—just with a stronger safety net.

Getting the Mix Right

So how do you keep camp truly unplugged for kids while using tech to support your team? A few practical moves can make it stick.

• Set clear camper policies. Simple, posted, and repeated: no personal devices at camp. Make the “why” about community, safety, and fun.

• Create a “phone hotel” for staff. Devices live in a central spot during camper hours; radios and emergency phones cover what’s needed on duty.

• Train for low-tech leadership. Teach analog games, rainy-day plans, and debrief skills so no one reaches for a screen as a crutch.

• Share expectations with parents early. Explain your phone-free approach and what updates they can expect (for example, a daily photo album or end-of-week note).

• Prep for edge cases. Have a plan for rare exceptions—safety needs, accessibility tools, or family emergencies—so staff know exactly how to handle them.

Small systems make a big difference. The clearer the boundaries, the easier it is for kids to sink into play.

Protecting the Magic

Balance at camp doesn’t mean half screens, half s’mores. It means screens off for kids, with thoughtful tech supporting the grownups.

A few guiding ideas:

• Default to play. If a moment can be done analog, do it analog.

• Use tech for safety and logistics, not entertainment.

• Make exceptions rare and intentional—think medical needs, accessibility, or trip safety—not as a regular program feature.

When we protect unstructured, hands-on, face-to-face time, kids get what they can’t get anywhere else right now.

What This Means for Your Camp

If you’re refining your program, start small and practical.

• One thing you could try: run a one-week “phone-free challenge” with extra parent communication and see how it feels.

• It’s worth thinking about a quick “tech audit”: what tools truly help staff, and what could be simplified?

• You might set up a 10-minute end-of-day huddle where staff log incidents, weather notes, and wins—digitally for leaders, analog with kids.

• Try a pre-session parent note that explains your unplugged philosophy and how you’ll keep them in the loop.

You’ll know it’s working when kids forget about screens and remember the names of friends, trails, and songs instead.

What would you try next to keep campers unplugged and your staff supported? If you experiment with any of these ideas, let me know how it goes. The campfire’s brighter when we share what’s working.