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Whether voluntarily or involuntarily, today’s kids are spending an inordinate amount of time in front of screens, including TVs, computers, tablets, and phones. The other day, Brooklyn, Director Dan’s 2-year old daughter, was “talking” to Siri on the iPhone. Dan wondered if she realized that the “person” she was talking to didn’t really have a personality. It’s a wild concept to think that our children are comfortable interacting with a computer or phone like a person. Further, it’s scary that a screen is part of their social interactions. According to the Academy of Pediatrics, the average 8- to 10-year-old spends nearly eight hours a day with a variety of different media, and older children and teenagers spend more than 11 hours per day.
In a recent C.A.M.P. conference, Dr. David Welsh spoke on the negative effects of electronic media on our children’s lives, such as: inhibiting children’s ability to recognize emotions in others, becoming immune to violence, behaving more aggressively, arguing more with authority figures (e.g., parents, teachers), infringing on reading and studying time, promoting a sedentary lifestyle and contributing to the obesity epidemic, as well as losing the ability to focus on what is most important, deep thought, and problem-solving. Technology is a poor substitute for personal interaction.
Camp is a powerful antidote for the many scary influences facing children today. At camp, we are totally “unplugged.” We require our campers and counselors to turn in their cell phones at the beginning of the camp day and they are not used again until the end of the day. In addition, we have some parents who will not allow media use at the end of the day until they have dialogued with the camper about the day. Camp promotes personal interaction between campers and counselors and encourages team-building. Additionally, being physically active all day counteracts a sedentary lifestyle. The type of activities and challenges at camp encourage focus, thought and problem-solving. Camp provides campers with the opportunity to be outside in nature, breathing fresh air and enjoying the benefits of exercise and healthy activities.
This is why one of our core values is P.I.C.!!! – problem-solving, interpersonal skills, and creativity. We strive at Doublecreek to be a safe, fun place for your camper. But the ultimate benefits in today’s society can be broader than we comprehend. Thank you for sending your kids to camp!!
-- Susu
