Camp Fontanelle is intentionally unplugged. That choice isn’t about restriction or nostalgia. It’s about creating space for kids to be present, engaged, and fully part of the community around them.

When campers arrive, phones and screens are set aside. What takes their place is conversation, movement, creativity, and connection. Without constant digital noise, campers begin to settle into a different rhythm, one that feels slower, calmer, and more human.

Why Unplugged Time Matters

Kids today live in a world of constant input. Notifications, messages, videos, and expectations compete for their attention from morning to night. Research continues to show what families already feel. Too much screen time can impact focus, sleep, mood, and emotional regulation.

When kids unplug, something shifts. Attention improves. Stress levels drop. Social awareness increases. Without screens pulling them elsewhere, campers are more present with themselves and the people around them. They listen more closely. They respond more thoughtfully. They begin to notice how they’re feeling instead of being distracted from it.

At camp, we see this change happen quickly. What starts as discomfort or boredom often turns into creativity, laughter, and deeper connection.

What Unplugged Looks Like at Camp

Unplugged doesn’t mean empty or boring. Camp is full of activity, conversation, and shared experience. Campers spend their days talking face to face, solving problems together, playing games, exploring outdoors, and participating fully in camp life.

Without screens, friendships form more naturally. Cabin groups learn how to be together in real time. Campers practice patience, compromise, and empathy because there’s no quick escape when things feel awkward or challenging. Those moments become opportunities for growth instead of avoidance.

Unplugged time also creates room for imagination. Campers invent games, tell stories, ask questions, and engage in creative play that doesn’t require instructions or algorithms.

Mental and Emotional Space to Grow

Being unplugged gives kids space to slow down and reset. Without the pressure to respond, perform, or compare themselves to others online, campers often feel a sense of relief. They can simply be who they are in the moment.

This space supports emotional health. Campers learn how to sit with their feelings, work through challenges, and experience joy without needing constant stimulation. These are skills that serve them well long after camp ends.

Connection That Lasts

One of the most powerful outcomes of unplugged camp is the quality of relationships that form. Conversations go deeper. Laughter feels fuller. Shared experiences create bonds that don’t disappear when the week is over.

Campers learn how to communicate clearly, resolve conflict, and show up for one another. These are foundational skills for healthy relationships in every part of life.

An Invitation to Be Present

Unplugging at camp isn’t about rejecting technology altogether. It’s about helping kids experience life without it for a time. That space allows them to reconnect with themselves, with others, and with what matters most.

At Camp Fontanelle, being unplugged creates room for focus, creativity, faith, and belonging. It’s one of the simplest choices we make, and one of the most impactful.

Research Shows

• Experiential learning in summer camps enhances decision-making, team-building, and taking initiative. (Martin, 2018)
• Camp participants developed empathy, humility, and altruism, often through mentoring younger campers. (Martin, 2018)
• Families report six-month post-camp increases in social skills, independence, and self-image. (Thurber et al., 2007)
• 58% of campers say it helped them appreciate being present in the moment. (Olsen et al., 2018)
• Near-peer mentors at camp increase a sense of belonging and identity. (Trujillo et al, 2015)