Kids and Technology: Info for camp parents on our unplugged summers

March 3, 2016

For more than 10 years now our brother-sister summer camp community has proudly identified itself as an “unplugged summer camp” and it is an important characteristic of who we are and what we do.

Learn more about our unplugged summer camp

WHY DO WE UNPLUG?

To promote the social bonding and connection that is integral to our camp community
To allow campers to fully explore and enjoy all the offline activities available to them
To give our campers a true break from the technology-heavy world they inhabit the rest of the year
To guard our campers from inappropriate material
To protect our campers from making poor choices or posting inappropriate material that could negatively impact themselves or others

We also ask our counselors to observe and promote our technology-free environment, and to that end the only place that staff are permitted to use their electronics (cell phones, laptops etc) is in the Counselor Lounge during their free time.

For these reasons and more we have made some necessary and important rules regarding electronic devices.

The ONLY electronic items campers are permitted to have at our summer camp are:

For Music:

A basic MP3 player with NO video or game capabilities and NO wifi connection. This means that iPods, iTouches or iPhones (even without a calling plan or SIM card) will NOT be allowed at Camp this summer. If your child wants or needs a more basic MP3 player for this summer, here are some inexpensive suggestions:

SanDisk Clip Jam (memory card needed)
Mini Clip (memory card needed)
Vertigo MP3 Player

For Reading:
A Kindle Paperwhite* only (or real books of course**!)
*please note that other versions of Kindle or e-book devices are not permitted, due to their potential for internet access and/or weaker parental controls

**campers who run out of books are invited to grab a friend or counselor and visit the lending library in Director Jason’s Office

Please see HERE for instructions on setting Parental Controls to block web browser access on the Kindle Paperwhite.

For Pictures:
We have an incredible Camp Photographer who takes hundreds of pictures every day, so our campers should feel free to enjoy their time at camp without any pressure to record it! However, should your child wish to bring a camera it must be a basic model only (and not a cell phone, iTouch or any other multi media device).

Absolutely NO CELL PHONES are permitted at camp

Download Our Ebook On
The Developmental Importance Of
Unplugging Our Children

We ask the parents of the Kenwood & Evergreen community to please not permit their children to take any of the following items to Camp:

cellular phones
video players of any sort
e-readers (other than the Kindle Paperwhite)
any electronic device capable of internet access
walkie-talkies
scanners
Ipads
PSPs, Gameboys, or any other electronic video game systems.

Knowing violations of our technology policy by a child or parent may result in a child’s immediate dismissal from Camp. In this event, there will be no refund of tuition.

Please understand that Camp will not be responsible for lost, damaged or stolen electronic equipment.

WE TECHNOLOGY TOO!

While we firmly believe that our policy regarding electronics will mean a happy, active and engaged summer for your child, we also embrace this digital age and all that it does to help our community stay close and connected! Here are some things we love about what technology enables you to do as part of the K&E family:

Access and submit all of your 2016 summer forms online!
Read informative and fun posts on our blog!
Email your camper with our one-way email system!
See photographs uploaded each day by our amazing Camp photographer!
Pretend you are at Camp yourself with these background sounds while you work!
Like our Facebook page and get fun updates in your newsfeed!

Learn more about our unplugged summer camp

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