Sugar Bay Unplugged: The Importance of Being a Technology-Free Camp

We live in a pretty interesting world: sometimes it seems that everything revolves around sharing our every move on social media - insane amounts of selfies, tweets, I-just-went-to-the-gym updates, look-what-I'm-about-to-eat Instagram shots or endless hours spent on Pinterest pinning cute DIY projects that we'll never have time to do because we're too busy Pinteresting... I could go on and on.

And it's all very rich coming from me, since the words 'Social Media' form part of my job description here at Sugar Bay. I'm not saying that it's all bad, but when I read that kids can spend up to 7.5 hours A DAY behind a screen I think, when do they have a chance to just be kids?

The answer (of course) is AT CAMP. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the answer to many of our youth's problems can be solved with camp, but I may be slightly biased :)

There are growing concerns related to technology usage, and it's not just affecting kids. They're learning from our bad habits and now might be the time to take notice of how these digital addictions may be influencing us all.

Trust Issues

Did you know that just having a cell phone nearby when having a conversation - even if you don't pick it up to check your notifications - has a negative effect on the quality of that relationship? How many of us think nothing of leaving our phones on the table at a restaurant? Researchers from the University of Essex used this exact scenario to find that people who engaged in personal discussions when a cell phone was nearby — even if neither was actually using it — reported lower relationship quality and less trust for the person they were speaking to. They also felt their partner was less empathetic to their concerns, which is quite worrying when aiming to teach our kids how to foster meaningful relationships. Read the details of this study here.

Reduced Sleep Quality

Isn't it strange to think that for many of us, the glowing screen of our cell phone is the first and last thing we see on either side of a night's sleep? Sure we use them for alarms and such, but these bedtime technology sessions do actually interfere with our sleep, and can lead to more serious issues such as sleep disorders and symptoms of stress and depression as is shown in this article based on researcher Sara Thomée's findings. 

"It's called the Web, because once you're In, you're Stuck."

Did you know that public commitments to unplugging have become a thing now? There's even a dedicated National Day of Unplugging, where from sunset to sunset, people unplug from technology for a variety of reasons. Ironically, the Internet is filled with information on digital detoxes and we think they may be on to something.

Which is one of the many reasons we consider Sugar Bay to be a technology-free environment. Our campers use their phones for the last time when they arrive (to let anxious parents know that they have arrived safely) and then it's time to unplug: time for real face-to-face time, real birds that tweet and time to capture moments with only our memories rather than our phones. Even our counselors aren't allowed their phones in public view so the campers don't feel like they're missing out.

Unplugged Moments

Unplugging is not only important for kids. As a parent, achieving these moments in a technology-dependent world might seem like a lot of effort, but once you read through this feel-good, easy-to-do list from the blog at AbundantMama.com we think you'll find it's easier than you think.

Easier still is helping your child to unplug in the school holidays - send them to camp! This ensures at least one week of technology-free bliss and, as many of our returnee campers tell us, they won't even miss it!

There's no Wi-Fi at camp, but we can promise you won't find a better connection. 

Fear not parents - we're not cutting you off! We understand that sending your child to camp can cause feelings of anxiety and stress. Even Hillary Clinton mentioned her reluctance to send her daughter Chelsea to sleepaway camp in a recent speech to over 3000 camp professionals in America. That's why Sugar Bay is committed to updating you as much as possible throughout your camper's week. We update our Facebook page daily with photos, send hand-written emails from your camper (if you're lucky enough that they spend the time to write!) and even send a personalised mid-week update. You're also welcome to call our camp administrator Roma or programmer Paris at any time to hear how the week is going.

If Sugar Bay sounds like the right fit for your child (and we're sure it is!), then check out our rates & dates. And here's some splendid news for you - our April Holiday Camps are on special, saving you a whopping R1900 off the regular price!

If you'd like to find out more, here's a sneak peek into what the camp experience at Sugar Bay is like. For more information or to secure your spot, call us on (032) 485 3778, email holidays@sugarbay.co.za or simply book online