A World On Pause: The Joys Of Being Unplugged At Summer Camp From A 16-Year Old Experiencing It

(Note: This was written while at summer camp, and posted and edited upon return).

It was another stormy night in the Maine woods. The rain pounded on the shutters and roof of our cabin as we sat huddled together in our Crazy Creek chairs, drowning out the sound of thunder with our laughter. The time, the date, the day of the week, the shows we were missing, the movies which we didn't get to see, the status of our Facebook pages - everything that we usually deemed "important" in our daily lives, all completely forgotten. All that mattered was the present moment. It is a moment such as this, when a group of 16-year old girls can be released of the everyday pressures of the "real world" and simply enjoy themselves in the comfort of close friendship that is a rare gift too few are lucky enough to experience. I write this article while I am fortunate enough to be experiencing this gift firsthand.

After seven amazing, sometimes difficult and trying, years at my all-girls 7-week camp in Maine, I find myself too soon faced with the last weeks of my final summer at the place that has in so many ways shaped the person I am today. Currently sitting cross-legged on the rickety top bunk bed in a cabin without air conditioning that houses 37 girls from various place across the U.S.A., one may wonder why I am spending my time hand-writing an article for the Huffington Post. This, however, exemplifies the exact point I am trying to make.

As a 16 year-old girl, turning in my Blackberry to the camp director before stepping onto the bus, not to see or hold it again for 7 weeks, was certainly not my ideal way to begin my summer vacation. However, once my Blackberry was pried from my fingertips, the entire outside world was soon forgotten and I entered the indestructible, protective bubble of camp.

With only my iPod and the occasional supervised phone privilege to call parents or friends, I am otherwise utterly and completely removed and unplugged from technology and the outside world. This forces me to find new ways of spending my down time. This task, however, is not so difficult when I have 36 of my best friends in the same boat as I am.

I have come to realize that falling asleep immersed in a good book or after a good laugh cannot be compared to forcing myself to keep my eyes open in order to watch the last five minutes of 24 before I pass out. It is not until we are removed from the constant flow of technological communication and media bombardment when we can actually realize how we can live more fulfilling lives.

Although I do at times find myself writing my older sister a letter home begging her to send me a copy of my Facebook wall and update me on the recent episodes of Entourage which I have missed while I am away, the opportunity to put the outside "world on pause" and enjoy a stress-free summer can only truly be experienced in one place: camp.

Camp has taught me to become a more productive person. It has forced me to step back and enjoy my beautiful surroundings without distraction, and fill my days with walks around the grounds, or a swim in the lake, rather than a full day of computer and TV. Camp has taught me that I can make the most out of any situation and how to live in the present moment. It has provided me with the opportunity to make lifelong friendship bonds, and given me the tools for situations I will undoubtedly experience in the future. Looking back, I realize how truly fortunate I have been in this day and age to now have spent nearly 49 weeks of my formative pre-teen and teenage years "unplugged" at summer camp.

Although camp is an amazing place that many people will not have the privilege and opportunity to experience, I believe everyone should try to incorporate the benefits of camp into their own lives in some shape or form. I encourage people to take a minute out of their busy day, turn off their iPhones, Blackberries, TVs and computers (as difficult as that may be) and just take in the present moment. Do something different with your time, even if it's just talking in person with a friend for 5 minutes without being interrupted by a vibrating cell phone or email message. There is no better antidote in this period of rapid technological advancement and 24/7 connectivity because it is the best way to remind ourselves that we humans, not robots.

Comments

[maddy48]

I loved hearing about camp & the values you discovered & shared there. Dropping all the tech networking probably gave you the chance to experience something your hearts were already needing, wishing-for. You're right, this is a formative & beauitful part of growing. Thanks for writing such a heartfelt piece about your experience. You are a good writer & it will be interesting to hear how, in the years from now, this experience informs your life.

[Judith White]

We have four kids, ages 16, 14, 11, and 8. Several years ago we cancelled our cable TV when we realized our kids were addicted. When school started last week we went even further. We confiscated the younger kids' keyboards and the DVD player and instituted a "no electronic entertainment" ban from Sunday morning through Friday evening. The older boys are too busy with work, school, and sports to spend much time on their laptops, plus our internet connection is so slow it's not worth their while. They complained the first few days but now they have adjusted completely, and our lives at home are 100% better. The kids are happier. They look forward to reading for entertainment, playing games with each other, even doing their homework. The days seem longer and the people around us seem more interesting than before, now that they don't have to compete with a movie or video game for our attention.

[TerrapinCB]

there would probably be much fewer overweight kids if they all dropped their game consoles, phones, etc. and got off their collective butts and went outside and did something like play, exercise, etc.

[desesquire]

As a regular visitor to overnight camp, I agree with you 100%

Love your story.

[IowaGirl]

Cassie, I think it's somewhat funny that you don't count your iPod as technology...but that said, this is a very nicely written and of course timely post. I'll copy it and email it to my kids, though I'm not sure what they'll make of it. They already feel like our household is "Amish" simply b/c we delay adopting new technologies as long as we possibly can.

But eventually every parent I know gives up. The world that we grew up in no longer exists for our children. Forgive us for being a little heartbroken over what has been lost. I particularly grieve over the fact that my children and their friends find nature boring. I have taken them camping and on long bike rides, but to no avail...it can't compete with the temptations and distractions of the media and pop culture.

Sometimes I think a nice long "brown-out" would do us all good!

[MikeyMike]

It is indeed a serious comment on our society that the current generation has to go to camp to figure this out. Or that we adults feel we have to meditate or do yoga to be in touch with ourselves.

[ConfuciusSay-]

"the entire outside world was soon forgotten and I entered the indestructible, protective bubble of camp"

This appears to be explainable in social terms: the outside world of people, vs the smaller contained group of people. Maybe it means the wide world of remote contacts, vs the physically smaller world of direct contacts. But it implies a construct of reality entirely based around human interaction.

This is a very different perspective to mine. The Universe is the entire outside world, to me. It's we (the people) that live in a bubble of our own making: our own limited understanding, the limits of our mythological & scientific explanations, and our preoccupations with relative trivia. Removal from a city environment, and exposure to the natural surroundings would therefore be going "outside" of the bubble.

Thanks for broadening my understanding.

[wietog]

Ah yes. The privileged at an idealized sleep-away camp, experiencing nature in a safe, nurturing environment. Learning to sail, make potholders, waterski and orienteer. Wiling away the summer nights giggling with other healthy, affluent bronze-skinned girls. Sturdy backpacks, stylish parkas, sticky smores.

OF COURSE it's better to spend time in nature than be glued to screens of varying sizes, this one included.

Although my personal memories of scout camp include washing pots, marching in uniform and bible study (don't ask) it was nice to spend time outdoors without a TV or walkman. Then again, arriving home after camp was thrilling. Just hearing a toilet flush was music to my ears. And the freedom!