Making Sense

In my opinion, mobiles at camp are not really ideal, I don't see the point, there may be activties (such as swimming) that mobiles are just not sutiable for. If there was ever an emergency at camp, parents would be contacted. Camp is just too fun to bring a mobile.

I think they should if they keep it in a safe place. Like a tight pocket, or somewhere where no one can take it.

Cell phones should not go along with a child to camp because that ruins the whole experience. They're supposed to be making friends and learning how to do things on their own. If they get to talk to their friends and family the whole time they might as well had just camped at grandma's house instead.

PHONES STAY HOME. My camp experience is with Boy Scouts. So that means my first year at camp kids are 11 years old. As a many year counselor at camp, I've seen kids who bring a phone find that they must call home to get through the night. They are not growing and stretching through their fear. They don't have the same sense of accomplishment when they way up in the morning and learn that they can get through he night and be OK. Many kids when having anxiety in the evening will want to call home. As soon as they hear mom's voice, the tears turn on and they beg to be picked up. When mom hears a crying child, she tends to want to come get him. If you were to ask that same kid the next morning about leaving, he'd say "Heck no, I'm having a great time!" I once read of a study that shows where kids who unplugged from family and went off to camp for a week had a much higher success rate than those who didn't purring their first year at college away from home. That's no surprise really. They've already learned that they can be independent. Ultimately I'm responsible for the safety and well-being of that boy and helping coach them through the choices they have at camp. When the boy has his phone, he's going to call home for direction and that cuts me out as the responsible leader. I'll hear after that mom "told me to take this class since that one was full." Or in other cases mom has shown up to pick up her "sick" child when I was never told anything was wrong in the first place. Remember the last questions of the article. Why are we sending our kids away to camp in the first place? What is the experience you want them to have. Let them have the experience. If you're having stress, you're the adult, that's OK, but perhaps you need some stretching and a new experience too :-)

My son went to what we thought would be a great time for him. He looked forward to going for months. They had a no cell phone policy, which at first look makes sense. He ended up being the target of a bully and even some of the good kids who didn't want to get bullied sided with the bully. He was a mess when we picked him up. I believe a call to us and we could have contacted the counseller would have put a stop to this and got help for the bully. I suggested a 'cell phone bank' where the kids check in their phone and are allowed half hour phone time at a set time each day. Cell phones are with us forever so I believe we need to adapt to the present, however, as parents we still have authority.

My daughters go to a sleep away camp for one week each summer. The camp has a "no cellphone" policy which we adhered to the first year. The second year we allowed my oldest daughter to bring a cellphone but instructed her that it is only to be used in a dire emergency. If it was used to whine, it would be the last week she would have the phone for 3 months. The second year, the last night, a tornado ripped through the campsite and the kids were evacuated to a secure shelter and put on lock down. That's when we found out that there was no service in their camp. I think it was better that she had it though. It all depends on the child.

NO - they need a break. Their brains need a break, their eyes and ears need a break. Peace in the summer - I say!