Modern life is intertwined with technology. You’re either reading this email on your phone, your computer, or on your wrist. It was written by me (legit, I swear) on a google doc in the clouds, and emailed via our database system to 1000 parents in seconds from my wireless laptop- while I’m watching the NBA playoffs through the Apple TV app, while my phone receives messages with photos and videos from all over the world. 

Technology has made parents crazed – Allowing us to follow our kids’ locations, and check in on them constantly. Ignorance is no longer bliss, it creates stress. So, I realize how hard it is to go from “extreme surveillance” to the complete opposite, in trusting us at camp. Kudos to all of you for sending your kid(s) off to LLDC all day in the summer, to experience life similar to our childhoods.

Liberty Lake has had a “no phones and screens” policy ever since their emergence. Most summer camps followed our lead, and now schools are finally coming around. But, in debriefing last summer with our frontline staff, we found out that many campers and parents in our Juniors, Seniors & Teen divisions are circumventing our policy.

A big part of the issue is the emergence of smart watches. In the past, we simply asked campers and staff to set their watches to only tell time. This was WAY too optimistic of an ask. Campers were messaging each other in camp last summer, and their parents. We had a camper last summer who messaged his Mom in the middle of the fun overnight to pick him up because he was bored for a few minutes. Mom showed up out of nowhere to rescue him from his discomfort- Liberty Lake had no idea. 

A smart watch is a smart phone on your wrist, full stop. Therefore, they are no longer allowed in camp. So, it’s really simple- NO TECHNOLOGY. Let me explain why-

1. Like in school, it’s a huge distraction, taking kids away from the reality of their environment with notifications that interrupt all of us ALL DAY LONG. And it detracts from the wonderful opportunities that present themselves- even moments of boredom. 
2. We don’t want to put you or your kids into situations with cameras in changing rooms and bathrooms being used by other campers.
3. The past two summers, 911 was called twice each season by phones in camp bags which got sat on and crushed- activating emergency calls– summoning police to Liberty Lake for no reason.
4. These devices take away from teaching independence, one of our five star points. As long as they feel tethered to their tech, they aren’t truly learning to conquer challenges on their own. We feel that there’s a lot of value in being disconnected from devices.
5. An outdoor camp with pools and a lake, and jel-o tug of war is no place for expensive smart phones and smart watches- and, the camp assumes no responsibility for personal belonging (you signed off on that.)
6. If our staff is caught using their phone or an apple watch or such- it is grounds for dismissal- so the rules are similar for everyone. The only people with phones at camp are our emergency response team.

So, what are the solutions for parents who need the constant monitoring?

• Purchase an Air Tag and put it into your child’s camp bag. We have many parents who have done this.
• Philly buses use an app tracker. NJ buses – the camp office tracks the buses for now.

We understand that there are extenuating circumstances- Kids with split families, alternating between parent homes. City kids with long walks home from the bus stop- 

• We still can not allow kids to have their phone on them at camp for the reasons outlined above. In these type of cases, the camp can hold onto their phones at the office each day upon arrival (after signing an agreement in which the camp assumes no liability) and they can still not be used on the bus. 

Reminder- it’s a three strike system for our campers.

1. First time caught – We take the device, we call parents, we reiterate the rules.
2. Second time – Parents must come to camp to pick up the phone so we can tell you both face-to-face that if it happens again, it will be their child’s final day of camp.

No technology is a HUGE factor of what makes Liberty Lake special and unique for your children. Thank you for your partnership- Please explain this with your child, and reiterate your 100% support of our policy, so that there’s no mixed messaging or confusion. 

While you’re at it, you can tell your kids that WE ARE ALLOWING CROCS at camp now- just not at sporting activities. So sporty Croc-kids must to bring sneakers with them to change into at camp.

If you have any questions or concerns about any of this, please let me know.

Sincerely,
Andy Pritikin
Owner/Director, Liberty Lake