UNPLUGGED FOR ALL
A gentle family guide for a more peaceful and restful summer
Farm & Wilderness
Unplugged For All
A resource for families navigating the summer camp experience together
Dear Farm & Wilderness Families and Caregivers,
We know how much you love seeing pictures of family members at camp. A few years ago we created "Our Photo Philosophy" which focused very much on the camper experience. We realize now that photography at camp touches all members of a family and so as we prepare for another season together, we want to acknowledge something we've observed across the summer camp world: what experts are calling a "ghost hunger" for photos—an insatiable appetite for glimpses of our children that, paradoxically, can never truly be satisfied.
This summer, we're embracing our Quaker values of Simplicity and Peace by inviting all our families to join us in a gentle experiment: Unplugged For All.
Our Photo Sharing Commitment
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First, we want to be transparent about what families can expect this summer: • Timberlake & Firefly Song: 600 snapshots per session
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We do our best to get an even balance of campers represented across the total of photos however we do not keep tallies for each camper of how many times they appear overall.
We don't want anyone to have sleepless nights. Please email your camp leadership (Directors or Lodge Heads) to see how your child is doing - our staff can give you a better idea than second guessing from photos.
Below, we've gathered articles and insights from fellow parents and experts who have navigated this modern challenge. These resources offer both humor and wisdom about finding balance in our digitally connected world. If at any point you feel they are judgemental, that is not our intent in sharing them! It is to show that this is a common reaction many parents experience sending their kids to camp in the modern era of every experience being online.
Parent Perspectives
"Searching for my kids in camp pictures is turning me into a crazy person"
BabySideburns Blog • A refreshingly honest mom's perspective
| "So I am CONSTANTLY checking the website. Like literally right after I typed that sentence, I went and checked it again... Every day the overnight camp puts up pictures and it is making me an insane person because I can't stop looking for pictures of my daughter." |
A brutally honest and hilarious confession from a parent who recognizes the obsessive nature of constant photo-checking and its impact on daily life.
"Dear Parent Hitting the Refresh Button (again) to View Camp Photos"
Sunshine Parenting • Written by a camp director with deep empathy
| "Please step away from your computer, unplug, and go outside. That's what your kids are doing at camp, and it will be good for you, too." |
A compassionate letter from a camp director who understands both sides—the parent's desire to see their child and the reality that photo obsession often creates more anxiety than comfort.
"Internet Stalking my Kid at Sleep Away Camp"
Modern Mom • Examining the technology-enabled obsession
| "Among my friends who have kids at sleep away camp, looking at pictures online has become something of a sport... I'm driving myself crazy with these pictures." |
Explores how photo-sharing technology, designed to ease parental anxiety, often creates a competitive and obsessive culture among camp parents.
Expert Analysis & Broader Perspectives
"'Kidsick' Parents Obsessively Stalk Their Kids At Camp"
Slate • Examining the role reversal in summer camp separation anxiety
| "It's not the kids who are homesick. It's the parents who are kidsick" |
A thought-provoking analysis of how modern technology has shifted separation anxiety from children to parents, potentially undermining the independence-building purpose of camp.
"Summer Camp: Parents Email their Kids and Look for their Pictures Obsessively"
TIME Magazine • Major publication examination of the phenomenon
| "When it comes to summer camp, it's parents — not campers — who are increasingly suffering from separation anxiety." |
Features real parent stories and expert insights into how constant connectivity is changing the traditional summer camp experience for both children and families.
"Summer camp: Where kids grow up on their own and parents back home stay the same"
Slate • A journalist's reflection on the camp experience from both perspectives
| "Some of my best encounters with our children are the ones they don't know about... Children in summer camp can be their essential selves, not worrying about how their parents might react." |
A beautiful meditation on how camp allows children to discover their authentic selves while parents learn to trust and let go.
Connecting to Our Shared Values
These articles illuminate how our Quaker values can guide us through modern parenting challenges:
Simplicity: Embracing "unplugged resourcefulness" means trusting the camp experience without constant digital reassurance.
Peace: Finding peace "first within ourselves" before we can model healthy separation for our children.
Community: Recognizing that true community connection happens through presence, not pixels.
Integrity: Aligning our actions with our belief that independence and growth require some degree of letting go.
As stated before, we know this can be hard and families have been through a lot together in recent times and we don't want anyone to lose sleep. Please email your camp leadership (Directors or Lodge Heads) to see how your child is doing - our staff can give you a better idea than scouring our photo galleries for a glimse of your child.
This summer, we invite you to experiment alongside your children. As they discover the joy of unplugged life at Farm & Wilderness, consider trying what a bit more simplicity and nature in your own daily rhythm might look like. Together, lets model the peace and presence that our Quaker values call us toward.
For more about our mission and values, visit our website
