To phone or not to phone, that is the question. Phones have been essential to everyday life. It is a device that can do almost anything you need it to do. The question that reigns in the camp community, though, is if they should be allowed at camp.

I've been in the situation of both sides. Here's my story, and at the end, I hope you'll see why I choose one side over the other.

It's 2021. The bus is loud with music from 5 different speakers, and I can only hope that once we're at camp, the ruckus of the phones dwindles down. As I take a look around with no phone, I see students drowning in Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.

'Hey, did you see this video?'

'No, send it to me!'

This is all I was hearing for the two hours it took to get to camp. It was not the prettiest sight compared to the other wonderful ones. Once at camp, students continued to be glued to the device in their hands, hardly recognizing directions given to them. The camp was Crossroads Summer Camp, located in South Carolina. It's a camp located not in woods but at a college. So, technology is certainly prevalent. The entire week, students were not disconnected and instead were missing every sermon and missing out on quality time at activities. The next year, they allowed phones but took them at night, then they allowed phones only for one hour at night. This was a great opportunity to stay in the moment and have loads of real fun. You can even talk to parents or take your Snapchats if you wanted. It's a nice balance of both.

Another summer camp I've attended is Camp Cedar Cliff, located in North Carolina. This camp allowed no phones for anyone. Counselors used walkie-talkies, and campers had cameras to take photos. The top senior staff, who were not counselors, had phones. The staff were encouraged to not "brain rot" though. Attending and working at this camp showed me how amazing it is to disconnect from the outside world and live in the real-life moments. I could see more engagement from campers and staff when the phones weren't in front of their face. Yes, homesickness is real, but it is dealt with the utmost care and often goes away quickly when handled properly.

So, being in both sides, I see phones not as a necessity at camp. I think it distracts staff from the main goal of campers while distracting the campers from the fun right in front of them. Of course, there is a time and place for phones, and I see the importance of both sides, yet I've seen more good come out of no phones than having one.

Summer Camp Connect did a poll, and it was clear which was the more favored answer: no phones. We then asked why. The majority of answers were for why phones shouldn't be at camp. One person stated, "it allows you to get away from the stress of the internet and world," which couldn't be better said. Camp, for me as staff and camper, has been a time for me to grow in my relationship with Jesus and others. Regardless of beliefs, camp grows you so much; it is still a place for you to grow as a person.

The compelling argument is that, "phones should be allowed so you can call your parents and take photos." This certainly makes sense, and I've wanted that too, but I've found writing letters and sending them is amazing, and having a camera is also just as great. Yet, everyone has different reasonings and why, and each are valid.

Camp provides so much fun with a phone and without, so I hope your summers are filled with memory-making days and lots of laughter! What are your thoughts on whether phones should be allowed at camp, and how do you think it might impact the camp experience