Why Every Kid Needs a Screen-Free Week This Summer
At Camp Huawni in the Piney Woods of Texas
From homework on Chromebooks to endless scrolling on phones, today’s kids live in a world where screens rarely turn off. It’s affecting their sleep, their attention, and even their confidence. That’s why a screen-free week — especially in the right environment — can be transformative.
At Camp Huawni, an unplugged overnight camp tucked away in the Piney Woods of East Texas, kids finally get the break their brains and hearts have been craving.
🌲 Real-Life Fun > Screen Time
When technology is turned off, imagination switches on. Campers discover what adventure really feels like — racing down the Huawni Pond Slide, exploring wooded trails, or inventing games with friends. No apps required.
🤝 Friendships That Last Longer Than Any Battery
Without screens in the way, friendships form fast. Cabin time becomes the favorite hour of the day. Kids learn how to communicate, solve problems, and belly-laugh together — the kind of bonding that can’t happen through a screen.
💪 Kids Gain Confidence the Old-Fashioned Way
Camp challenges kids to try new things and stick with them. When they reach the top of the Climbing Wall or perform in Variety Show Night, they leave thinking, “I did that!” Screens may give entertainment — but camp gives courage.
😴 Better Sleep, Calmer Hearts
Nature slows the pace. With no late-night notifications or glowing blue light, kids fall asleep faster and wake up refreshed — ready for another day of adventure.
🎨 Imagination Takes the Lead
Instead of consuming content someone else made, campers become the creators. Skits, crafts, songs, scavenger hunts — they spend a week being resourceful, silly, and wildly creative.
Read more
Guides for choosing a summer camp
- How to Do a Screen-Free Summer with Your Kids A practical plan for cutting screens back over a summer without a war — what to expect in the first week, how to fill the hours, and why going all the way to zero for a stretch works better than moderation.
- Signs Your Child Needs a Phone Break Eight specific, observable signs that a child's relationship with their phone has tipped — and what to do about it that does not start a war. Written by a camp that has run phone-free sessions since 1965.
- Camp Olympia vs Camp Huawni: The Closest Comparison in East Texas Two East Texas overnight camps an hour apart. Where Camp Olympia is stronger — accreditation, air-conditioned cabins, three-week sessions — and where we are.