Why Sugar Bay stays phone-free: what our campers taught me

Beach time at Sugar Bay. Photo: Sugar Bay Camp.

About ten years ago, I decided to give a group of our older campers their phones back for a couple of hours.

They were halfway through a two-week counselor training course at Sugar Bay Camp, our sleepover camp in Zinkwazi Beach on KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast in South Africa. It was Sunday. I thought they had earned a treat, and I thought I was being sensible about keeping up with the times.

At the end-of-week evaluation, I asked them about the best and worst parts of their week. I expected those two hours with their phones to feature among the highlights.

They told me it was the worst part. There were 24 of them, and, as I remember it, they all agreed.

That was a fairly clear review of my bright idea.

What changed when the phones came back

Before I handed out the phones, they had become a lively, close group. They were talking and enjoying one another’s company. Once they had their phones, they went quiet and retreated into separate corners.

When we discussed it afterwards, they explained what had happened. Opening their phones had brought back the things they had been worrying about before camp: problems at home, bullying, who was being included in a group and who had been left out of an invitation.

They were physically still at Sugar Bay, but their attention had gone elsewhere. Even after handing the phones back in, they said it took a while to feel connected to the group again.

I had assumed that access to something they wanted would improve their week. Their feedback made me reconsider that assumption.

More recently, teachers visiting with a Grade 11 group described a similar response. At the beginning of the week, their learners had seen handing in their phones as a punishment. By the end, they were telling their teachers that being without them had been one of the best parts of camp.

I still find that striking. We put so much effort into everything we offer children here, and then they tell us how much they valued something we took away.

What children do at a phone-free camp

Without a phone to reach for, there are more reasons to speak to the person beside you. An awkward pause can become a conversation. A quiet stretch of the afternoon can lead to joining an activity or finding someone who wants to make a friendship bracelet.

For a child who is finding friendships difficult, that can take courage. Our counselors have a part to play in helping them join in. The absence of a phone gives us more opportunities to help, because a screen is no longer the easiest place to retreat.

There is also time to notice where you are. We are on the coast. Children can be on the beach, crossing the lagoon or kayaking, with their attention on what they are doing. There are practical reasons to keep expensive phones out of those activities, too.

Those older campers had experienced camp with and without their phones. They could explain which they preferred, and why.

When parents worry about being out of touch

For many parents, the phone is a source of reassurance. You are used to being able to reach your child immediately. Sending them away to people you may barely know, without that direct line, asks quite a lot of you.

I understand the questions. Will my child tell someone if they are unhappy? Who will help if they are homesick? How will I know they are all right?

We have had children arrive with a spare phone to hand in while keeping their real one hidden. We have even found phones concealed inside novels. Those arrangements tell me how difficult some parents find the separation.

A hidden phone can interrupt the experience you have sent your child to have. A child who is homesick can contact home and ask to be collected before a counselor has had the chance to sit with them, help them meet someone or get them involved in an activity.

Everyday setbacks also give children practice in asking someone nearby for help. A friendship problem may take time to work through with a counselor.

The adults at camp remain responsible for listening and responding properly. Giving children room to manage everyday difficulties depends on that support being there. If you are worried about how your child will cope, please speak to our team before they arrive.

How to keep in touch with your child at Sugar Bay

Children can write home at Sugar Bay. We scan and email their letters, and parents can send messages back through camp. There is a way to stay in touch while allowing children some uninterrupted time here.

To send your child a message, email away@sugarbay.co.za and include their full name in the subject line. Our team passes messages on at meal times. You can find the details on our Email your child page.

For questions or concerns, contact the Sugar Bay team on 032 485 3778 or at holidays@sugarbay.co.za. A parent should understand how communication works before being asked to put the phone away, especially when their child is coming for the first time.

Can my child bring a phone for the journey?

Campers travelling by flight or on the Sandton bus may bring a cellphone for the journey. It must be handed in on arrival and is returned on departure. Phones may not be used at camp. Our packing guide explains the travel exception and the other items to hand in when you arrive.

Sugar Bay’s phone-free policy is staying. I thought those two Sunday hours would be a reward. I am glad I asked the campers afterwards. Their answer is one I still use when a parent asks why we do things this way.

If you are considering a stay, our first-time parent guide explains camp life, and our camp dates and prices page will help you plan.