Device-Free Camp Linked to Better Mental Health
A study of teens at a device-free summer camp found significant improvements in social belonging and reduced worry.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Teens
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A study conducted during the summers of 2024 and 2025 found that 192 children and teenagers aged 12-18 reported improved mental well-being after attending a device-free summer camp in southern Maine. Over half of the participants enjoyed the lack of technology, with many noting easier social connections compared to school environments.
Why it matters
The study offers insights into how shifting daily environments away from digital devices can impact a child's mental well-being. By observing campers during multi-week sessions, researchers sought to understand the correlation between device-free surroundings and emotional health.
Researchers studied 192 participants aged 12-18, finding that 44% felt a stronger sense of belonging at camp than at school and 40% found it easier to make friends. These results were gathered from paper-based mental health assessments collected at the start and end of camp sessions.
The players
UC San Diego
A research university that led the study on the mental health impacts of device-free environments on adolescents.
Rady Children's Hospital
A pediatric health facility that provided funding for the study on youth well-being and social belonging.
The details
Campers spent two to three-and-a-half weeks engaging in outdoor social activities such as tennis, waterskiing, cooking, and community service. By removing access to digital devices, researchers were able to track changes in social perception and personal worry levels in a forest and lake environment. The study, funded by Rady Children's Hospital, focused on how these daily physical activities and the absence of screens influence mental well-being in adolescents.
Timeline
The device-free camp program operated during the summer of 2024.
A second camp session for the study took place during the summer of 2025.
The Home Front
This study follows a pattern set by the UC San Diego adolescent well-being research project in exploring the link between technology habits and social development. It adds to the broader discussion on how daily screen time impacts childhood development and adolescent social engagement.
Consider how your family might incorporate device-free time into your summer routine to encourage similar social benefits. Families looking to reduce screen time can look for local youth programs that emphasize outdoor physical activities.
The takeaway
The research highlights that physical engagement and reduced screen time may boost a child's sense of belonging. Parents can explore summer programs that emphasize in-person social activities to help teens build stronger peer connections.
Further reading
For more on fostering healthy social development, see our Teens section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Diego Union-Tribune.
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