Building Digital Resilience Starts Young: Why Summer Camps Are an Unexpected Ally

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In today’s fast-paced, screen-saturated world, most conversations about cybersecurity and digital well-being center around adults. Businesses train employees to recognize phishing scams. Organizations invest in firewalls, two-factor authentication, and encryption. But as recent discussions suggest, the urgency to build digital resilience is no longer confined to the boardroom. It belongs in our homes, schools, and even in our camps.

Children are spending more time online than ever before. Whether it’s for school, socializing, or entertainment, their digital footprints begin early. But while they’re tech-savvy in ways that impress adults, they often lack the awareness needed to spot danger. Cyberbullying, online predators, privacy invasions, and screen addiction are just a few of the hazards that young people now face. And yet, our response tends to come too late, only after harm has been done.

What if we started earlier? What if prevention wasn’t reactive, but proactive? One unexpected place to begin building those critical life skills is the classic childhood institution: summer camp.

At first glance, summer camp may seem like the opposite of a tech-savvy environment. That’s precisely the point. Summer camp protects children by giving them a safe, structured place to spend their time. But summer camp also allows them space away from screens to learn about themselves, their peers, and their values. It’s a natural setting for planting the seeds of digital literacy and emotional intelligence, without a single device in sight.

Many camps already prioritize team building, problem-solving, creativity, and leadership. These same soft skills are foundational to navigating online spaces safely. A child who learns to speak up during a group project or resolve a conflict with a peer at camp is the same child who may one day feel confident enough to block a suspicious message or tell an adult about something troubling they saw online.

Camps also offer the opportunity for guest speakers like local police officers, digital safety educators, or even older youth mentors to introduce important concepts in age-appropriate ways. These conversations don’t need to be long or technical. A simple story, a short roleplay, or a game that encourages critical thinking can go a long way in helping children connect the dots between their real-world values and their digital behaviors.

Moreover, in areas where children are vulnerable to community violence or lack supervision during the summer months, the impact of structured programs can’t be overstated. Idle time often becomes risky time. Summer camp keeps children off the streets, engaged with positive role models, and surrounded by routines that foster both safety and growth. It’s not just about fun; it’s about forming identity and connection in a safe environment.

There’s also something powerful about camp’s ability to reset a child’s relationship with technology. In tech-free zones, kids rediscover the joys of face-to-face conversation, outdoor exploration, and undistracted creativity. And when they return home, many bring that awareness back with them, more conscious of how often they reach for their phones or how it feels to be truly present.

As we think about long-term strategies to raise safer, more resilient digital citizens, we would do well to remember that education doesn’t only happen in classrooms or on devices. It happens around campfires, on nature trails, and during those heart-to-heart talks with counselors who listen without judgment.

Summer camp may not be the first place you think of when it comes to online safety—but perhaps it should be. By giving kids a break from screens and a boost in confidence, camp helps shape how they engage with the digital world long after summer ends. In a time when children face increasing pressures from both their communities and their screens, that protection is more valuable than ever.

 

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