Camp, at its core, is all about human connection.  It is the antithesis to the artificial world created through social media apps, news feeds, and algorithms.

I first joined Facebook in 2008 after being prompted by a family member I had lost touch with.  At first it seemed great to have a regular view into her world.  Consequently, I began connecting with school and college classmates, current and former colleagues, and institutions and teams I had belonged to.  At the onset it seemed miraculous.  By simply logging onto my computer, and later an app on my phone, I got a glimpse into what all these people and places were up to, right down to details like what they were eating.  Over time, though, I began to realize these were superficial connections.  While I was vicariously experiencing what they were sharing, it was really just one small part of their lives, the part they were willing to make public. Does knowing that someone, whose phone number or mailing address I don’t even have, saw a really spectacular sunset make me more connected to them?  And as far as that family member, does seeing her social media posts replace a phone conversation, text, email, or letter? Of course not.  A 10 minute conversation, or brief written exchange, proves so much more meaningful and provides genuine insight and connection between us.

Added to this is the fact that the time I was spending on this app, and later additional apps, took away from connectivity with people present in my life.  How often have any of us been in a room with someone, yet our eyes and mind were captured by the tiny screen in our hands? Furthermore, too often I recall finally pulling myself from an app only to realize it has been 30 minutes or more, an eternity when you consider how much can be accomplished in a half hour, many things of which would feel much more fulfilling than the dizziness and disconnection I felt after absorbing the multicolored display.

Our BLC summer community thrives by sharing, in-person, our experiences and emotions.  In just a few short weeks we are able to recapture basic humanity and make meaningful connections with people and place.  And while living this kind of life would be most beneficial all the time, it is striking how quickly just a couple days at camp can replace the anxiety and stressful realities of the previous 10 months. This is a direct result of an intentional community free of technology, a pace and schedule constructed around a philosophy of choice and freedom, and spaces where we are pushed together to embrace our natural inclinations for group think and play.

I still have social media apps on my phone. I also have an app that tells me weekly how much time I’ve spent on my phone.  I consider it a win when that time has consistently decreased.  Furthermore, thanks to Mitchell Watson, I use the black and white feature for my screen so that I am not constantly bombarded by the colors and notification icons.  I get to choose when something is worthy of being viewed in color, most of the time that being the weather radar. The real learning here, though, is that if I truly value making and keeping a connection with someone I make the time and effort to do so in-person, on the phone, through text, and even an old fashioned letter.  I feel warmth in my heart every time these kinds of exchanges happen.  I feel human.

We don’t have to wait until summer to make these associations.  I hope, like me, you might strive to make one of these connections each day or even once a week.  It will lift both your mood and theirs.

Yours in Brown Ledge Spirit,

Brooks