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“Once upon a time, a group of wizards created glowing stones, studded with glittering gems. They promised these stones would bring friendship, freedom, and fun. And at first, it really did feel that way. The stones were exciting. Everyone wanted one. Before long, anyone without a stone felt left out. But the wizards had a secret. Some of them figured out how to turn human attention and energy into gold. The longer people gazed into their stones, the richer the wizards became. And slowly, almost without noticing, things began to change. Friendship felt thinner. Fun felt harder to find. Freedom started to feel more like being controlled.” When I first read this story in The Amazing Generation (a book by Jonathan Haidt & Catherine Price), it stopped me in my tracks because it felt so true. I see these glowing stones everywhere. I see how powerful they are and I see how hard it is, especially for tweens and teens, to look up once the spell has taken hold. That’s one of the reasons Camp has made some very intentional choices. We don’t allow phones at camp. We don’t use social media. We prioritize person-person connections. We do this because kids today need places where the spell is broken. Places where the wizards don’t get a say. At Camp, we haven’t bought into glowing stones and glittering gems. We believe in the beauty of the real world; real rocks, real trees, real dirt under your fingernails. We believe in campfires that crackle, not screens that glow. From my perspective, summer camp can be one of the most powerful acts of resistance against these devices that is available to this generation. Camp is a place to reset and reconnect. It’s where fun is loud and physical and shared. Where freedom means moving through the woods without a device in your pocket. Where friendship is built by doing hard things together, laughing together, and learning how to belong face to face. What I love most about the wizard story is that it doesn’t end in despair. A few brave young people look up. They notice what’s been taken from them. And they decide to break free. They hang out. They go on adventures. They rediscover what real fun feels like. And in doing so, they grow stronger! This is the transformation I witness every summer and it’s the reason I’ll always stand for a space where kids can unplug, explore, and grow into their best selves.
Carter Mahoney / Executive Director
P.S. I genuinely believe The Amazing Generation is a worthwhile read for parents, caregivers, and especially for our rebel tweens and teens who are starting to question the spell for themselves. It puts language to what so many young people are already feeling, and it offers hope that this story isn’t finished yet. If you’d like to explore more, the book’s website includes a free 27-page illustrated preview, full of stories, discussion prompts, and resources to help you start meaningful conversations with the young people in your life. This isn’t an ad or a paid promotion; I genuinely love this book and believe it’s an important resource for helping kids navigate today’s world. Please reach out if you have questions or want to chat more about it, I’d be happy to connect. - Carter
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