he leads now, he brought his portable CD player to
Camp Kef’s grounds.

“I remember being told by many, many counselors
like, ‘Hey, you gotta put that away,’” Bravato said.

Distractions at camp aren’t just a 2023 issue.

Whether it’s a CD player, Tamagotchi or iPhone,
it’s always been the job of camps to regulate the
presence of technology.

As smartphones and screens become more integral
parts of daily life, camps are once again figuring out
how to adapt.

“We know that this is getting harder and harder
given how much kids are on their screens,” Saposnik
said. “We know kids use devices for music, and they
use it to read and they use it to take pictures.”
Camp Havaya recommended kids pack devices that
don’t connect to the internet. For families who can’t
afford these gadgets, the camp provides some.

Day camps, such as JCC Camps at Medford, offer
STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math,
programming, where kids can use robotics, computer
coding or 3-D printing.

“They’re going to the lake, and then they’re going
to archery or they’re going to the ropes course,” JCC
Camps at Medford Director Sara Sideman said. “So it’s
not in the entirety of their day. It’s just infusing it into
their experience.”
The JCC Camps at Medford and Camp Kef have
both created apps to send parents camp updates
and photos regularly, including protected folders for
Habonim Dror Camp Galil in Ottsville has restricted cellphones during summer camp for about a
decade. photos of their children.

Implementing regulations on phone and technology
use at camps isn’t camp leadership being ignorant of
adolescent life. It’s an attempt to preserve a decades-
long Jewish tradition of camp joy and camaraderie in
a rapidly changing world.

“It’s not about trying to create some vision of what
Utopia looked like five years ago, 10 years, 20 years
ago,” Saposnik said. “But figuring out what is Utopia
for our kids right now.” ■
srogelberg@midatlanticmedia.com Every Tuesday of the
Month MEMORY CARE
10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Questions? 215-321-6166
Join us each month for coffee and conversation specifically for people with dementia
and their caregivers.

Event to be held at:
Barnes and Noble
(in the Starbucks)
210 Commerce Boulevard
Fairless Hills, PA 19030
What is a Memory Café?
Originally started in England, this informal setting provides the caregiver a forum for
discussion, reducing the isolation often felt by people with dementia, their caregivers
and families. Discussions can range from practical tips for coping with dementia, avoiding
caregiver burnout or information about community resources. There is no cost or
obligation, and many attendees develop friendships that result in support even outside
the Memory Café setting.

All attendees will adhere to proper COVID-19 guidelines including masking, staying
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