We’re excited to offer the Summerland Program for a more balanced use of technology
Learning to live in balance
Summerland at Camp Pocono Trails (CPT) campers learn how to successfully manage the constant distractions of screen-based technologies. The focus is on developing self-regulation skills in a positive, uplifting environment, while also learning about the potential harm of unchecked screen time. Our unique camp setting on 350 private acres is the perfect backdrop to develop self-esteem, build social skills, and try out new, exciting activities detached from screens.
It’s unreasonable to just exclude technology from our lives. Therefore, we use a harm-reduction approach to teach young people to learn how to limit their gaming and social media behaviors. Summerland at CPT is the first summer camp that focuses on creating long-term behavioral change for internet gaming and social media misuse.
Would your child benefit from our tech habit change program? Take the quiz to find out!
It’s not enough to just have a “technology pause” or learn new hobbies. We help your child develop organizational skills to track their time and to use a working schedule to plan their week. Using a weekly planner, campers learn how to stay organized and not just let the day get away from them.
Every camper participates in Behavior Change Groups – where a specially trained counselor leads the group through a set curriculum on behavioral change. Campers are led through insight-oriented activities where they count the costs of endless hours of screen time activities and imagine the benefits of investing their time in more productive pursuits. Educational, occupational, and social effects are all considered in our insight groups.
A major focus of Summerland at CPT is to learn how to live within a predefined schedule and then transfer this skill back home. Campers learn that successful people from all walks of life, from business executives to Olympic athletes, all use self-regulation to structure their lives. In this way, we maintain a positive atmosphere of learning and personal growth at camp.
Camp Pocono Trails is fully accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA).
Dr. Michael Bishop has brought the Summerland Program for a more balanced approach to technology to Camp Pocono Trails. Mike personally oversees all aspects of this successful program.
Start planning for Summer Camp! View our camp dates and rates. Or call us at 1-800-365-0556.
Dr. Mike Bishop
Dr. Mike Bishop, or “Dr. Mike” as he is known at camp, believes that positive, uplifting interventions based on cognitive behavioral therapy and self-regulation are the most effective for making long-term behavioral changes.
The Summerland Camp methodology, pioneered by Dr. Mike is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and sports psychology strategies including self-regulation.
From 2007-2014, Mike served as an Executive Director for Wellspring Weight Loss Camps and Schools. Wellspring was featured on Dr. Phil, Rachel Ray, Extreme Makeover, GMA, TLC, CNN, GMTV (Britain’s leading morning show), and the focus of multi-part features in People Magazine, The Sun (Europe’s largest circulated newspaper), Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.
Summerland at CPT has helped families from across the US and internationally achieve long-term behavioral change.
New York’s WPIX 11 did a story featuring Camp Pocono Trails and how our program helps campers learn to live with technology in a healthy manner.
Summer camp helping fight tech addiction in kids
“Fortnite,” a billion dollar business, counts some 200 million players worldwide, many who won’t or can’t walk away – And for good reason, says child psychiatrist and author Dr. Jodi Gold.
“Video game developers are developing these games to be addictive, like gambling,” she says. “It stimulates the dopamine centers in your brain so they want to go back and get more.”
…These families are now hoping a summer camp intervention will help bring their boys back… Sparber and his wife run Camp Pocono Trails, and for 26 years they’ve helped some 20,000 kids with weight loss. Now, they’ve added tech addiction to their summer program. Their success comes from old fashioned camp fun.
“They do things they’ve never done before, like zip lining,” Sparber says. “When I send a kid home, they’re completely different. Self-esteem is higher, they have confidence, they do better in school,”
The unplugging, combined with healthy eating, sleeping, and shedding pounds, leads to learning how to make actual friends again.
Ready to Change Your Life?
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