Unplugging builds focus, connection, and resilience in young people
Today’s teens (and many adults) live in a world of constant connection but limited presence. Between endless notifications, streaming, and scrolling, many spend more than eight hours a day on screens, and research links this level of use to higher anxiety, shorter attention spans, and disrupted sleep. The result is a generation that is often anxious, distracted, and overstimulated.
This constant digital input leaves little room for reflection, creativity, or genuine social connection. Limiting screen time isn’t just about taking phones away; it’s about restoring balance, rebuilding focus, and protecting mental health.
Outward Bound programs have always been technology-free, and although students sometimes resist giving up their devices at first, most eventually appreciate how much more present and engaged they feel without them.
“I thought I’d care a lot about not having my phone but it’s amazing how connected you can feel without it.” - Outward Bound Student
This year, the Philadelphia Outward Bound School (POBS) joins The Reset, a nationwide Outward Bound USA initiative helping young people live healthier, more connected lives through time outdoors and balanced technology use. In 2024, Outward Bound students collectively spent 1.5 million hours device-free, often their first true unplugged experience. This year, we’re challenging ourselves to match that number in a single day, and to engage our larger community in reaching a bold goal of 10 million unplugged hours.
As Outward Bound USA CEO Ginger Naylor says, “Unplugging isn’t about what you’re giving up; it’s about what you’re getting back. The Reset invites communities to reclaim balance in a world of 24/7 scrolling.”
For Philadelphia Outward Bound School, every program is already a kind of Reset.
Our students step away from their phones not for a day, but for days at a time, learning to communicate face-to-face, solve problems together, and discover how capable they are without constant digital connection. The Reset highlights what we do every day: helping young people pause, breathe, and grow through real-world challenge.
Without screens, students plan, navigate, and collaborate, building focus, teamwork, and confidence along the way. Research shows that time away from devices improves attention and mood, and the shared challenges of the outdoors foster leadership, empathy, and resilience that carry back into classrooms and communities.
What It Means for Schools
Outdoor experiential learning offers a meaningful reset from the distraction and disconnection educators see in their classrooms every day. That’s why schools across the Philadelphia region partner with POBS to help students refocus, strengthen peer bonds, and return to school more confident and self-aware.
Take the Next Step
If you’re an educator, counselor, or school leader looking for a meaningful way to help students reconnect, start a conversation with POBS about bringing the values behind The Reset to your school through outdoor, experiential learning.
