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"Summer camp is a place for belly flops, friendship bracelets, tug-of-war battles and the great outdoors. Some camp leaders believe there's no room for cellphones. Today's wired teens are asked to honor the age-old \"no cellphone\" policy at summer camps. The question is, in this heavily connected world, should these programs just let the rule go?\nPeg Smith, CEO of the American Camp Association, says most camps prefer teens leave their electronics at home because they're distracting. Teenagers are away from home, for a few months, to learn face-to-face communication skills, acquire leadership qualities and practice team work.\nMashable reader Jack Cummings believes in the \"no cellphones\" policy at camp. As a summer program leader, he'll be forgoing his technology as well. \n\"Actually going to Scout camp next week with my old Troop, as a leader,\" Cummings wrote. \"The kids going aren\u2019t allowed phones, and I\u2019m joining in. As connected as kids are, we are leaps and bounds beyond that. Giving up my phone, the internet, and the outside world for a week sounds absolutely wonderful to me. Can\u2019t wait for Sunday.\"\nErik Endress, another Scout Leader, believes camps shouldn't forbid phones. \n\"I, too, am a Scout Leader and our troop has this rule of no cell phones. I disagree,\" Endress wrote. \"Locating a lost or missing Scout or getting help in the middle of nowhere will be much easier if we have a phone and GPS.\"\n\nSEE ALSO: No Cellphones at Summer Camp \u2013 Acceptable or Archaic?\nWe received an overwhelming range of responses when we asked our readers \u2014 Are 'No Cellphone' Policies at Summer Camp Acceptable or Archaic? Tell us what you think. \n\n\nShould summer camps force kids to give up their gadgets?\n\nImage courtesy of Schooner Adventures"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2012/06/26/cellphones-summer-camp/>