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"I'm going to summer camp this weekend. And it will be just like the summer camps of our childhoods: no smartphone, no screens and no access to the Internet.\nThe Digital Detox's no-technology summer camp for adults, \"Camp Grounded,\" begins Friday and ends Monday, in the redwood forests about three hours from the urban jungle and tech hub of San Francisco.\nSEE ALSO: 15 Trivia Questions You'll Probably Get Wrong\n\nOrganizers previously told Mashable they hope the 230 campers \"reconnect with themselves\" and \"understand their relationship with technology,\" through this digital detox. But to do that this weekend, we all have to follow some ground rules:\n\n\nNo Talking About Work: \"There will be no cocktail hour or welcoming reception for anyone to explain what they do, play the 'we know the same people' game, or try and figure out how they can network again after they return to the workplace.\" \nAlthough I'm attending as a journalist, I'll be participating and immersing myself in the experience just like everyone else.\n\nNo Real Names, No Ages: We all will be using nicknames at camp. (I'm still considering mine.) No one can ask about anyone's age, since \"the mystery allows us all to learn from each other, regardless of assumed experience or measured time we've spent rotating on this planet.\"\nNo Digital Technology: This is obviously the main premise of the camp. Any gadget including phones, computers, digital cameras or watches are not allowed. However, I will be documenting the experience with disposable film cameras (which are permitted) and paper and pen. \nWe won't even be following regular time at camp: \"We'll be using an intricate system of bells, horns, animal calls and camp song to let you know when a new activity or meal is beginning.\"\nIn case of emergencies, the camp ranger does have phone access.\nNo Alcohol: Even though the camp is only for adults, organizers say it's about \"pure, unadulterated fun\" and being a kid again. However, sneaking out at night is actually encouraged, since there will be \"magical nightlife.\"\n\n\nThe Northern California campground where this takes place is a 1970s-style Boy Scouts atmosphere. So the planned activities include: field day events (I'm on the \"orange team\"), hiking, stargazing, archery, pillow fights, as well as more grownup activities like yoga, meditation and \"hammocking.\" Just when I thought I would never have to relive those awkward high school years, the camp is holding a 1980s-themed prom dance.\nSEE ALSO: Will Technology Hurt Your Child's Brain?\nA few weeks ago, The Digital Detox organizers sent campers a guide via snail mail (pictured above) \u2014 complete with pine needles in the envelope \u2014 with what to expect and how to prep for a digital detox. I followed their recommendations by letting family and close friends know I'll be off the grid, set my out-of-office email auto-responder, updated my voicemail message and swapped my social media avatars and Facebook cover photo with their provided images (pictured below). I had to politely decline weekend invites and have sent Father's Day wishes to my dad ahead of time.\n\nHonestly, I'm a bit more apprehensive about the outdoorsy camping part of the whole weekend than the digital disconnection. I'm looking forward to staying away from overflowing email inboxes and think this break from constant screen time will rest my astigmatic eyes, forcing me to socialize with fellow campers without using a phone as a social crutch. But with the exception of a one-week, school-sanctioned camp in sixth grade, I'm a total suburbanite and city dweller. Sleeping under the stars in 46-degree temperatures will be an interesting experience.\nBy the time you read this, I'll be on the road heading to camp with the iPhone put aside and every digital gadget I own left cold in the shadows of my apartment. So don't call, text, email, Gchat, Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp message, Facebook tag or tweet at me for the next few days. \nI'll see you on the other end \u2014 hopefully.\nWhat questions do you have about a digital detox experience? Let me know in the comments section and I will try and ask them to fellow campers and the organizers and get back to you on the other side.\nMashable composite thumbnail and lead: camp image courtesy of The Digital Detox; graphics via iStockphoto, runeer. Letter image by Mashable. Banner and profile avatars courtesy of The Digital Detox."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2013/06/14/camp-grounded-digital-detox-prep/>