Finding the Balance: Mobile Phones at Residential Camp

Why We Limit Mobile Phone Use

A Residential camp is a unique opportunity for children to build independence, make new friends, and enjoy the outdoors. While mobile phones help families stay connected, unrestricted use can interfere with:

• Sleep routines
• Face-to-face social interaction
• Participation in activities
• Emotional wellbeing

Our goal is to strike a healthy balance—allowing some contact with home while encouraging campers to be fully present in the camp experience.

Our Age-Based Mobile Phone Policy

We tailor our approach based on age to reflect different levels of maturity and responsibility and in line with our Safeguarding responsibilites. The full policy is available in our Policies & Procedures document.

Ages 7–11

• We prefer campers in this group do not bring mobile devices.
• If they do, devices are collected on arrival and securely stored.
• Campers may access their phones briefly each day (18:45–19:15) in a supervised area.
• Devices are returned at the end of camp.

Age 12

• Staff collect devices at 21:30 and return them at approximately 09:00 upon request.
• Campers must not bring phones into the dining hall, activities, or lessons.
• Campers must place their devices in designated boxes before each activity begins.
• Staff will confiscate any devices that are visible outside permitted times.

Ages 13+

• Phones are not allowed in the dining hall, during activities, or lessons.
• Devices must be placed in designated boxes before each activity.
• Visible devices outside permitted times will be confiscated.
• Campers may use phones at night but must be respectful of others.

General Rules for All Campers

• Campers must clearly label all their devices.
• Campers must not use phones to access inappropriate content or engage in online bullying.
• Photos or videos of others require their permission.
• Campers should report issues to staff before contacting home.
• XUK is not responsible for lost or damaged devices not in our care.

WiFi and International Access

We turn off the WiFi at night to support healthy sleep. If your child is travelling from abroad, please ensure their phone has roaming enabled and they have enough credit so they can contact you during permitted times.

Parental Controls Are Essential

We do not monitor individual camper phones. That’s why we strongly recommend parents set up parental controls before camp. These can help you:

• Limit screen time (especially at night)
• Restrict app usage
• Filter inappropriate content

Make sure your child’s phone is set up to contact you in the way you prefer. And don’t forget to insure any devices they bring to camp. For more information on setting up parental controls and keeping children safe online, there is loads of helpful guidance available on NSPCC and Safer Internet UK.

Working Together for a Great Camp Experience

We’re not here to preach—we’re here to protect. Our mobile phone policy helps us create a safe, inclusive, and engaging environment for all campers. With your support, we can help your child make the most of their time at XUK Residential Camp. If you have any questions about the policy or anything else about XUK, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re always happy to help.