In today’s world, childhood looks very different. As Jonathan Haidt argues in The Anxious Generation, we have shifted from a “play-based childhood” to a “phone-based childhood”, where real-world experiences are increasingly replaced by screens. The result is clear: rising anxiety, reduced resilience, and fewer opportunities for children to develop independence and social confidence.
At Camp Bonas, we believe in restoring what childhood should be: adventurous and creative.
Haidt also highlights a growing imbalance in modern parenting; we tend to overprotect children in the real world while underprotecting them online. This has left many young people with fewer chances to test themselves and take risks. Camp Bonas exists to rebalance this dynamic, offering children the opportunity to step beyond their comfort zones in a supportive, real-world environment.
Psychologist Michael Thompson, in Homesick and Happy, describes the profound growth that occurs when children spend time away from home. Camp provides an ‘electronics-free’ space where children form friendships, face challenges, and discover their own capabilities. Homesickness, he argues, is not something to be avoided, but a natural and valuable part of developing resilience and independence.
This idea is echoed by Ken Robinson in The Element, where creativity flourishes when children are given the freedom to explore, experiment, and engage with the world around them. Camp Bonas offers exactly this, an environment free from rigid structures and digital distractions, where curiosity and imagination can thrive.
At Camp Bonas, children climb, build, perform, create, and connect. They take healthy risks, form lasting friendships, and return home more confident and capable. These are not just memories, they are formative experiences that help shape character for life.