Unplugging for a Wild Adventure: Why Ditching Mobile Phones and Embracing Nature is a Game-Changer for young people and school residentials.
Let’s face it, getting young people to spend less time on screens and more time outside can feel like an uphill battle. But guess what? Swapping Wi-Fi for wildlife isn’t just about giving their eyes a break. It’s actually one of the best things they can do for their brains, their grades in school, and their mental health. The best part? They might even, possibly, just… have fun whilst they do it.
1. Nature is the Ultimate Classroom
Forget fluorescent lights and stuffy classrooms. Imagine learning about ecosystems while standing in one (or five), or figuring out geometry by measuring tree trunks, or coding while decrypting classified information. Research has shown, time and time again, that nature-based learning gets kids more engaged and improves their academic performance. In fact, outdoor learning can actually help close the gap for students who struggle in traditional classrooms. Yep, playing (and I use that term very loosely!) in nature can actually boost grades. See PLOS and Frontiers
So why aren’t we doing more of it?
One UK study showed that students who took part in outdoor lessons were more motivated, more focused, and more creative. Who wouldn’t prefer learning about science in a forest over a worksheet in a classroom? Plus, outdoor lessons are remembered more vividly - something about all that fresh air gets the brain working overtime perhaps? Well, maybe, but perhaps also that the outdoor environment is much more visual, stimulating and tangible.
Visit Forest Research for the details of the research.
2. Personal Growth (a.k.a. Building Grit, resilience and resourcefulness)
Being outside isn’t just good for the brain; it’s great for the soul too. Nature-based adventures help young people build confidence and resilience, skills which are pretty handy in life, school and the workplace. Whether it’s canoeing up the Bioasis estuary, removing ocean plastics from the salt marshes or figuring out how to light a fire, these experiences teach valuable life lessons.
And let’s be honest, teamwork and problem-solving come naturally when you're navigating in woodland, crossing wilderness areas, or having to work together to tackle conservation tasks. See Frontiers research.
You might be surprised at how leadership skills can grow when young people are outside and away from the constant ping of notifications. Then again, you might not. It’s pretty obvious really. Without the distraction of phones, they get the chance to focus on their surroundings, and each other. And that, for us, is what’s really amazing about the Bioasis. It’s that deep immersion into a phone free, nature filled world, for 5 whole days. It creates something magical.
3. Nature: The Best Stress Reliever You’ve Never Downloaded
Spending time outdoors has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety. Being in nature has this magical ability to calm the mind, and young people today need that more than ever. Screens and social media can leave young people feeling overwhelmed, but take them on a nature-based, school residential and watch the stress melt away. See SpringerLink
Teachers in one Scottish study found that outdoor learning boosted mood and encouraged problem-solving in ways the indoor classroom just couldn’t. See Forest Research for details
Even better?
Those problem-solving skills aren’t just left behind with the trees; they’re carried back into the classroom, making schoolwork feel a little more manageable and life feel a little more doable.
4. Becoming Nature’s Superhero
When students reconnect with nature, they start to care more about protecting it too. Outdoor learning fosters environmental awareness and a sense of stewardship for our planet. When we spend time in nature, whether it’s observing wildlife or planting a garden, we all develop an emotional connection to it. In young people, that can easily inspire them to become future environmentalists, ecologist outdoor leaders, geographers and more – all helping to protect our planet - at a time when it needs all the help it can get. Frontiers
5. The Joy of Being Truly Unplugged
That’s all great, but if we’re honest, one of the best parts of a year group residential or school trip at The Bioasis is what’s not here: mobile phones. With no texts to answer or TikToks to scroll through, kids can fully immerse themselves in the experience. It might be a little hard at first (cue groans about losing their Snap streaks), but before long, you’ll see an amazing change, like we have in all the groups that we’ve rewilded.
And this digital detox does wonders for their ability to focus. Without screens, they’re more engaged, more present and more likely to form meaningful memories they’ll carry with them long after the adventure ends. Don’t believe us? See this piece of research here: EPPI Centre
The Big Takeaway
Arranging a year group residential or geography or biology field trip for young people without their phones might sound daunting (for them and you), but the educational benefits are undeniable. They’ll return not only more connected to the world around them but also sharper, calmer, and ready to tackle the next classroom challenge. What if ever school insisted on a nature based school trip at least once a year? It just might be the best lesson the students ever have.
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