Over summer, we took Stella and her three friends on a camping trip down to Pūrakaunui Bay a DOC campsite down in the Catlins. It was a perfect opportunity to iron out a few wrinkles in our setup and see if we could manage 4 teenaged girls, away from technology.
Watching them on arrival was eye-opening. Used to communicating almost entirely through their phones, they hovered around the campsite, checking (and double-checking) for coverage. When they realised there was none, a quiet sort of panic set in—until boredom got the better of them. Within an hour, they ventured out.
That first step away from the campsite was the start of something pretty cool. At first, they stuck close, just checking out the area. But each day, they pushed a little further—following animal tracks, digging up old bones, and swimming in the river. The simple stuff became the best stuff—boarding down dunes, racing each other along the beach, and, of course, digging up even more bones.
They got to know the local wildlife too. A nesting bird kept chasing them whenever they got too close, but they quickly figured out that if they gave the māmā her space, she’d leave them alone. We even got to see sealions stretched out on the sand.
By day two, the awkward quiet had disappeared. The phones were long forgotten, replaced by chatter and laughter. They played cards, shared stories, helped cook, and spent some time catching waves on the bodyboards. With no screens, they had to rely on each other, and they absolutely thrived.
By the time we packed up, there was no rush to get back online. The teens who had arrived anxious about losing connection had discovered something better—real connection.
This trip was a reminder of why we do what we do. Reconnecting with the taiao isn’t just about getting outside; it’s about rediscovering ourselves and each other. Sometimes, all it takes is a few days away from Wi-Fi to remember how free we really are.