For Virginia Screen-Free Week, we encourage you to go offline and visit a state park to unplug (April 13-19, 2025). Why should you participate? High screen usage has been linked to adverse health outcomes, whereas time outdoors has proven to provide health benefits.  

Family hiking at Sky Meadows State Park 

How screen-time impacts youth 

Families with children should especially prioritize screen-free time. Youth are suffering from symptoms such as poor sleep habits, fatigue and symptoms of anxiety and depression due to or amplified by high screen usage. Mental health is also highly impacted, with 60% of the highest frequency social media users reporting having poor or very poor mental health. This especially harms girls, with 57% of teen girls reporting being chronically hopeless or sad. Screen time is not just causing some feelings, though; it has life-threatening health impacts. Today, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for 10 to 14 year-olds.  

Adults must help youth from the negative spiral that screens can influence. Part of that is by being a good example and setting boundaries with our own screen-time. Parents can set rules and take kids outdoors to help offset the negative impacts of screen time.  

Benefits of time in nature  

Time in nature has proven to reduce stress, improve mood and concentration, better sleep, strengthen your immune system and can create a longer lifespan. It may seem impossible to get away from screens, but it can be done and even if it's not for the whole week or day, every screen-free moment counts. Here are ideas of how you can have a meaningful, joyful break from screens.  

How to spend Virginia Screen-Free Week (or any screen-free time)  

Explore a park you've never been to before! Exploring somewhere new is exciting and fights boredom – which is one of the main excuses people give for getting on their phone, "Oh, I was just bored." Did you know there's a state park within an hour's drive anywhere you are in Virginia? Find state parks all conveniently mapped out for you on our Find a Park page. 

Kids enjoying an overlook view 

If you're not already logging your park visits, sign up for Trail Quest to track each new Virginia state park you visit. Trail Quest gives you rewards for milestones like pins and a Master Hiker certificate/title once you've visited them all! This is a fun family activity that motivates you to get outdoors together.   

Learn about nature with a ranger as your guide by attending a ranger-led program at a park. For example, you can be led by rangers on a hike to explore a new trail, be taught about birds on a birding program or participate in a craft like making a nature journal to log sightings offline. Go to our events page to find programs. More than 200 are listed during Virginia Screen-Free Week! 

Ranger-led programs also give you the opportunity to connect with the nature-loving community – you'll likely attend a program with other park visitors or get to know an interesting park ranger. Without community, we are missing out on social connection like eye contact which releases oxytocin, dopamine and other positive-feeling brain chemicals. 

Kids participating in a ranger-led program, looking at bugs and plants together 

Pick up a Virginia State Parks Nature Backpack from a participating library near you, for FREE entrance to a state park and resources like pocket guides, a magnifying lens, activity sheets and more to keep you screen-free. Learn more in this blog.  

Many parks offer Junior Ranger Programs for kids; we have a list of programs and activity booklets you can print yourself here. Visitor centers have these kind of activity sheets/booklets as well! Some even offer Junior Ranger Backpacks, similar to the ones at libraries, stop into a visitor center to ask. 

A Junior Ranger Backpack at York River State Park

Reclaim Childhood has more resources for you: ReclaimChildhood.Virginia.gov  

When you get back online, tag us on social media (@vastateparks or Virginia State Parks) to share how you spent your time offline was spent and use #ScreenFreeVA. You could inspire others to take a much-needed break as well!