Warren County Youth Encouraged to Unplug for a Day of Fun

Young people in Warren County are being challenged to put down their phones and enjoy real-life fun at the “Youth Unplugged Party” on Friday, March 7. Hosted by the Warren Coalition and several community partners, this event is part of “Warren County Unplugged,” a local effort supporting the Global Day of Unplugging.

The statistics are concerning—teens spend an average of nine hours a day on screens, not including schoolwork, while younger kids log over five-and-a-half hours. Studies show this screen time affects sleep, memory, academic performance, and mental health. It’s also linked to feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

To help kids and teens take a break from their devices, the Warren Coalition has teamed up with Warren County Parks & Recreation, Young Life, Scouting America, Warren County Public Schools, and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office for an evening of screen-free activities. The fun starts at 5:45 p.m. at the Health & Human Services Complex with free pizza, provided by Warren County Parks & Recreation, available until 6:30 p.m. (or while supplies last). The first 225 attendees will receive a free “smartphone nap-sack” to store their devices, along with wiki stix for younger participants.

At 6:00 p.m., attendees will officially unplug and split into age-appropriate activities. Middle and high school students will stay at the gym for volleyball and cornhole tournaments, arts and crafts, and outdoor-style games like spike ball and 9 Square. Elementary school children and their parents will head to Diversified Minds for a night of Resilience Bingo, Book Bingo, Affirmations Jenga, Uno, archery, inflatable bowling, and even a unique Quiet Game, where blindfolded players try to tag others wearing squeaky rubber chickens on their feet. Warren Coalition, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, and Scouting America will oversee this area.

Exciting prizes will be up for grabs throughout the night, including day passes to Shenandoah River State Park, free pizza from Fox’s Pizza, and gift cards to popular local spots like Spelunker’s, Melting Pot Pizza, and Mom’s Country Kitchen. Some prizes will be awarded randomly as door prizes, while others will be tied to game victories.

At 6:15 p.m., parents can attend a special session on the effects of smartphone use on children and how to set healthy boundaries. Door prizes will also be available at this session.

After the Youth Unplugged Party ends, the fun continues with a Hyper Bowl Party at Royal Family Bowling from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

“Warren County Unplugged” runs from 6:00 p.m. on March 7 to 6:00 p.m. on March 8, encouraging everyone to disconnect from screens for at least part of the 24-hour period. Those who officially pledge to unplug will be entered to win gift cards to Dusty’s Country Store ($100), Downriver Canoe Company ($100), Castiglia’s ($50), or Mom’s Country Kitchen ($50). The full event schedule is available at warrencoalition.org/wc-gdu-schedule.

This community-wide effort is made possible by generous sponsors, including Title Sponsors Mountain Laurel Montessori School, Angel’s Korner Daycare and Learning Center, Mom’s Country Kitchen, and Melting Pot Pizza. Event sponsors include Dusty’s Country Store, Edward Jones (Bret Hrbek), L’Dee’s Pancake House, and Royal Cinemas.

For more information, contact Celeste Brooks at celeste@warrencoalition.org.

The Warren Coalition, founded in 1994, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making Warren County a safer, healthier, and drug-free community. Working alongside over 15 partner agencies, the coalition offers programs and initiatives to promote wellness and substance abuse prevention.