Teens swear off tech gadgets for 24 hours

By his own admission, Jachai May, 16, is obsessed with his tech gadgets.

"So much WiFi, so little time," the Germantown teenager opined.

But Saturday afternoon, May left his iPod with his mother. A few days earlier, he had turned his beloved laptop over to his sister in Delaware. He wasn't going to risk being in the same state.

Early Saturday evening, he was one of about 65 teens who turned out at the Kimmel Center with sleeping bags to take part in a challenge organizers hope will catch on elsewhere.

It was the first-ever kNOw Tech-A-Thon. The goal: Go 24 hours technology-free.

"It feels so weird," May said, grinning. "It feels like I'm missing something."

To be sure, lots of hands were reaching into empty pockets. But there were also kids chatting and clowning with one another rather than texting into cyberspace.

That's what organizer Steven Fisher had in mind when he recently created his kNOw Tech 4 Teens, a nonprofit advocating the balanced use of technology with a people-centered life.

Fisher's other hat is founder of the Commonwealth Youthchoirs, which operates children's music programs. He said he had been thinking about something that would address the obsessive use of technology for a few years, particularly after he called out a singer for texting during a performance. The boy had assured Fisher he wasn't doing anything wrong because it wasn't actually his time to sing.

"It was impressive and disturbing at the same time," Fisher said.

The teens taking part in the first kNOw Tech-A-Thon were all members of Fisher's Keystone State Boychoir and Pennsylvania Girlchoir. In addition to ditching their devices, they had to seek sponsors who would pay for every hour they went tech-free.

By Saturday evening, they had raised $6,000, which they planned to donate to the Tyler Clementi Foundation, named for the 18-year-old Rutgers University student who killed himself in 2010 after learning his roommate violated his privacy with technology.

Billed as the 21st-century version of a dance-a-thon, the kNOw-Tech-A-Thon - which Fisher hopes will be repeated near and far - was designed to show how much fun can be had when the gadgets are put down.

For one thing, the Kimmel Center had agreed to let the students use its space for a slumber party - pretty cool for music kids.

"It's a great event, very needed at this time by kids," said Carol Frazier, Kimmel's education manager.

After dropping off their belongings, the teens walked to a restaurant in Queen Village, then off to a local resident's home to make s'mores. Back at the Kimmel, activities would include a talent contest. At 4 p.m. Sunday, the youngsters are scheduled to give a concert at the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown. Tyler Clementi's mother, Jane, is expected to attend.

Many teens admitted that as much as they love their devices, they overuse them.

"I'm glad to be a part of this," said Benjamin Espenlaub, 14, of Yardley. "It's going to be hard."

Some, though, liked being device-free for a change.

"You get to absorb what's happening around you. You communicate with people," said Brett LeClair, 17, of Perkasie.

Indira Joell, 18, of Mount Airy, was looking forward to the hours ahead. "I'm excited because it's the Kimmel Center, and I'm excited to be with my friends when they don't have technology," she said.

Too often, Joell said, people will be on their devices rather than talking to the people they are actually with.

Fooling with some friends, about to head off to the restaurant, Jachai May seemed to be doing OK.

"It's not as bad as I thought it would be. I've got my buddies," he said. "But it's been four times I've gone to my pocket."

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