Digital Detox Retreat for Youth: Venue Hire Guide for Organisers in Australia

A digital detox retreat works best when the setting makes healthy routines easy: quiet bedrooms without phones, outdoor spaces that invite movement, and a timetable that naturally supports sleep and face-to-face connection. As a venue-only provider, Foothills welcomes your facilitators, youth workers, and school staff to run programs that reflect Australian Government guidance on screen time, sleep, and daily activity. We supply the spaces, logistics, and quiet infrastructure; you deliver the coaching, curriculum, and supervision.

Key Takeaways – Summary

• A venue-only model lets organisers keep full control of curriculum and staffing while Foothills provides the physical framework for a smooth digital detox experience.
• Government guidance points to three practical levers that a venue can support every day: limit recreational screen time, keep devices out of bedrooms, and protect wind-down routines that lead to better sleep.
• National data shows high digital engagement among Australian children and teens; demand for credible digital detox retreat for youth programs continues to rise, especially in school terms and holidays.
• Movement and time outdoors help with mood, attention, and sleep. Plan daily activity blocks and simple nature time—then ensure bedrooms remain phone-free each night.
• For school groups, supervision ratios and documentation are set by the Victorian Department of Education. Example: overnight base camps require a 1:10 staff-student ratio with a minimum of two staff. Department of Education, Victoria

Who is this venue-only model for?

Organisers building evidence-informed programs

If you run youth wellbeing camps, school pastoral programs, outdoor education experiences, or health retreats, you bring the facilitators and content; we provide a campus that makes device-free days feel natural. You map your learning goals—sleep hygiene, peer connection, Detox Digital skills—onto rooms, ovals, and trails that support your plan.

Schools needing a predictable, compliant base

You handle approvals and staffing; we help you meet policy with ready-to-share venue documents, site maps, evacuation plans, and rooming options that reflect supervision needs. Ratios for day and overnight experiences are straightforward to implement on our layout, with staff rooms sited close to accommodation blocks for quiet after-hours oversight. Overnight base camps: 1:10, minimum two staff (policy minimums). Department of Education, Victoria

Community and holiday-program providers

If you recruit families directly, you can run a three- or five-day digital detox retreat during school holidays. You lead risk management and child-safe policies; we supply the infrastructure and steady operations so parents feel confident about logistics and communication.

What do organisers actually need to run a strong digital detox program?

Device control made simple

• Centralised phone lock-ups at check-in with labelled compartments and sign-in/out logs.
• Single emergency contact line at reception so parents can reach participants through staff without re-introducing personal devices.
• Clear signage for phone-free bedrooms and quiet hours to normalise the routine.

Bedrooms that support sleep

• Phone-free sleeping areas by design. Participants charge devices at a centralised secure location.
• Blackout curtains and quiet corridors that make a structured wind-down easy to keep.
• Lights-out consistency that mirrors best-practice advice: no screens in the last hour before bed and no devices in bedrooms.

Outdoor capacity for daily activity

• Outdoor areas like gardens, courts, and loop walks within the grounds so every day includes movement and daylight exposure.
• Shaded rest areas to pace energy and cater for different comfort levels.
• Weather back-ups (indoor halls) to keep momentum if conditions change.

Flexible indoor rooms

• Plenary hall for 150–200 seats with AV for briefings and workshops.
• Medium rooms for 20–40 participants to run creative blocks, journalling, or discussion circles.
• Small breakouts for 8–15 to support peer connection, reflection, or counselling sessions.

Quiet infrastructure that reduces digital pull

• Wi-Fi controls available on request during program hours.
• Whiteboards, flip-charts, and stationery to keep sessions analogue.
• Games and kit (balls, cones, low-prep equipment) to enable spontaneous play between formal blocks.

Why do device-free circuits matter right now?

Stakeholders want numbers—here are two that help the case

• The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a rise in children spending more than 20 hours per week on screens: from 16% to 24% among those who use screens, comparing 2017–18 with 2021–22. Australian Bureau of Statistics
• The eSafety Commissioner’s nationally representative research (2024–25) shows high online participation across 10–17-year-olds, reinforcing the need for calm structures and parent-friendly boundaries.

What this means for your program

A digital detox retreat for youth isn’t a lecture about screens; it’s a practical reset. Organisers who combine consistent sleep routines, structured outdoor time, and simple tech rules see better adherence at home. The venue’s job is to set the stage so those behaviours are easier to practise than abandon.

How should organisers translate guidance into a day-by-day plan?

Principle: pair routine with variety

Keep mealtimes and bedtime predictable. Vary the activity and creative blocks to maintain interest and reduce social pressure. Most groups settle into a three-to-five-day rhythm quickly; shorter programs can be repeated over holidays to reinforce gains.

Sample daily structure you can run at Foothills

Morning (7:00–9:00)
Wake-up, sunlight exposure, stretch or walk, tech-free breakfast, daily briefing. Sleep improves when mornings start consistently and without late scroll carry-over.

Mid-morning (9:30–12:00)
Outdoor block: hike and basic map skills, team relay on the oval, or a nature sit-spot. The aim is moderate activity plus daylight, not fitness testing.

Afternoon (1:30–4:30)
Choice streams: creative studio (music, drama, drawing) or practical build (garden tasks, bird-box assembly). Rotate groups to give every participant a success moment.

Late afternoon (5:00–6:00)
Skills for Detox Digital living: notification trims, home-screen declutter, a two-app “comfort scroll” limit, batching replies, and a phone-free last hour before bed. Provide a parent handout that mirrors these steps.

Evening (7:00–9:30)
Card games, reading hour, quiet social time, then lights-out in phone-free bedrooms.

What outcomes can parents, schools, and funders expect?

One week on site

• Earlier lights-out and smoother wake-ups after several device-free evenings.
• Fewer impulsive checks because notifications are off and phones are stored.
• More face-to-face confidence anchored by low-stakes games and creative blocks.

One month after students go home

• Families who keep phones out of bedrooms and protect a screen-free last hour before sleep report calmer nights.
• Teens apply simple rules without resentment: a modest daily cap for recreational screen time, tech-free meals, and a default outdoor micro-dose after school.

What does “credible” look like in a venue-only partnership?

Clarity on roles

• You: staffing, supervision ratios, child-safe checks, risk management, consent, first aid leadership.
• Foothills: rooms, grounds, operations, emergency procedures, and organiser support.

Transparent safety alignment

• We layout rooms and muster points to reflect supervision needs and evacuation plans. For Victorian government school groups, overnight base camps require at least a 1:10 staff-student ratio, minimum two staff; day excursions are 1:20, and overnight study camps 1:15 (policy minimums). Department of Education, Victoria

Documentation that saves time

• Organiser pack: site map, capacities, AV notes, Wi-Fi control options, and after-hours contact details.
• Risk-friendly design: staff room sited near accommodation blocks; clear radio channels for activity leaders; weather back-ups planned into the day.

Program design tips that work well on our campus

Keep the first hour simple

On arrival, hand in devices, walk the campus, set expectations, and practise the emergency contact process so everyone understands the phone-free plan.

Use social levellers early

Pick mixed-ability outdoor games and a short creative warm-up to take pressure off new groups. Rotate teams so quieter students feel seen.

Give every evening a purpose

Make night routines repeatable: card games, reading, small-group chats, then lights-out. Consistency beats novelty for sleep.

Plan for energy dips

Offer a quiet breakout room with puzzles, books, and drawing for those who need a breather. Keep water stations near ovals and halls.

Put parents in the loop

Send a one-page home plan: phone-free bedrooms, screen-free last hour, a modest recreational screen-time cap, and a weekly analogue activity families can enjoy together.

Sample three-day and five-day run-sheets (adapt to your program)

Three-day reset (popular with schools)

• Day 1: Arrival, device check-in, orientation walk, outdoor team challenges, evening reading hour.
• Day 2: Morning stretch, orienteering loop, creative studio, social-skills circle, games night, lights-out.
• Day 3: Nature walk and sit-spot, Detox Digital skills session, parent pick-up with a printed home plan.

Five-day immersion (holiday providers)

• Day 1–2: Establish routines; emphasise sleep and quick wins.
• Day 3–4: Longer outdoor blocks and peer-led circles; practise home routines.
• Day 5: Consolidation, reflection, and a take-home plan with parent notes.

Practical checklists we supply as the venue (you run the program)

Pre-arrival pack

• Site map with muster points; list of indoor/outdoor spaces and capacities.
• Phone storage procedure; parent emergency contact sheet; sign-in/out template.
• Example room allocations to support supervision and privacy needs.

On-site operations

• Central lock-up location for devices; labels and logging sheets for arrivals and departures.
• Whiteboards, flip-charts, markers; sports gear for low-prep activity blocks.
• First-aid room access for your qualified staff; local urgent-care contacts; radio channels for activities.

Post-program

• Quiet area for device return, collection checklist, and lost-property process.
• Parent-ready one-pager summarising practical home steps to keep gains going.

Quick Summary

• A digital detox retreat for youth needs a setting that rewards healthy habits: phone-free bedrooms, outdoor time, and steady evening routines.
• Foothills offers a venue-only partnership: you bring facilitators and policies; we provide rooms, grounds, logistics, and device-lock-up locations that help your plan run smoothly.
• National data shows high screen use and strong online participation among Australian young people, so demand is real. Equip families with a home plan and keep the routines simple.
• For school groups, match the Victorian supervision ratios and bring the paperwork; we’ll supply campus docs and rooming layouts that make compliance practical.

Plan Dates and Spaces With Foothills (Venue-Only Hire for Digital Detox Retreats)

Bring your program, facilitators, and risk plan—we’ll provide the venue, secure device logistics, and flexible indoor-outdoor zones to make your digital detox retreat run seamlessly. Tell us your target dates, group size, supervision needs, and any accessibility considerations. We’ll map room allocations, phone-free procedures, and wayfinding so your team can focus on delivery. Ask for our organiser pack, sample run-sheets, and school-ready venue documents today.

Government sources

• Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care — 24-hour movement guidelines (5–17 years): https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/24-hour-movement-guidelines-children-and-young-people-5-to-17-years-fact-sheet
• Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care — Physical activity and exercise: Children and young people (5–17 years): https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians/for-children-and-young-people-5-to-17-years
• eSafety Commissioner — The online experiences of children in Australia (2024–25): https://www.esafety.gov.au/research/the-online-experiences-of-children-in-australia
• Australian Bureau of Statistics — Children spending more hours a week on screen-based activities (media release): https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/children-spending-more-hours-week-screen-based-activities
• Victorian Department of Education (Policy and Advisory Library) — Excursions: Supervision: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/excursions/guidance/supervision

Better Health Channel (Victorian Government) — Children – keeping them active: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/children-keeping-them-active