‍The Reset Day to Take Place Nationwide on Saturday, January 24, 2026, with Communities Across the Country Joining the Movement

On November 6, 2025, Outward Bound USA, the nation’s leader in outdoor education and youth development, announced The Reset, a bold national campaign urging students, families, and educators to take a break from their screens and reconnect to the people and places in their communities.

As national concerns about youth mental health, digital risks, and attention fatigue continue to rise, The Reset offers a clear and hopeful response: one day to log off, get outside, and reclaim the clarity, creativity, and connection that come from being fully present. The movement will culminate on The Reset Day on Saturday, January 24, 2026, when participants across the country will turn off their devices and reconnect with themselves, their peers, and their communities.

"In 2024, Outward Bound generated nearly 1.5 million hours of device-free time through our experiential education programs. For many students, the challenge of time away from phones on an outdoor adventure is a first-time experience,” said Ginger Naylor, CEO of Outward Bound USA. “The Reset invites communities to match that number in a single day – and to reclaim balance in a world of 24/7 news cycles and continuous scrolling. Unplugging is not about what you are giving up; it is about what you are getting back.”

Mounting data underscores why this movement matters: the CDC reports that 95% of U.S. adolescents ages 10 to 15 spend more than two hours of recreational screen time daily, which is linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and lower psychological well-being. According to a 2024 Pew Research Center study, 72% of teens say they sometimes or often feel joy from time spent online. At the same time, nearly half report feeling overwhelmed by their screen use, and 38% say they feel addicted to their screens.

“Time in nature isn’t just restorative – it’s transformative,” said Catherine Price, Host Committee Member of The Reset and bestselling author of How to Break Up With Your Phone and The Amazing Generation, a book for tweens (out 12/30) co-authored with Jonathan Haidt.  “Being outside can shift your perspective. It opens up space to reflect and be present in a way that restores and re-centers. The Reset is about creating that pause to take a break from screens and get outside.”

Unlike traditional screen-time challenges or tech restrictions, The Reset embraces today’s youth-led movement through a choice-based approach that meets participants where they are and empowers them to define what a meaningful break looks like. Whether that means a solo walk in nature, a family hike, an unplugged art project, or a classroom reflection circle, each participant will shape their own experience — and, in doing so, take ownership of their time and attention.

To spark a national conversation around digital wellness, The Reset is guided by a Host Committee of advocates, educators, and thought leaders who are passionate about empowering young people to thrive both online and offline. United by a shared commitment to reducing digital fatigue and promoting healthy connections, these voices lend their expertise and reach to help inspire participation nationwide. The Reset Host Committee includes:

• Sasha DiGiulian, decorated professional climber, founder of SEND bars and wellness advocate
• Angela Duckworth, psychologist and author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
• Madame Gandhi, electronic music producer, artist and activist
• Catherine Price, journalist and author of How to Break Up with Your Phone and co-author with Jonathan Haidt of The Amazing Generation (release date December 2025).
• Dr. Whitney Raglin Bignall, clinical psychologist and associate director of the Ohio State University Suicide Prevention Program
• Tiffany Shlain, multidisciplinary artist and author of 24/6: Giving up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection
• Robin Thurston, CEO and founder of Outside Interactive, Inc.‍
• Chelsea Murphy (She Colors Nature), creator, nature advocate, Team Bronco Ambassador, and Bronco Wild Fund grant recipient

The Reset is also backed by a growing Support Coalition of national and community-based organizations, with partners from across the country coming together to amplify The Reset and engage the communities they serve. From digital wellness organizations and mental health nonprofits to outdoor educators and youth-serving institutions, this coalition reflects the urgent, cross-sector need for balance in a hyper-connected world. Current supporters include:

• 52 Hike Challenge
• Adventure Crew
• The Anxious Generation
• American Hiking Society
• Appalachian Mountain Club
• Bay Area Climbers Coalition
• Better Screen Time
• Bewilder
• Beyond Limits Academic Program
• Blue Star Families
• Camp Fire
• Camping with Cradle
• Chicks with Grit
• Children & Nature Network
• Children’s Funding Network
• Color My Outdoors
• The Commons
• The Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School
• Experiential Consulting
• FlyCurious Fishing
• Friends of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge
• Global Day of Unplugging
• Good Natured Learning
• GreenLatinos
• Highland’s Ranch Community Association
• Hiking My Feelings
• ISEEN (Independent Schools Experiential Education Network)
• Justice Outside
• The Kids Mental Health Foundation
• King County Play Equity Coalition
• Latino Outdoors
• LiveMore ScreenLess
• Mahoosuc Land Trust
• NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association)
• Nature and Health Alliance
• NatureBridge
• Northwest Youth Corps
• ODC Network
• OutGrown
• Outdoor Outreach
• Outdoorist Oath
• PEAR
• Partners for Rural Impact
• Playworks
• Project LookUp
• Salted Roots
• Screen Sanity
• Sierra Club
• SOS Outreach
• Tahoe Waterman Foundation
• Talk More. Tech Less.
• TapOut Rewards
• Tilting Futures
• The Center for Rising Generations at the Aspen Institute
• The Hidden Opponent
• The Screenagers Project
• Washington Trails Association
• Waypoint Adventure
• Wildwood Outdoor Education Center
  

The Reset is also supported by four national partners who help elevate the campaign’s reach and impact:

• Bronco Wild Fund^TM, a Ford Motor Company program, is collaborating with The Reset on their joint mission of connecting people to the outdoors responsibly. Inspired by the epic return of the legendary Ford Bronco®, the Bronco Wild Fund mission begins with a deep respect for our public lands and sustaining the environment. Bronco Wild Fund and its collaborators help with grants, scholarships, contributions, and an extensive dealer network. A portion of the profits from every Bronco SUV sold goes directly to Bronco Wild Fund collaborator initiatives.
• Marmot has spent over 50 years creating durable, high-performance outdoor gear that enables people to explore, challenge themselves, and build confidence outside. Guided by the belief that the outdoors is a powerful teacher, Marmot and The Reset are united in expanding access to meaningful outdoor experiences for all.
• Outside serves as the National Media Partner, bringing the movement to its community of active lifestyle enthusiasts. As the premier destination for outdoor and endurance sports storytelling, Outside reaches more than 80 million people each month across its media, digital and technology platforms.
• SMBC Global Foundation joins as a National Partner following their 2024 launch of SMBC Building Resilient Futures, a philanthropic initiative that aims to enrich the lives of youth through the power of the outdoors. Through this program, the SMBC Global Foundation cultivates opportunities for younger generations to access enriching outdoor-based experiences in order to strengthen well-being and counter the effects of diminished independence and excessive screen time. The initiative offers powerful, practical experiences that reconnect young people with themselves, others, and the natural world.

The Reset builds on Outward Bound’s more than 60-year legacy of fostering resilience, leadership and connection through outdoor learning. Outward Bound USA is a national nonprofit education organization dedicated to facilitating adventurous learning, rooted in the outdoors, to unlock confidence, curiosity, and the skills to thrive with purpose. With a network of 9 regional schools and more than 500 community partnerships nationwide, Outward Bound serves over 50,000 students each year through programs that span remote wilderness courses and local school-based initiatives. Guided by the belief that real growth comes from exploring beyond comfort zones, Outward Bound empowers youth to realize their potential—rising with courage, leading with compassion, and building more connected, resilient communities.

Participation in The Reset is free and open to students, schools, families, and youth-serving organizations nationwide. Toolkits and sign-up information are available now at www.the-reset.org. Supporters will also have an opportunity to contribute to The Summit Fund, set up by Outward Bound USA to help more students go beyond The Reset Day and into multi-day adventures. To learn more about Outward Bound and its mission, visit www.outwardbound.org.

About The Reset

The Reset is a national campaign created by Outward Bound to help young people, families, and educators pause, unplug, and reconnect with what matters most. Built from Outward Bound’s 80-year legacy of facilitating adventurous learning rooted in the outdoors, The Reset invites participants to take a break from their screens for a single day and rediscover clarity, confidence, and connection. Through free toolkits and community participation on January 24 and beyond, The Reset encourages people of all ages to reclaim their time, attention, and sense of purpose in a world that rarely slows down. To learn more, visit the-reset.org.

About Outward Bound

Outward Bound USA is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to the transformative power of outdoor education. With a network of nine regional schools across the United States, Outward Bound inspires young people to develop resilience, leadership, and a profound connection to the natural world through challenging and meaningful experiences. To learn more, visit www.outwardbound.org.