Switch Off. Step Outside. Come Back to Yourself.
The Digital Detox Overnight Experience is a fully guided, phone-free programme hosted at Knockree Youth Hostel in the heart of the Glencree Valley. Designed for 1st–3rd years and TY students, it gives young people the chance to step away from their screens, get out into nature, and reconnect – with the world around them, and with each other.
Over the course of one night and two days, students take part in a 10km guided hike through the Wicklow landscape, enjoy a fun evening activity, and share nutritious meals together – all without a phone in sight. It’s a simple but powerful reset that schools tell us students genuinely remember.
For availability, group sizes and pricing, please email Liz at liz@anoige.ie, or alternatively use our enquiry form.
Programme Overview
The Setting
Key Details
- Location: Knockree Hostel, Glencree Valley, County Wicklow
- Suitable for: 1st–3rd year and Transition Year students
- Duration: One overnight stay (arrive Day 1, depart Day 2)
- Group size: Tailored to your school - contact us for details
- Meals: All meals included (dinner, breakfast & packed lunch)
- Activities: 10km guided hike, Silent Disco or Movie Night, outdoor exploration
- Booking: email Liz, Programme Director - liz@anoige.ie, or use our enquiry form
What's Included
- Overnight dorm accommodation at Knockree Hostel
- All meals - dinner, breakfast & packed lunch for the hike
- 10km fully guided hike through the Wicklow landscape
- Phone-free environment from arrival to departure
- Evening activity - Silent Disco or Movie Night (school's choice)
- Fully supervised throughout by An Óige staff
- Dietary requirements accommodated
- Digital detox moments (no phones needed)
The Flow of the Days
Day 1
- Arrival & welcome at Knockree Hostel
- Phones handed in
- Dinner together
- Evening activity - Silent Disco or Movie Night
Day 2
- Breakfast
- 10km guided hike through the Wicklow landscape
- Packed lunch on the trail
- Return to hostel & departure
Why Schools Choose the Digital Detox
Young people today are spending more time than ever on screens – and schools are feeling the effects. The Digital Detox Overnight Experience gives students a genuine break from their devices in a safe, supervised, and enjoyable environment. The results speak for themselves: students return more settled, more connected to their peers, and often surprised by how good it felt to switch off.
The programme supports school wellbeing policies and fits naturally into TY modules covering personal development, outdoor pursuits, and community building. It builds resilience, encourages teamwork, and gives students a hands-on experience of mindfulness – not as a classroom exercise, but as something they actually live for a day and a night.
Key Benefits
- Outdoor Education - physical activity, environmental awareness, appreciation for Irish landscapes
- Personal Development - confidence, teamwork, self-awareness
- Student Wellbeing - reduced screen fatigue, better sleep, stronger peer relationships
Ready to Switch Off?
To reserve your place or ask any questions you might have, please email Liz or send us an enquiry using the form below.