From May 5 to May 11, it’s National Screen-Free Week! In Nevada County, local groups are joining the celebration by offering fun ways to enjoy life without screens. These activities help people of all ages take a break from phones, tablets, and TVs to connect with the world around them. Offline Oasis Nevada County, a coalition of organizations supporting Screen-Free Week, has also created a new Offline Oasis webpage to share screen-free activities and health tips. It’s the perfect time to unplug and enjoy new adventures!
Screens are part of our lives in many ways, including at work and in school, but unplugging has benefits for both physical and mental health.
“Our phenomenal countywide partners have organized events to make Screen-Free Week 2025 the best yet,” said Jen Kemppinen, Nevada County Public Health’s CalFresh Healthy Living Coordinator. “We have over 60 screen-free events planned throughout the week. Our new website, nevadacountyca.gov/OfflineOasis, has a calendar of events as well as other resources on how community members can enjoy more screen-free time at home and in the community.”
Each day of Screen-Free Week in Nevada County has a range of activities for residents to enjoy, including guided hikes, school-based activities, scavenger hunts, state park passes and more.
The Nevada County Library has fun screen-free activities available all year! You can check out outdoor games like badminton from the recreation collection, explore state parks and museums with free passes, or borrow nature backpacks. These backpacks include trail maps from Bear Yuba Land Trust, guides to local plants and animals, and cool tools like binoculars and a microscope to help you explore the outdoors. There’s always something exciting to discover!
“Our libraries offer so much more than books!” said Brittany Blake, Adult Programming Coordinator for the Grass Valley Library. “Between the Recreation Collection, which also
includes board games, and the free programs at all of our branches, from toddler storytimes to grown-up art programs, there’s always a screen-free option at the library.”
Nevada County Public Health’s CalFresh Health Living program, which provides nutrition education and physical activity classes in Nevada County schools and community sites, has a few classes planned for Screen-Free Week, including a food waste prevention class at Lyman Gilmore Middle School and a nutrition class at Connecting Point.
“Cooking is a great screen-free activity,” said Shauna Schultz, Registered Dietitian with Nevada County Public Health’s CalFresh Healthy Living Program. “We’ll be offering cooking classes and other fun food-related activities to youth and parents with a focus on creating healthy meals and beverages.”
“The PARTNERS Family Resources team invites families to come together and have fun!” said Sarah Morgan, Coordinator of Community Schools and PARTNERS Family Resources. “When everyone is enjoying themselves, connection and bonding happen naturally—and lasting memories are made. Join us for a relaxed walk to the park, where we’ll enjoy playtime, fresh air, and pizza!
PARTNERS Family Resources welcomes families to join them on Monday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 7 at 4:30 PM at Bell Hill Academy on South School Street in Grass Valley to walk together to Condon Park for some family fun.
Organizations supporting 2025 Screen-Free Week include the Nevada County Library, Nevada County Public Health, PARTNERS Family Resources, Bright Futures for Youth including the NEO Youth Center, CalFresh Healthy Living UCCE – Placer/Nevada Counties, Bike Bus, and Bear Yuba Land Trust.
For more information about Screen-Free Week activities, including resources for schools and families, visit the Offline Oasis Nevada County webpage.