Unplugged Schools:

LOOK UP CHALLENGE

Calling all high school student leaders: it’s time to step up, get creative, and lead the way toward digital balance.

Why this 2025-2026 School Year

Across the country, schools are wrestling with phone-free policies. Students feel restricted, parents push back, and teachers are left caught in the middle. Everyone wants the same thing: protecting youth mental health from the harms of technology, but the conversation has become polarized.

The truth? Lasting change won’t come from bans alone. It comes from students finding their own balance, creating meaningful alternatives, and showing their peers the joy of being present.

That’s what the Unplugged Schools Challenge is all about: shifting the narrative from restriction to choice, creativity, and care. Proving that unplugging can be fun, empowering, and student-led.

Along the way, students will build leadership skills, strengthen school culture, and be part of the global Unplugged Movement.

High school students across the U.S. are invited to take part in Global Day of Unplugging’s first-ever school LOOK UP CHALLENGE.

The Challenge:
Spark a student-centric dialogue about digital well-being through creating fun, meaningful alternatives to screen time. Show your peers the joy of presence, and model for adults what true digital balance looks like.

Timeline:

  • November 2025-January 2026: Teams register, begin planning, & submit unplugged activities ideas.

  • February-April: Student-led unplugged activities take place.

  • March (optional): Run unplugged activities alongside the 17th Annual GDU, GDU 2026: March 6-7.

  • May: Winners announced & prizes awarded.

    • Student Teams: Form a team of 3-5 student leaders to run the Challenge (optional: add up to 15 student teammates).

    • Mentors: Select a teacher or counselor to be the Team Mentor.

    • Admin Approval: Get your school’s approval (GDU and your mentor can help with that!)

    • Team Meet-Ups: Meet at least 3 times before your unplugged activities. With your Team Mentor and student team, discuss your thoughts on what your school community needs.

    • Create & Design: Using GDU resources (including strategy sessions, guides, and other creative tools) to design unplugged activities for your school. Anything from games and hangouts to brand-new traditions that help your school connect without screens. Don’t forget to come up with a creative way to capture the unplugged activities in photos/videos!

    • Unplugged Activities: Coordinate with your school to find ideal timing to run your unplugged activities (e.g., lunch, assembly, homeroom, free-period, etc.).

    • +Extra Points For:

      • Schools that apply to get a CityProclamation or DistrictResolution from local leadership.

      • Unplugged activities that have a giving or philanthropic component.

    • Free downloadable unplugging guides, inspirations, and templates

    • Iconic Phone Nap-Sacks & strategy sessions with GDU experts (free with membership or available for purchase)

  • Enroll your school, get creative, meet the requirements, and host unplugged activities – by students, for students.

    Winners Are Chosen Based On:

    1. Creativity & Originality: How fresh, fun, or outside-the-box is the unplugged activity?

    2. Impact on the School Community: Did it get students genuinely engaged, connected, and talking about balance?

    3. Student Leadership & Teamwork: How well did the team plan, organize, and include others?

    4. Depth & Meaning: Did the experience tackle an important issue (like stress, mental health, friendships, or screen overuse) in a meaningful way?

    5. Reach & Participation: How many peers joined in, and how inclusive was the activity?

    6. Best Integration of GDU Resources: Did the team creatively adapt GDU materials to fit their school’s culture and engage peers?

    7. Creative Capturing: Did the team come up with a creative way to capture the LOOK UP unplugged activities in photos/videos? (e.g., photography club, cameras, in-kind resource, designate one phone photographer, etc.)

    8. Requirements Completed: Did the team fulfill all requirements to the best of their ability?

  • To Be Eligible To Win the LOOK UP CHALLENGE, Students & Schools Must:

    1. Participating students must be in high school (9th-12th) and located in the United States.

    2. Register your school through the official Enroll Your School form.

    3. Elect a Team Mentor (i.e., teachers, coaches, counselors, etc.) who is currently employed by the school.

    4. Form a team of 3-5 student leaders (optional, add up to 15 student teammates).

    5. Get school/admin approval to host unplugged activities on school grounds or at school functions (e.g., assembly, recess, break, lunch, dances, sports games, off-campus field trips, proms, etc.).

    6. Meet at least 3 times to plan before hosting unplugged activities.

    7. Use at least one GDU resource in your activity & planning (e.g., guide, template, Nap-Sacks).

    8. Provide proof of school/admin approval in the Activity Submission form.

    9. Host your unplugged activities between November 2025 and April 2026. (Challenge Wrap-Ups are due April 30th, 2026, winners announced & prizes awarded in May 2026).

    10. Incorporate this year’s theme: LOOK UP.

    11. Submit the Challenge Wrap-Up form to complete your entry.

    Required Forms (Shorthand):

    1. Enroll Your School!

    2. Activity Submission

    3. Challenge Wrap-Up

The Challenge: Step by Step

Step 1: Register
Fill out the “Enroll Your School” eligibility form below to register and get your school on the Challenge Leaderboard.

Step 2: Build Student Teams & Find Your Team Mentor
Student Team: 3-5 Student Leaders (Optional: Add up to 15 student teammates)

Team Mentor: Must currently be employed by your school (i.e., teachers, counselors, coaches, etc.)

Together: Make a plan to meet at least 3 times to create, plan, and prepare before hosting your unplugged activities.

Step 3: Get Admin Approval
Using your Team Mentor, strategize on the best way to request bringing the LOOK UP CHALLENGE to your campus.

Examples: Write a letter | Send an email | Schedule a meeting | Ask your Team Mentor to bring it up in the next teacher meeting

*** Don’t forget that you’ll have to submit proof of this approval in your Activity Submission! ***

Step 4: Start Meeting & Planning
First Meeting Resources:

  • Optional: “Framing Digital Well-Being” guide

  • Required: “Students Connected” activity

  • Required: “How to Plan Something Unplugged” guide

  • Required: “Activity Submission” (eligibility form)

Your following meetings can continue to use the resources above, or make your own agenda with goals for each meeting.

Examples: Sign painting meeting | Solidify date | Digital well-being discussion