San Diego, CA
Welcome to our Unplugged Village®
Since 2009, hundreds of thousands of Global (formerly National) Day of Unplugging participants have joined the movement to elevate human connection over digital engagement in their cities across the globe.
San Diego has been a leader of this movement and expanding every day. Check out all the mindful people, places and programs in our area below.
Consider joining us, as we all have a stake in building a healthy community!
For more information or to get a listing on this page, please email claudia@unplugcollaborative.org
GDU 2024 ACTIVITIES
Look at what’s happening in San Diego for our 15th Annual celebration (March 1-2, 2024)!
San Diego Voice & Sound Collective in Encinitas - Join us Friday, March 1 from 6 - 8pm for a sound journey with a collective of facilitators trained by Shervin Boloorian, award-winning Bali sound healer. This will be a combo of acoustic voice and multi-instrumental sound journey. Early bird Tix $40. Register HERE.
Community Hike with the Nature Unplugged Crew! Join us this Saturday, March 2nd at 8:30am in Poway for our next Community Hike at the Blue Sky Canyon Trail. We will be enjoying nature unplugged and celebrating the Global Day of Unplugging! Register for this free event HERE
SurfRider Pizza La Mesa Activities for GDU -Saturday March 2 from 11:30 am to 9pm come enjoy some amazing pizza, play some board games, marvel at the Global Day of Unplugging art work created by the La Mesa Arts Academy students, and challenge yourself to a dragon trivia packet (turn it in to enter a raffle for prizes). Located at 8381 La Mesa Blvd.
Disco themed Yoga Fit Class -DATE RESCHEDULE > April 13, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM join this 70s inspired Yoga Fit class taught by Elyssa Swann. Get your downdog on while groovin' to the swag beats of DJ Slothyyy spinnin' vinyl. Stay after to share your favorite stories of your time at the Mustache Bash (or get excited if it's your first time) with fellow disco lovers while sippin' on mimosas from the Quartyard bar ($9 mimosas after class). Class held at Quartyard, 1301 Market St, one of the vibey-est spots in Downtown San Diego. Details can be found HERE.
GDU 2023 ACTIVITIES
San Diego held several events for GDU including scavenger hunts, rock painting, sound baths, & a community hike.
Past Events
Enjoy photos from 2018 to present below!
Local Sponsors
Local Members
Name/Business: Kendra Maister / Owner - The Indie Sol Collective
City/Community: Escondido and greater San Diego
Unplugged Activity: We foster independent learning through nature-play exploration through our classes and events. We have participated in Global Day of Unplugging for two years in a row and often have fun events throughout the year with unplugged activities for our families to enjoy together.
Name/Business: Brees Kanzius / Student Intern - Unplug Collaborative
City/Community: La Mesa/Spring Valley
Unplugged Activity: Brees has been helping out at unplugged events since 2019. First as a middle schooler while working at the Farmers Market NDU 2019 event and then continued her service as she really wants to help young people find balance with technology. She continued her support while serving as Miss Teen La Mesa and then Miss La Mesa. Always ready to dive in and drum up enthusiasm at events Brees is awesome at engaging people in fun unplugged activities.
Name/Business: Dictionary Hill Open Spaces Advocates
City/Community: Spring Valley/Casa de Oro
Unplugged Activity: Join us for our 17th Annual Endangered Species Day
Dictionary Hill Open Spaces Advocates (DHOSA) participated in GDU 2022 and 2023 with a nature scavenger hunt and educational experience about local species and biodiversity. This preserved area is a hidden gem right in the heart of East County that few know about. You can learn more about DHOSA and any future events they may have coming up HERE.
Name/Business: Karen Cook / Wyld Flower Collective
City/Community: North County and all of San Diego
Unplugged Activity: We partner with local restaurants and businesses to bring fun back to dining out as a family. Wyld Family Meals are an opportunity to enjoy on-site crafts, games, live music all while gathering in community with other parents and kids. We have meet ups at various locations throughout the year and even have family and mom retreats to dive further into the R&R experience!
Name/Business: Public Square Coffee House
City/Community: La Mesa Village
Unplugged Activity: Public Square is on a mission to create community and connection through specialty coffee, culture, & cause. They also have Public Square After Hours which hosts concerts, comedy events, art galleries/installations, & more! Public Square has participated in GDU 2023 with a scavenger hunt, as well as hosting an Off the Hook Comedy Night fundraiser for the GDU campaign in August. As an ongoing effort, they have wifi free times on the weekend and offer several lap-top free tables for those that want to dine tech free.
Name/Business: Dominic Rupp / Rancho Guejito Vineyards
City/Community: Escondido
Unplugged Activity: Dominic works at Rancho Guejito Vineyards and has participated in GDU 2023 and at other times of the year by taking families on a scavenger hunt. Come see if you can find Rocky Raccoon and friends hiding out as you drive through the vineyard on a relaxing hay ride.
Name/Business: Winter / Crown Point Studio
City/Community: Crown Point, Pacific Beach
Unplugged Activity: Crown Pt offers Yoga classes, sound baths and more for deep restorative relaxation. For GDU 2023 we had a sound bath and mindful tech discussion for attendees. The studio is located in Pacific Beach in the Crown Point area just blocks from some of the most beautiful San Diego beaches!
Name/Business: Rancho Guejito Vinyard and Winery
City/Community: Escondido
Unplugged Activity: We have partnered with the Indie Sol Collective and the Unplug Collaborative to provide fun family friendly activities and we like to encourage people to unplug, come out, enjoy wine and good times together. We have participated in GDU 2023 and at other times of the year with a scavenger hunt, live music, yoga and fun craft activities for the whole family!
Name/Business: Anita Nichols / Owner - Mom’s Pie Shops
City/Community: Wynola
Unplugged Activity: Mom’s Pies has been a cornerstone of comfort food for so many San Diegans. For GDU 2023 Mom’s started a scavenger hunt a the Wynola restaurant where you can try to spot Johnny Appleseed who is hiding somewhere in the gardens. Go explore the beautiful nature and small town vibes of Wynola and Julian for a day of relaxation.
Name/Business: Jennifer Lund / Little Free Library Coronado
City/Community: Coronado
Unplugged Activity: Jennifer has a Little Free Library (LFL) called Mr. Toad’s Little Free Library. She shares her love of reading with her community and organized an LFL Scavenger Hunt with other LFL’s in the neighborhood for GDU for 2021 and 2022. Each LFL had a different themed clue and her efforts were part of 10 other hunts happening simultaneously in the San Diego area (part of 60 globally) connecting the community with a socially distanced activity during the Pandemic.
Name/Business: The Mayor’s Office
City/Community: La Mesa
Unplugged Activity: The Mayor’s Office provided a proclamation for the Global Day of Unplugging 2023 and supported events happening at the Farmers Market for NDU 2019 including a scavenger hunt, “Fort Night Friday”, crafts and other fun activities for families. The Mayor also engaged the students at La Mesa Middle Arts Academy to create posters for NDU2022 and GDU2023!
Name/Business: La Mesa Arts Academy (LMAAC)
City/Community: La Mesa
Unplugged Activity: The students from LMAAC masters art class programs have created posters for NDU2022 and GDU2023! These were hung around the La Mesa Village in shop windows for people to see while shopping and dining.
Name/Business: La Mesa Village Association
City/Community: La Mesa
Unplugged Activity: Our association of businesses supported an event called “Light Up La Mesa”. People decorated paper lanterns which were then displayed around the La Mesa Village in businesses, on porches, and some were hung in nursing home windows for patients to enjoy. We believe that a healthy community begins with a connected community!
Name/Business: Joe “Joe Rocks” Kane /Artist/retired Navy Photo Journalist
City/Community: Coronado
Unplugged Activity: I paint rocks as a therapeutic way to deal with my PTSD. I place them around the neighborhood so people can find inspiration and uplifting moments when they are walking around. I created a video about my rock painting for NDU 2022 to spread the joy even farther.
Name/Business: San Diego Jewish Academy
City/Community: San Diego / Carmel Mountain
Unplugged Activity: Our elementary school had an activity station in 2022 where they decorated Smart Phone Nap-Sacks and played games. We also had a showing of the Like movie in 2019 for parents and middle school students followed by a panel presentation and discussion with Claudia Erickson (UC), Sebastian Sloven (Nature Unplugged) and two high school students.
Name/Business: Regulars Wanted
City/Community: Julian
Unplugged Activity: Our restaurant handed out nap sacks to customers, we did a community paper quilt where people could write or draw about how they like to unplug. We also have a little free library located in the shop and we offer a TV free, space for people to come together to enjoy community.
Name/Business: Sebastian and Sophia Sloven / Nature Unplugged
City/Community: San Diego & throughout the US
Unplugged Activity: The Nature Unplugged team has developed a unique curriculum to help individuals, families, educators and organizations break free from the clutches of technology overuse, reconnect with nature and engage with life and work in a whole new way. In addition to educational trainings, they provide Community Hikes and other nature outings. They have participated in NDU 2022 and GDU 2023.
Name/Business: Screen Time Clinic
City/Community: San Diego & throughout the US
Unplugged Activity: Screen Time Clinic is on a mission to empower parents, youth, and professionals to mindfully create smart digital habits to live their best life. They have specialists who provide education and coaching to prevent video game addiction, social media harm, phone addiction, and digital media overuse.
Name/Business: High Tech Middle Mesa Charter School
City/Community: San Diego
Unplugged Activity: Our 6th grade classes did a group project on social media. Students performed 2 plays, shared poems with thoughtful reflections on how screens impact their lives during an open house. They also had activity stations for old school photos to post and where parents could “DM” their kids by writing a letter.
Name/Business: Joannie Ham/La Mesa Floral Design Shoppe
City/Community: La Mesa
Unplugged Activity: We support unplugging in a few different ways. Since 2020, we have had a Wishing Tree outside of our store where people could share wishes and create cards for nursing home residents. We have also participated in a Little Free Library Scavenger Hunt., lantern decorating and offer classes where people can unplug and get crafty!
Name/Business: San Diego Family Magazine
City/Community: San Diego
Unplugged Activity: San Diego Family Magazine has been a long time supporter of families connecting IRL and taking a break from screens. They participated in the 2021 and 2022 National Day of Unplugging (NDU) activities for San Diego in addition to their ongoing efforts to help families unplug together.
