RealiTV: "Survivor" For Kids

http://blogs.publicopiniononline.com/realitv/2007/10/survivor_for_kids.html

 

"Survivor" For Kids

The new season of "Endurance" premiered this weekend on Discovery Kids Channel. It's basically "Survivor" for kids.
Secondary to the prizes available, the young participants get a life-altering experience that lets them realize all the little things that are easily taken for granted. Giving up cell phone, television, hair conditioning products and warm showers can be traumatizing enough. But the toilet in the wild was disgusting, according to Jordyn Barbato.
The 14-year-old said her adventures on "Endurance: Fiji" taught her to appreciate the comforts of home.
"The bathroom - oh, my God - it was just a 10-foot hole in the ground," she recalled.
Jordyn was one of 16 teens, ages 12 to 15, who are part of the new cast on "Endurance: Fiji".
"It was the best experience of my life," says Jordyn, who obviously can't reveal what happens or how far she progresses on the series.
The 16 competitors for "Endurance: Fiji" were selected from more than 10,000 who applied and submitted audition tapes to the network's Web site (kids.discovery.com).
Jordyn was not sure why she was chosen but suspects the producers may have liked her personality.
There was a call-back from the producers, and Jordyn had to make a second audition tape. Then, in August, Jordyn and her mother traveled to Fiji. Her mom stayed at an island resort with the other parents.
Both of them experienced a little culture shock, but the hardest part for Jordyn was being away from her mom and meeting a bunch of strangers under these primitive conditions.
The show is hosted by J.D. Roth, who is also the creator and producer, and he insists that it's more than just a reality competition.
"It is a life-altering experience for every kid who is selected," he says. "These kids learn to dig deep within themselves when someone says they can't do something. They learn to overcome first impressions and prejudice, and they build tremendous self-confidence by tapping into skills they never even knew they had."
This latest round of "Endurance" has the youngsters facing a variety of physical and mental challenges.
The competition involves forming two-member teams that try to accumulate "pyramid pieces" by winning the challenges. Each piece represents a human quality such as strength, heart, courage, perseverance, trust, leadership or discipline. This year, a new piece, karma, has been added.
The first team to collect 14 pieces can win a fantasy vacation.
Jordyn would agree with Roth about the experience.
"When we got there, I saw that we would be staying in little bamboo huts and sleeping in bags on wooden beds," she says. "There was sand on the floor and sand in the beds, but it was so beautiful there. The huts were right on the shore, and the water was so clear. It was breezy. The weather was good."
But the showers were primitive and the toilet was outside.
"The first thing I did when I left was use a proper toilet, and then I took a shower," Jordyn says.
Her mother says her daughter was already mature, but she came back with an appreciation for many of the simple things some take for granted.
"I throw together a simple meal of ravioli, and she says it's great," Kiera said.
In 2005, then 14-year-old Lindi Oest made it to the final episode of "Endurance: Hawaii" and won a trip to the Galapagos Islands.