DVD
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this reality series gives kids an exciting and informative look at a variety of animal species. Viewers get to live vicariously through the eight young show participants as they experience close encounters with sea mammals, reptiles, and more -- and learn the responsibilities involved in caring for such animals. Kids who are squeamish about reptiles and other wild creatures may not enjoy all the encounters.
Families can talk about the various animals featured in each episode and how the camp participants handled each task or encounter. How did the kids react during their animal encounters? What was impressive about the way they handled their tasks or challenges? Who do you think showed the most maturity and responsibility during the tasks? Do you think you'd like getting up close and personal with alligators and whales? What animals would you for sure not want to see up close? Why?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Larisa Wiseman
ADVENTURE CAMP, an engaging reality show on the Discovery Kids channel, follows eight young teens -- Melissa, Bill, Kimmy, Brandon, Chad, Domonique, David, and Sadie -- who were chosen from a pool of applicants to participate in a summer camp at Orlando's Sea World, where they learn what it takes to be an animal trainer and zookeeper.
Every day is action-packed. From animal-feeding assignments to excursions in the Everglades to getting up close and personal with whales and dolphins, there's always something to do -- and the tasks aren't always that easy. For instance, Domonique, who has an aversion to reptiles, was dismayed to find on the first day that she'd been assigned to feed small alligators. And one group challenge had the kids performing a mock rescue of an endangered manatee (though the "manatee" they tend to is actually Sadie in a costume).
There's a big incentive for the kids to do their best every step of the way: After each task or adventure, the camp directors decide which person or persons stood out during the exercise, and the winners receive a bead to add to a string that they wear all the time. Everyone who accumulates 20 beads by the end of camp gets a surprise, which the camp directors keep a secret till the very end -- but they promise it will be the experience of a lifetime.
The kids' close encounters with reptiles, birds, marine mammals, and fish make for fascinating viewing. Tweens and young teens watching the program get to live vicariously through the kids on screen while finding out all kinds of intriguing things about the animals. In addition to the information the camp directors offer when they introduce each new species, facts about the species also appear briefly on screen -- such as average dimensions and what the critter's diet consists of.
Viewers are sure to be drawn in by the enthusiasm of these eight lucky kids as they compete for beads, bond with each other, and make wondrous discoveries. It's great to see a show for tweens and teens that conveys such excitement about -- and respect for -- the animal world. And who knows, it may inspire a few animal-related careers along the way?
Fans of Adventure Camp may also enjoy Crocodile Hunter, Jeff Corwin Unleashed, and Corwin's Quest.
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Social BehaviorThe eight camp participants are a culturally diverse group. Teamwork is emphasized in many of the tasks and challenges, and the kids show an impressive amount of maturity and responsibility when dealing with the animals. |
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