This past fall, 40 children from all across the country participated in a social experiment/reality show called
Kid Nation. One of those 40 children was
Hunter Jeffers, a 12 year old from Martinez, Georgia. He had a quiet presence throughout the first half of the season but because a leader and a role model.
A hard worker who never asked for anything in return, Hunter won a coveted gold star, awarded to him by the town council, and worth $20,000. The money, he said at the time would help secure his future and education but he didn't just spend the money on himself. Since being home, Hunter has donated money to charity and helped raise money for organizations such as the Make A Wish Foundation. This month, he spoke to local news station WDRW in his home state of Georgia about his positive experience on
Kid Nation.
On the show, when the children are given their gold stars, it's just a prop. The real ones are mailed months after and Hunter just received his this month. "The gold star night was incredible," he said. "I was just so excited, so overwhelmed when the council gave me the gold star." Being a gold star winning member of
Kid Nation has certainly gotten Hunter some attention back home. "Oh, it's been great," he gushed. "I've been getting a lot of attention at school, but I try not to get a big head about it."
Before Kid Nation even premiered, the show criticism that got the show national attention and had everybody talking. Complaints were filed, saying that the show caused "abusive acts to minors and possible violations of child labor laws". In his interview with WDRW, Hunter defended the show, saying that nobody did anything that they didn't want to do. "I don't believe that they made us work at all," he said. "In my case, I chose to work as hard as I did, and I really feel CBS had no say in anything I did." Though the show was popular, particularly among children and families, CBS has not announced if Kid Nation will be picked up for a second season.
- Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
Source: WDRW/Geogia, Zap2It
(Image courtesy of CBS)
Would you want to see a second season of Kid Nation?