One Florida day camp has embraced The Hunger Games phenomenon in a new and slightly disturbing way, with campers pitted against each other in a competition to be the last one standing.
“Are we going to kill each other first?” asked one excited camper upon arrival at Country Day School’s camp. Despite counselor’s repeated efforts to curb talk of violence and death, the kids couldn’t forget the original premise of the game from the books and movie adaptations. The Hunger Games is centered around an intensely violent competition in which 24 young people are forced to fight to the death.
Another camper mused which would be the best way to go if it came down to it: “If I have to die, I want to die by an arrow,” said Joey Royals. “Don’t kill me with a sword. I’d rather be shot.”
Of course, there are no real weapons, and the campers’ goal is to “collect lives” rather than kill each other off, but the basic premise remains. The campers, or “tributes” as they’re addressed by their counselors, compete in a series of tasks and stack up points in the “arena,” form alliances, and chase each other down in an effort to gather the most flags. There’s even a Cornucopia filled with supplies they can use in the challenges, modeled after the stockpile of weapons and resources at the center of the arena in the original Hunger Games.
Though Country Day School’s Hunger Games camp really was just a spiced-up version of traditional Capture the Flag, it was the language and ideas floated around by the kids that made the whole premise a bit unnerving.
Susan Toler, a clinical psychologist specializing in children’s issues got to the root of her issue with kids playing this game: “When they start thinking and owning and adopting and assuming the roles, it becomes closer to them. The violence becomes less egregious.”
Lindsey Gillette, the camp’s head counselor, stated that the point of the tournament was to put a positive spin on the violent theme of The Hunger Games, emphasizing teamwork and gaining points rather than fighting.
As well-intentioned as the camp may be, there’s something that just doesn’t sit well about kids casually tossing around phrases like “I’m going to kill you” to their camper pals.
May the odds be ever in your favor, kids.
