Kids and Playgrounds Co-star in New Canadian Reality TV Sho...
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Kids and Playgrounds Co-star in New Canadian Reality TV
Show
Source: Playgroundology 06/05/12 (http://playgroundology.wordpress.com/)
Ontario’s towns and cities
could be on the verge of a
grassroots playground
revolution. It’s already taking
place in 13 communities
across Canada’s second
largest province. GIVER, a
new TVO public television
reality program for children,
shows how kids themselves
can make a difference and
inspire broader community
action.
It’s the kind of experiential
television that has the
potential of creating ripples. Seeing young designers and builders mashing up playgrounds in a truly kidcentric vibe is sure
to have other kids, parents, municipal councillors and parks and recreation directors sitting up and taking notice.
Hamilton, Ontario’s Future Park – artist’s rendition
J.J. Johnson is one of the principals and co-founders of Sinking Ship Entertainment (http://www.sinkingship.ca/) ,
co-producers of GIVER with TVO. He’s almost evangelical when speaking about the the impact these small scale
community projects are having on the kids who participate in the planning and the builds.
The kids learn about taking control of their environment, making something that suits themselves and their friends. It also
shows them that it’s possible. The kids are out there getting people to donate stuff. They’re learning that it’s not as
complicated as they might have thought.
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Kids and Playgrounds Co-star in New Canadian Reality TV Sho...
http://www.playgroundprofessionals.com/news-center/playgrou...
Series host and kid crew leader Michael lays out the recipe at the top of each episode – six kids, three days, one mission –
build a playground with their community.
It’s all about kids with ideas and tools pumped to learn. They’re having fun, becoming community minded and learning
practical life skills by refurbishing, rebuilding and renewing their public playscapes. GIVER, targeted at the six to
nine-year-old demographic, is part sweat, part play and part problem solving with a dash of magic thrown in for good
measure as the clip below shows.
Even for the creators of successful series like This is Daniel Cook and Dino Dan there were some unanticipated learning
curve moments as GIVER was coming out of the starting gates. When Johnson received a $460,000 quote on the show’s
first playground design, he thought it was all over before they even had a chance to begin. With a budget of $10,000 per
playground, Johnson knew that they would not be able to rely on standard design or build approaches.
Not surprisingly, the path to success was grounded in community engagement. The GIVER team called on local
businesses to donate supplies and on volunteers to help with construction. Experts were available to advise on safety
issues and the kids themselves generated some do-it-yourself design.
Donations of time, labour and materials in conjunction with more modest designs helped the show stay within budget. The
GIVER teams, local kids were recruited from each community, were able to create memorable experiences, playable
public spaces and stay within budget.
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07/09/12 2:45 PM
Kids and Playgrounds Co-star in New Canadian Reality TV Sho...
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Hawkesville, Ontario – Pyramid Movers
Johnson thinks the playground posse from Hawkesville (population – 300) might just have put together the best finished
product in the show’s first season. Kids there now have a giant sandbox that Johnson is hoping is the biggest in Canada,
an 8′ tall pyramid climber and a sandcastle with a hidden passageway. Local craftspeople were instrumental in making the
design come to life.
This flickr slideshow (http://www.flickr.com/photos/playgroundology/sets/72157629778662084/show/) captures the impressive
transformations the kids reigned over in four of the participating communities – Hawkesville, Hamilton, Etobicoke and
Batawa.
In the course of the first season there has been a lot of learning. Johnson wants to do his best to share the GIVER
experience as widely as possible. Blueprints of the designs will be posted online for other communities to use and adapt.
Currently there is a tip sheet (http://www.scribd.com/doc/95974216/Playground-building-and-renovation-tips) available on what is
becoming an extensive website.
GIVER screenshot
We’ve met so many communities that have been fundraising for years trying to build a playground because they think it’s
$400,000. If we can share some hints on how we can build with proper approval processes and some of the scarier things
you think you can’t do, I think we’ll find that they can build these things for $10,000 to $15,000 just by activating people in
their community.
Another important plus in this process of community engagement is pride, ownership and a strong link to all those
individuals – kids and adults – who helped create something new. Without exception, usage of the GIVER playspaces
skyrocketed when compared with pre-show levels.
So what do the kids think of all this? If you live in Ontario, you can find out by tuning in at 6:30 p.m. EST Tuesdays. Check
the TVO schedule for additional air times. If you live in Canada, you can view previously broadcast episodes online here
(http://www.tvokids.com/shows/giver) or
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by clicking through on the image below.
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Kids and Playgrounds Co-star in New Canadian Reality TV Sho...
http://www.playgroundprofessionals.com/news-center/playgrou...
Click through on image to TVO’s GIVER page.
If you’re from somewhere else in the world and can’t generate a Canadian IP address then you’ll either have to be satisfied
with Johnson’s take on it, or start up your own GIVER type show. If you do the latter, please flip us a note.
“It’s great to see the sense of pride in the kids from what they’ve accomplished. It’s a director’s dream. My favourite thing
to shoot was the final interviews with the kids. Invariably each would say that they feel like they can do anything now and
that they were proud that they helped their community,” he says. “One little girl wished that she could do GIVER every
day.”
The last word goes to Pat Ellingson, creative head of TVOKids.
It’s all about kids doing something to help others and connecting to their communities. GIVER shows just how amazing,
intelligent and caring young people can be. It’s wonderful to introduce a child to something new. Every episode you see the
light bulbs coming on. It was like watching education in action, a spark was being created. Kids were engaged. It was the
best classroom.
Thanks TVO, Sinking Ship Entertainment and all the kids giving something back to their communities. Let’s hope you’ll be
back for subsequent seasons.
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