One Kissimmee family learned to “survive” each other during a three-day getaway on “Survivalists,” an original series on BYUtv.
Hosted by professional endurance athlete Colin O’Brady, the show allows families to participate in a three-day survival course, allowing them to unplug from technology, reconnect with their family and strengthen those family bonds.
Brian and April Adams applied simply to show their 14-year-old triplet boys — Hadden, Hendrix and Hunter — that there is more to life than competition. “I had seen an ad on Facebook for a casting call,” April said. “I told my husband, jokingly, to send in our picture.”
The family was able to put aside technology and head to Moab, Utah, a place they had never been before.
Prior to the show, the triplets were often wild and rowdy, used to competing against each other. Last year was especially difficult during the pandemic.
“Being able to go away for a week and experience something out of our comfort zone just felt right,” April said.
Once on their journey, the family of five had to face many challenges.
“The (elevated) terrain, the altitude, and the (cold) weather was something we weren’t used to,” Brian said. “Part of the challenge was to conquer the elements that you’re not used to.”
The triplets learned a lot, including the value of teamwork and communication to help the family succeed.
“The show taught me that we can function as a team together, and at certain points we (my brothers and I) can lead the way,” Hendrix said.
Hadden said: “The show taught me that I can rely on my brothers without having to have the watchful eye of my parents in most situations.»
And there was one other lesson the boys learned, that “there is more to the world than just sitting in the house and playing video games all day,” Hunter said.
Since filming their episode, Brian and April have learned that they are able to rely on their children more than before.
“They showed they can be more responsible and more independent,” Brian said.
April also noted the boys have shown more maturity, and the family enjoys being together more often now.
“If you have the opportunity to get out of your comfort zone to do something, you should do it if given the opportunity, (and) even though it was cold and the terrain and altitude was crazy, we had a blast as a family,” she said.
O’Brady, the host of the show, is a motivational speaker and author, and works with children to encourage positive thinking to help them overcome obstacles and negative self-talk that so many struggle with in this generation. He is able to relate to struggles that many have due to a tragic injury that almost made him lose his ability to walk.
You can watch the Adams’ episode, called “Florida Fighters,” as they compete against the Carach family from Century, Florida, on June 29 at 9 p.m. on BYUtv.
