Kissimmee family competes on BYUtv’s ‘Survivalists’
A family from Kissimmee competes in an upcoming episode of BYUtv’s “Survivalists.”
The show challenges participating families to unplug from technology and embark on a three-day survival course designed to help them reconnect and strengthen bonds as they overcome obstacles in the great outdoors.
Hosted by professional endurance athlete Colin O’Brady, the series is shot in Moab, Utah, which is near both Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park. The June 29 episode follows the adventures of the Adams family — mom, April, 40; dad, Brian, 43; and 13-year-old triplets Hadden, Hendrix and Hunter — who hail from Central Florida.
Last year, April saw an advertisement seeking families for “Survivalists” and joked with her husband that he should apply. About two weeks later, they were contacted to join “Survivalists,” and after some initial reluctance, the family signed on in late 2020.
“If you ever have the chance to get out of your comfort zone and do something like this, take the opportunity,” April said. “We went somewhere we would never have chosen to take a vacation or to go explore. Having the opportunity to go there and experience it was awesome.”
While Brian said he had to adjust to the terrain and altitude, the views made the trip worthwhile.
“The scenery, once you got a second to stop and just look around and focus, then you witness a whole new world,” he said. “Take time to look at the world because that scenery there, it’s just an eye-opener.”
A Kissimmee native accustomed to the Sunshine State’s warm climate, April said the most challenging part of the show was the cold temperatures, with highs in the 30s during the day and lows down to 10 degrees at night.
“Water froze. Bananas froze and turned brown. It was very, very cold,” April said. But this obstacle was also a rewarding piece of the journey, as she said the family united to overcome the elements. “Being able to work through that and having no one really falling apart was a big success.”
Each member of the Adams family walked away from the experience, having learned something new.
April discovered she doesn’t give her kids enough credit for being able to accomplish tasks.
“Before, I felt like I needed to do everything for them and during the experience, I found out and realized that they can handle most things on their own; they don’t need mom to do everything for them,” she said.
Brian and Hunter learned how powerful their family could be when they join forces.
“A lot of things like at home, it’s like we don’t really work together as a team. We’re all kind of independent, doing our own thing,” Brian said. “ ’Survivalists’ forces you to work together. … As a team, we’re able to work together and accomplish things.”
Hendrix enjoyed showing his parents that he and his brothers could take the lead, while Hadden gained new insights about teaming up with his siblings.
“I learned that I can actually work decently with my brothers in situations where our parents really couldn’t and chose not to help us throughout the show,” Hadden said.
Brian encourages people to tune in at 9 p.m. June 29 on BYUtv to watch his family in action. (Note: The episode will also be available to stream at byutv.org/survivalists and via the BYUtv app on June 30.)
“It’s not really like the typical survivor shows,” he said. “This is more family-oriented to help out the families who are going through some struggles with life in general.”
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