Mt. Prospect boy says controversial reality show was fun, safe
His boarding school in New Jersey is a far cry from the New Mexico ghost town where this 12-year-old lived for more than a month.
But the two will converge next week when Mount Prospect native Nathan Gibes makes his TV debut on a much-hyped and controversial reality show.
The CBS show "Kid Nation" debuts Sept. 19, and Nathan is one of 40 kids who have 40 days to form a new society in Bonanza City, N.M.
They're all 8 to 15 years old and without their parents are challenged to work together and build a town that works.
The kids have to cook their own meals, clean their own outhouses, haul their own water and even run their own businesses -- including a saloon (root beer only).
Overall, Nathan said he loved the experience and that it was a lot of fun.
"It was exactly how you'd imagine a deserted town to be," Nathan said in a telephone interview from The American Boychoir School in Princeton, N.J.
Before enrolling there, Nathan was home-schooled by his mother. She learned of the casting calls through a home-school e-mail list, and her son immediately filled out an application.
He went through two rounds of interviews, first in Chicago and then Los Angeles, before making the cut.
Two kids from Chicago and one from Downers Grove are also part of the reality series.
Nathan said he was drawn to it because it was cool and something different.
He's said he's nervous to see the shows, acknowledging there were some on-camera arguments among the kids.
Promos have been pumping the premiere for weeks and it's sparked controversy, mostly from people saying kids of this age shouldn't have been left alone.
"I felt safe the whole time," said Nathan, adding adults were there but just weren't telling the kids what to do.
He said there were patrols, ambulances and doctors on hand most of the time.
"Kid Nation" became the subject of a New Mexico attorney general's probe after one of the children's parents complained of "abuse and neglect" after their 12-year-old daughter was burned in the face while cooking on the show.
Nathan says the truth is being stretched. He's read about all the controversy and says that girl was fine.
His mother, Valerie Hyndman, says that although the show is fictional, it appealed to the family because it offered real-life experiences.
"The kids had to work together to build a functional community and learn a little bit about life in the past as well," she said. "I knew that this would be wonderful practice in working with others and building negotiation skills."
Each kid was paid a $5,000 stipend, and every week, one Gold Star winner was chosen and earned $20,000.
The show also came under fire when copies of the contracts parents signed were released on Internet, showing parents agreed not to sue over anything that happened to their kids.
Hyndman says it was no different than anything she'd sign for summer camp or boarding school. Though she couldn't talk with her son the entire time, she got a call every three days saying he was OK.
Nathan Gibes, in his own words
The Mount Prospect 12-year-old, who will appear on the reality show 'Kid Nation,' shares his thoughts.
Whom he admires: Ronald Reagan.
How he'd change the world: Eliminate the terrorism.
How he'd change his neighborhood: Eliminate bullies.
The best U.S. president: George Washington. He could have been a king but chose not to be.
The worst U.S. president: FDR. He started Social Security and other policies that interfere with an individual's right to use his own money as he wishes.
Favorite video game: I don't play video games.
Favorite music: I especially like classical music.
Favorite TV show: "Survivor" and probably "Kid Nation."