What it's like to play a very real version of pretend "Survivor"
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I (third from right) brought shame to my family by getting voted out in the game's early stages. Photo: Courtesy of Valerie Stout
I spent my Saturday shuffling around Rock Creek Park, attempting to channel 25 years' worth of lessons from "Survivor" into a day-long replica of the long-running reality show.
The big picture: Survivor DC: Rock Creek Park held its 15th "season" this weekend with 18 players from mostly near, but some far, including Los Angeles.
- Inspired by a friend's "Survivor"-themed birthday party, Jacob Hickson started hosting in 2017 and is now getting 200 applications per season.
- With the help of three others — all former Rock Creek players — Hickson architects and hosts the game on a $500 budget, hewing closely to the format of the CBS mothership.
The participants range from D.C.-area "Survivor" super-fans to out-of-town super-duper fans to locals simply intrigued by this peculiar way to spend a Saturday.
My thought bubble: Modern-era "Survivor" is much more about social politics and strategy than the survival aspect. That means even a condensed, low-budget version at a local park can create the same dynamics, dilemmas and decision points as the real thing.
- That goes a long way toward making it feel like you're actually playing "Survivor" — even if the prize money is $250 instead of $1 million, and it's being documented on Instagram Stories instead of broadcast TV.
- I relished the high highs of lying to tribemates about a decision to get an extra vote advantage and the low lows of being lied to about voting plans before I was the game's sixth boot.
What's next: There are two more planned runs of the game in 2025, including an all-stars season of returning players.
- For those interested in playing, details for future seasons will be announced on the game's Instagram page.
