Are You Tougher Than A Boy Scout?

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boy Scouts live and breathe their motto: Prepared. For Life.^® They are strong, resourceful and self-reliant. Honest, helpful and brave. They are downright tough. Would you be able to reach into a bag of snakes, shimmy across a rope stretched over river rapids, canoe across a lake without a paddle and rescue an injured hiker?

From Emmy award–winning Original Productions (Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers) comes National Geographic Channel's new series Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout? Premiering Monday, March 4, at 8 PM ET/PT, and hosted by ex-Army Ranger Charles Ingram, adult "civilians" battle it out with scrappy Scouts in a series of challenges — all based on the Boy Scouts' 100-year-old handbook — designed to test their physical and mental stamina to determine if these adults have what it takes to earn their own "merit badge." For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com/boyscouts and follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NGC_PR.

Each week, an elite team of Scouts from across the country, ranging from Webelos Scouts to Eagle Scouts, gathers in the Sequoia National Forest to take on three new (and brave) adults in a battle of brains and brawn. From a software engineer with no Scouting experience, to a real estate agent who was kicked out of the Scouts at age 7, to an entrepreneur with two sons — these adults are from all walks of life, with all levels of experience. Along the way, they'll be taught some tough lessons and sometimes pushed beyond their mental and physical limits. But, in the end, these men will know the answer to the question, Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?

Before the adults can go up against the Scouts on their own, they must prove their worth through a series of grueling, merit badge–based challenges. Whether crossing a gorge on a commando line, finding their way alone in the woods during an orienting challenge, administering first aid to an injured hiker or feeding breakfast to a group of hungry Cub Scouts, each challenge reinforces valuable Scouting skills. But for these adults, the rigorous competition can be a hard-hitting reality check. Tough days and even tougher nights mean that they must constantly be ready for the unexpected. And the grown-ups are left to question: how much do they really know about surviving in the wilderness? How far can their life experience really get them?

As the Scouts evaluate each adult's physical endurance, strength, agility and smarts, the adults are gradually eliminated until only one man is left standing. The worthy opponent will go on to challenge the Scouts in one final test to finally learn if he is truly Tougher Than a Boy Scout.

Meet the elite team of Scouts:

Will "Big South" Fleming: At 6'6" and 230 pounds, with a size 15 shoe, this 17-year-old avid hunter doesnʼt allow anyone or anything to stand in his way.

Rio "Wolf" Gifford: Rio loved earning his Wilderness merit badge so much that he earned it TWICE! He can build a fire anywhere, at any time, under any conditions.

Rob "Robin Hood" Nelsen: An ace with a bow and arrow, Rob is one of only a few Boy Scouts in the United States to earn 132 or more merit badges.

Bobby "Lash" Lefevre: With 26 merit badges earned, Bobby says that the adults should be intimidated. His expertise is musket shooting, and he loves mountain climbing, sailing, auto mechanics and survival skills.

Kevin "Bug Bite" Graves: At 17, Kevin has 34 merit badges and is looking to prove himself against the adults.

Garret "Shark Fin" Rios: Garret is most proud of his First Aid merit badge, which has given him the confidence to step in and provide medical assistance to those in need. He says that Scouting is "everything — it defines who I am."

Keegan "Yeti" Rice: Keegan's motto for life is "no excuses." He's the leader in his troop's high-adventure division, and at 16 years old and 6'0" is ready to face the adult challengers.

Michael "Hitch" Henderson: This 17-year-old Eagle Scout is also captain of his high school wrestling team. He's an expert at pioneering and lashing and has a relentlessly competitive nature.

Brenan "Hawk" Corbin: Brenan, 17, rose to Eagle Scout at the young age of 14. He specializes in throwing tomahawks.

Trent "Benz" Buenzli: This 16-year-old, 6'0" Scout is an all-star player on his high school football team and is currently waiting for his Eagle Scout board of review. Trent doesn't believe in stereotypes and hopes to prove that Scouts are as tough as or tougher than anybody who doubts them.

Diallo "Torpedo" Whitaker: Considered a crafty prankster, 17-year-old Diallo is an avid outdoorsman with a deep love for nature.

Denicio "Toro" Drake-Gonzales: This 5'10", 195-pound linebacker will crush you and any competitor that gets in his way! With 11 years of Scouting experience and 27 merit badges earned, he is more than ready to build fires, pitch tents, shoot some firearms, and use his skilled mind against the adults.

Premiere episodes include the following:

Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?: Canoe Jousting
Monday, March 4, at 8 PM ET/PT

The Scouts are at Sequoia National Forest to face three new competitors who are all looking to recapture their Scouting glory: Dan wants to prove to his two Eagle Scout brothers that he could have been one, too; John, a single dad, wants to show to his soon-to-be Eagle Scout sons that he can participate in their activities; and Mark wants to chase his childhood dream to be a Scout. Their first challenge, The Boy Scout scavenger hunt, tests the merit badge skills for orienteering, climbing and lifesaving. Compass in hand, the pressure mounts for the adult team as they struggle to find the right direction to head in, giving an easy lead to the Scouts. At the end of the challenge, the Scouts must cast their vote on who will be the one to abandon his boyhood dream and be sent home. Next, in the Canoe Wars challenge, the contestants compete in a series of canoe-based contests: a race, a tug-o-war and a joust. After a hard-fought battle to win, the final wilderness challenge puts the last adult contestant through a series of trail competitions. Armed only with the bare essentials — a flint striker, a knife and a blanket — and being pushed to his physical limits, will he be determined enough to prove that he is Tougher Than a Boy Scout?

Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?: Ninja Scouts
Monday, March 11, at 8 PM ET/PT

The Scouts are in Sequoia National Forest to face three new competitors who all have something to prove: Lee, a former Marine, who wants to make his two Boy Scout sons proud; Paul, who still feels guilty for dropping out as a teen and wants to appease his old Scoutmaster; and David, who left his troop just three badges shy of becoming an Eagle Scout and now wants to prove that he still has what it takes. The first challenge pits adults against Scouts — they must all face a tricky bridge rappel before rafting down Class Three rapids. After the Scouts send one adult home for his lack of preparedness, the remaining competitors face a Scouting challenge that is a must-have skill: pitching a tent and hanging a bear bag. Will the adults be able to call on their former Scouting skills for this basic maneuver? Following another elimination, the last adult is put to the ultimate test: the Iron Scout. It's Eagle Scout against grown-up in an intense rifle shooting, slingshot accuracy and water rescue relay race. Will the Scouts come out on top, or could Lee, Paul or David be Tougher Than a Boy Scout?

Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?: Buoy Scouts
Monday, March 18, at 8 PM ET/PT

John, Marc and Jason are ready to take on a team of elite Scouts to determine if they are in fact, Tougher Than a Boy Scout. All three adults have something to prove: John is an Eagle Scout and wants to find out if all of his years of training still hold up; Marc, also an Eagle Scout, wants to stand up to all of the doubters in his life who believe that he is too slow and overweight to compete; and Jason, who dropped out of Scouting as a teen and wants to honor the Eagle Scout that he never became. The first challenge is a strenuous three-part relay race along Lake Isabella, and the adults have a tough time keeping up against Trent, a high school football player, and Rob, an expert with a bow and arrow. John and Marc are on the chopping block, as their Eagle Scout status holds them to a higher standard. After elimination, the second challenge threatens to halt the competition entirely when a contestant comes down with heat exhaustion. Finally, the last challenge pits the sole adult against Rio in "Sink or Swim" — a race against time and water to locate three items. Will Rio prove that Scout experience is tougher than life experience, or can the adult rise to the challenge?

Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?: Where Eagles Fly
Monday, March 25, at 8 PM ET/PT

Meet three contestants who think that they could be Tougher Than a Boy Scout: Bill, a senior sales engineer and former Scout who hopes to make his Scoutmaster dad proud; Paul, a retail manager who is competing in memory of his grandfather, a former Scout; and Marc, a probation officer with three sons but no Scouting experience. Pioneering and rifle shooting are put to the test first as the adults team up to show off their skills, but will the adults' finger-pointing distract from the task at hand? Next, the two remaining adults take on the Scouts in an important wildlife challenge: memorizing the appearance of potentially deadly snakes. After a tough vote, only one adult is left standing to face the Scouts in the final challenge: a wilderness orienteering race where the competitors can use only natural landmarks for navigation. Boy Scout Mike competes with skill and confidence, but an unexpected twist could cost the Scouts the lead.

Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?: Face Plant
Monday, April 1, at 8 PM ET/PT

The Scouts are up against three tough adult competitors: Rage and James both dropped out of Boy Scouts and are back to finish what they started, and Dave, an ex-soccer player, is competing to honor his deceased father. The first challenge requires the adults to display their Scouting skills in a demanding archery and rifle shooting competition. After the Scouts send one person home, the two remaining adults must compete in the Boy Scout Quiz Show. The fastest team to perform a Scouting task, like splitting wood with an ax or correctly folding the American flag, and then answer a trivia question wins 10 points. At the end of that challenge, the Scouts are required to make a tough decision and send one more adult home — who will they want to face again the next day? When the last man standing makes it to the final round, he faces some intense Scout competition — he must race against them in an obstacle challenge that includes mountain biking, racing along a 30-foot-high rope obstacle and zip-lining to the ground, then "gunwale jumping" a canoe to the finish line. Will he be able to call on his former Scouting skills for these tasks and prove that he is Tougher Than a Boy Scout?

Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?: Man vs. Scout
Monday, April 1, at 9 PM ET/PT

The Scouts are up against three tough adult competitors: Gregg, a general contractor who is competing to honor his father; Howard, an entrepreneur who, as a kid, was told that he couldn't be a Scout; and Stev, a real estate agent who was kicked out of the Scouts at age 7. First, as the Scouts look on, the adults put their Scouting skills in archery and climbing to the test in a rigorous gorge-crossing challenge. The challenge takes a dangerous turn when it's Howard's chance for gorge crossing: he jumps in and speeds down the river in a raft, with no helmet and no life vest. The Scouts are forced to make a tough decision as they cast their vote to kick off an adult — what will prevail: speed or safety? With two adults remaining, an orienteering challenge proves to be harder than expected when a surprise task leaves one contestant lacking in supplies. And when the last man standing makes it to the final round he faces some fierce Scout competition — will he be able to beat Rob "Robin Hood" Nelsen, the bow and arrow ace, in archery and finally prove that he's Tougher Than a Boy Scout?

Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout? is produced by Original Productions, a FremantleMedia company. For Original Productions, the executive producers are Thom Beers, Philip D. Segal and Jeff Conroy. For the National Geographic Channel, the executive producer is Richard Wells; the executive vice president of programming is Michael Cascio.

National Geographic Channel

Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channels US are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Cable Networks. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education with smart, innovative programming and profits that directly support its mission. Launched in January 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) celebrated its fifth anniversary with the debut of NGC HD. In 2010, the wildlife and natural history cable channel Nat Geo WILD was launched, and in 2011, Spanish language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation's major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with NGC currently available in more than 71 million U.S. homes. Globally, National Geographic Channels International is available in more than 380 million homes in 163 countries and 37 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com.

Original Productions, a FremantleMedia Company

Original Productions has produced nearly 2,000 hours of authentic nonfiction programming featuring everyday heroes in extraordinary situations. The brand features steadfast focus on top-notch storytelling with engaging personalities including OP's hit franchise for A&E: Storage Wars, Storage: Texas and Storage Wars: New York. www.originalproductions.com  www.fremantlemedia.com

Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America provides the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be "Prepared. For Life.^®" The Scouting organization is composed of almost 2.7 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 21 and 1 million volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org.

SOURCE Boy Scouts of America

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