What started out as a simple idea for a kids television show is now gaining international attention and accolades.
Vancouver-based production Scout & The Gumboot Kids, which airs on CBC Kids, is the brainchild of Tara Hungerford and Eric Hogan, co-creators and partners behind Imagine Create Media. And the idea was born out of their personal experiences as parents.
“At the time when we first created the show we had a one year old and a three year old. We were living in a tiny condo in the city and we found that the only way we could get our kids to sleep was to take them outside,” Hungerford told the Courier in a phone interview.
The couple would often take their young children on walks on the endowment land trails or to the beach.
“We came to realize that as a family we were yearning for some content that we could watch to inspire us and inspire the kids to go outside,” she said. “Scout & The Gumboot Kids was really inspired by our two little ones living in the city, needing to go outside and connect with nature.”
Scout is a little stop-motion animation mouse.
“He’s kind of the maestro,” Hogan said. “He devises little nature mysteries for the kids to go outside and explore nature… All the kids that you see in the show are solving nature mysteries and they’re real kids outside playing in nature.”
The couple first conceived the idea in 2011. Fast forward seven years and season three of the show is currently in production. In addition to airing on CBC Kids, it’s been picked up internationally and is broadcast in Australia, South Korea and the Philippines, as well as in the U.S. on Houghton Mifflin’s streaming platform Curious World, ComCast Xfinity’s Kidstream and was recently picked up by Amazon.
It’s also spawned two spin-offs — Jessie & The Gumboot Kids and Daisy & The Gumboot Kids.
The show has also picked up a number of awards over the years, including the 2016 and 2017 Golden Sheaf Award for Best Children’s and Youth Production, as well as multiple Leo awards and a Canadian Screen Award nomination.
Scout & The Gumboot Kids was also recently named a finalist for the Prix Jeunesse International 2018, the highest honour in children’s television. The Prix Jeunesse Foundation aims to shine a spotlight on outstanding television productions for children.
“We had no idea we were actually going to get picked,” Hungerford said. “It’s considered the award to be granted as kids’ television content creators. We were actually really blown away and honoured.”
The award winners will be announced at the bi-annual Prix Jeunesse International festival in Munich in May.
It’s also received an endorsement from the David Suzuki Foundation.
“They don’t usually endorse television shows but ours is really a bridge between the family room and getting outside,” Hungerford said.
The show is simple. Aimed at a pre-school aged audience, each five-minute episode begins with Scout and a nature mystery. The Gumboot Kids, a group of children ranging in age from one to 10, explore the clues and solve the mystery. Each episode also includes a mindful moment.
“It really caters to children’s imaginations, and then our mouse also teaches children about mindfulness and reminds parents to slow down,” Hungerford said.
The show is a family affair; the couple’s children, who are now six and eight, are two of the Gumboot Kids and also help their parents come up with ideas for the show.
As well, Hungerford’s sister, Juno-award winning artist Jessie Farrell, composes all the music for the show.
“It’s this super simple little gem and we’ve put our hearts and souls into it and our kids have been on the journey with us and everyone who works on the show really, really cares,” Hungerford said. “It’s one of those projects that we think will live on.”
@JessicaEKerr
