A real-life "Hunger Games" camp where kids "fight each other to the death" had to be toned down over fears the youngsters were expecting too much violence.
Children rushed to sign up to the weeklong themed event loosely based on the books and movie, where teens fight for survival in a series of post-apocalyptic gladiatorial battles.
The 26 slots offered by Country Day School in Largo, Fla., were filled within days as excited boys and girls relished the thought of emulating the film's star Jennifer Lawrence.
Organizers initially planned that the children would "kill" each other by pulling flag belts from each other's waists.
But halfway through the week they grew worried about the levels of violence the youngsters were talking about.
Tampa Bay Times
A clinical psychologist said when students try to emulate the film’s star Katniss, played by Jennifer Lawrence, ‘they start thinking and owning and adopting and assuming the roles, it becomes closer to them. The violence becomes less egregious.’
"If I have to die, I want to die by an arrow," one hyperactive boy told the
Tampa Bay Times. "Don't kill me with a sword. I'd rather be shot," he added.
RELATED: ‘HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE' TRAILER, CAST APPEAR AT COMIC-CON
Other children talked about taking friends out with a sniper rifle, while a little girl reportedly said she would "stab" a pal to death.
Despite the controversy, organizers say they plan to hold the ‘Hunger Games’ camp again in the future.
So instructors changed the game so that instead of "killing" each other, the campers would instead "collect lives."
Clinical psychologist Susan Toler told the newspaper that the very idea of the camp was "unthinkable."
unger Games’ tells the story of children forced to fight each other to the death. The camp inspired by the movies changed its approach of having campers ‘kill’ opponents to having them ‘collect lives.’
When children read the books or watch the movie they're observers and removed from the killing, she said.
"But when they start thinking and owning and adopting and assuming the roles, it becomes closer to them. The violence becomes less egregious," she added.
But head counselor Lindsey Gillette insisted that the event still proved to be a success and great fun for those attending.
There's no word yet, however, on whether the themed camp
— based on Suzanne Collins' trilogy of books
— will return again next year.
The first movie has grossed $700 million worldwide and the second installment, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," will be released later this year.
