Most college students have outgrown watching children’s TV shows, but for a group of Ohio University students, a children’s show is their outlet to lending a hand to Athens’ youth.
Confused?, produced by student-run Athens Video Works Productions, is a science-based, educational children’s program. The show is distributed on WOUB HD, airing every day in Southeast Ohio and parts of Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Each episode normally attracts about 250 views online; numbers are not available for how many watch it on TV.
“We’re not one of the classically cool shows to work for,” said Amanda Roberts, producer of Confused? and a junior studying media studies. “Confused? is a really unique opportunity to, you know, do something that you may not get to do otherwise.”
The show has $50 per semester to work with, which is provided by student-sponsored fees. The show is produced once per semester, and producers use equipment from AVW Productions and the OU Radio and Television Building.
Each episode includes five different segments: book, interactive, curiosity corner, ask the expert and field trip.
The show’s latest episode from Fall Semester focused on nutrition and healthy eating and featured an OU nutrition student as an expert.
The field trip segment introduced viewers to the Youth Entrepreneurs At Hope (YEAH!) program, an Athens-based community garden program that allows children to grow and sell their own crops at the Athens Farmers Market in the summer.
“This past semester, the focus has really been getting more in touch with the community,” Roberts said. “We get a lot of college students who might know about us, but we’re a children’s show. We want the community to be more involved so we can really market it toward the kids.”
Part of this effort involves an upcoming live taping of the show at East Elementary School in Athens. Students and parents are invited to watch and be a part of the weather-themed episode on Thursday in the school’s gym from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The show’s crew created flyers and a promotional video, which were emailed to parents and posted throughout the school.
“I liked the idea of having an educational show and having kids as a live audience,” Claire Giardino, principal of East Elementary School, said of her decision to allow Confused? to film at the school.
The upcoming episode will provide interactive crafts and activities for kids and will also help out Athens County Childrens Services.
“We’re actually trying to come in and bring the local Athens Children Services into it … to meet their need and kind of promote their cause,” said Thomas Sinard, outgoing marketing manager of AVW and a senior studying video production.
Attendees of the live show are asked to bring unopened jars of peanut butter and jelly as part of The Peanut Butter and Jelly Project, which provides sandwiches for area children in the summer, since many depend on school lunches during the academic year.
The initiative aims to feed 1,000 children in Trimble, Federal Hocking, Athens City and Nelsonville-York city schools, according to the Children Services website.
More than 65 percent of children in these schools qualify for reduced or free breakfast and lunch, making feeding them during the summer months a priority.
“A lot of our shows are comedy or sports, but Confused? is unique,” Sinard said.
@Dinaivey
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To donate or get involved, contact Athens County Children Services at (740) 592-3061 or at 22 Stonybrook Dr. Athens County Children Services is accepting donations of peanut butter, jelly and monetary gifts to help with bread purchases for the Peanut Butter and Jelly Project. Donations will also be accepted at East Elementary School Gym (3 Wallace Dr.) on Thursday, from 6 p.m to 7:30 p.m.
