Essentially, the prizes probably put the production out maybe $2,000? Wow. That's pretty cheap compared to the prizes given out on things like the Price is Right, Jeopardy, and others. Clearly it takes a whole lot less to motivate kids than it does for adults.
Heck, I would've done all of these challenges AND run through the hidden temple as fast as I could for a trip to space camp, wouldn't you?
Now this show was set up a lot like the Olympics which made it pretty awesome. You also got a cool (or kind of uncool) nickname when you were selected. This show had the best prize... a glowing rock. That was literally it, a giant glowing rock. The non-winners (I guess it is not nice to call them losers) got metals. Still pretty cool since you could take that to school with you and show everyone. Anyone that competed on this show probably has their metal in a box in storage somewhere.
As 90s kids, I know most of us would've given away our video games, bikes, TVs, AND savings bonds from Nesquik in order to be on anyone of these shows. Personally, I would've given up about four family vacations and my left arm. These days I don't find game shows all that entertaining and I care even less to compete in any of them. The only exception probably being Wheel of Fortune or something where I actually have a chance of winning money.
-Brianna