Making it one spooky Halloween, on the evening of Oct. 24, Governors State University was turned into an exciting wonderland of thrilling adventures sponsored by the Biology Club in conjunction with other student organizations: The Haunted Field Station was calling students and community members alike seeking a spine-chilling adventure.
The haunted house event started at 5 p.m. in the university field house and was an even better steal, considering one had to pay just $5 to get a spot in this haunted adventure. While waiting for one’s turn, the guests were kept in a very cozy atmosphere with board games that kept interactions and excitement going. A hot chocolate station with an array of toppings-from marshmallows to whipped cream-added a warm, inviting feel to the chilly evening.
Once all were ready, the guests were transported to the Haunted Field Station, where the real adventure began. High-energy supervisors led the groups through a creatively decorated facility complete with spooky props and eerie lighting to enhance the thrill in the experience. The crowd was filled with laughter and shrieking as the participants underwent ingeniously contrived scares, yet still in full view of their guides.
Now it was time for the chattering and laughing of the returned students all the way to campus, as the Haunted Field Station had remained open to the visitors until 9 PM. Not only entertaining on that day as a Halloween party, the even brought people together in the college atmosphere.
Special thanks go to the volunteers from the Biology Club, whose ingenuity and elbow grease made this happen-from floating body bags on the lake to putting in animatronics for jump scares, it’s a field station transformation that tests bonding and Halloween spirits among members as a joint collaboration.
Located on Dralle Road, the setting added a bit of spookiness to the whole ambiance, as the field station already had a naturally creepy feel to it at night. Highlights of the night included a photo station featuring a creepy crawling baby and a startling animatronic of a little girl with a teddy bear that indeed elicited gasps and laughter from attendees.
Transportation was provided from GSU’s F entrance to the field station. There also was a waiting area that included Halloween music and games, such as Giant UNO and Ghosts Can’t Draw for mingling before being taken to the field station.
It was a huge success-the field station, usually kept for research matters, took on a whole new meaning. Many of the participates who joined in stated that they were excited to learn more about the Biology department, all while enjoying the spooky decorations.
With the goals of making a memorable Halloween experience and raising money for future activities, the Biology Club- with the assistance of the Pre-Health Club and Psi Chi Honors Society-knew it was one. The good vibes and feedback from attendees made it well worth the effort, as organizers are already looking forward to the time they can make the Haunted Field Station even scarier next year.
Special thanks to Dr. John Yunger, advisor of the Biology Club, who helped with logistics; and to all volunteers who assisted in setup, managing the event, and cleanup. The Haunted Field Station at Governors State University will be one of those favorite traditions for years to come, tapping into community spirit and thrill of Halloween.