Trunk or treat and Halloween haunt brings the fear factor to the campground

Joseph V. Sowmick - October 26, 2015

Trunk or treat and Halloween haunt brings the fear factor to the campground

By Joseph V. Sowmick, Photojournalist

The SCIT Recreation Department made a scary good time for the community as the annual Trunk or Treat and Halloween Haunt brought the Fear Factor to the hill on Oct. 23.   Their signature event over the years has transformed into one of the most festive offerings for families in Isabella County.  “Our staff puts a lot of time and effort into the event and this is the first time we had it at the campground and it felt like home,” SCIT Recreation Youth Activities Manager Ronnie Ekdahl said.  “The staff did an excellent job and the effort put forward by the SCIT Housing Department was amazing.  Their haunted tunnel was a big hit and many of the kids talked about how scary it was.”

SCIT Housing Manager April Borton and her staff went to great lengths in constructing the 60 foot “Tunnel of Terror.”

“We had a line of ghoulish guests waiting to come in and check it out. This was by far our best feature that we have done for the community Halloween Haunt,” Borton said.  “Our Housing maintenance crew did an excellent job planning and building the Tunnel of Terror and all of our staff was committed and helped with the final touches to a fun activity this. We are so excited with the response we are already planning for next year!”

SCIT Administrative Assistant Jamie Feliciano attended the Halloween themed extravaganza with her daughters Taylyn and Eylana and gave the effort high praise.  “I would like to say thank you to all the people that helped put this event together,” Feliciano said.  “My girls and I enjoyed the fun activities and we look forward to it just like every year!”

Recreation Department Organized Sports Specialists Lindsay Sprague, Walter Trepanier and Lucas Sprague coordinated the registration and all the events and even though the turnout was larger last year it was still a successful event.  “We noticed a lot more Tribal families and Tribal employees out here and moving the event helped with that because there was over 1,000 people who came last year and many of the people who did our Trunk or Treat ran out of candy,” Lucas informs.  “I would like to give a shout out for our people who participated in the Fear Factor event … I don’t know if I would have done it!”

Loosely based on the TV show, the Factor featured digging for worms, eating hot mustard and bobbing for apples in a bucket of live crickets.  And yes, there were some who quit before they could finish the timed contest.

Tribal member Fred Leksche enjoyed having the festivities moved up to the hill instead of the tribal center where it has always been.

“It was excellent!  I had a lot of fun and our whole family was here, including my dog, Lilly.  I wish we would have had time to do the haunted tunnel.  I heard the housing department did a great job with it and it was busy all night,” Leksche said.  “My favorite part of the haunt was the family dancing contest.  That was the best even though we didn’t win.”

 

Along with the haunted tunnel and dance contest, there was four divisions of costume contests (4 and under, 5 to 11, 12-17 and 18 and older) and best family costume along with a special pet costume contest.

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