The Oshkosh West Index - Ghoulish volunteers ‘rock’ thrill seekers

Volume 102, Issue 2

Online Features

Ghoulish volunteers ‘rock’ thrill seekers

By Cathie LaCroix
posted 1:19:36 PM CST, Oct 22, 2005

With Halloween just over a week away, spirits are already looming through thoughts of haunted houses, pumpkins and the sweet taste of free candy. O’Neil National Honor Society students and Rotary members are nurturing their Halloween fears by frightening Jaycee Haunted House goers. Both clubs are contributing to the volunteer efforts by playing the role of monsters and ghosts.

“It was seriously a lot of fun,” senior Ryan Tebo said. “It was the best volunteering experience I’ve ever had.”

According to senior Laura Vandenberg the event was a chance to realize what it is like to be on the opposite side of the scaring spectrum.

“It was really interesting because I’m usually the one being scared so it was exciting,” she said. “Most of the time I was scaring them; you know you did a good job when people screamed at you.”

Haunted houses are always meant to strike fear in the hearts of visitors. This year’s purpose is to allow people to overcome such anxieties.

“This year the haunted house has a theme of facing your fears,” Jaycees Management Vice President Sara Dougherty-Noe said. “Each room is represented with a different fear each person may have.”

Vandenberg experienced how real a haunted house may seem to beginners.

“There was actually one kid who came through crying with a hood over her face and I felt bad so I just smiled and her mom said, ‘See, its ok, they’re just real people dressed up.’”

According to Tebo, at first volunteers were a little rusty at their duties, but as time went on they perfected their efforts.

“We started out not being very effective scaring people, but once we found the hiding spots in the room we just nailed them,” he said. “We had people screaming all the time; we just rocked them.”

The haunted house is sponsored by the Oshkosh Jaycees, a group that raises funds for community organizations. Dougherty-Noe feels that the event is an excellent opportunity to have fun while supporting the Oshkosh community.

“This is our biggest fundraiser,” she said. “All of the proceeds go to local organizations. Every year it gets better. This year is better than last year. It’s a great time to spend with friends and family and get in the Halloween spirit.”

Senior Megan Young agrees that it’s a good experience for everyone.

“It gives teens something to do with friends and parents something to do with their kids,” she said.

According to Dougherty-Noe the haunted house has been a major aspect of the Jaycees for many years.

“We’ve been doing this for as long as anyone can remember,” she said. “This is our third year at this location.”

The Jaycees put in extra effort to ensure anyone can enjoy the holiday frights.

“This year we put more effort into it, making it wheel chair accessible,” Dougherty-Noe said. “This past year we had a few people that came that couldn’t go all the way through the house. We wanted to make it so that anyone could enjoy it. It took more pre-planning so that a wheelchair can go over all of the flooring between rooms.”

Vandenberg believes that this volunteering experience is one many could benefit from.

“I would definitely recommend it to others,” she said. “It feels good to help people out and have fun doing it.”

Volunteers didn’t have to completely rely on their own innate abilities to shock, as they were able to use props of the haunted house.

“We had to stand behind a ‘stretchy’ wall and when people came through we pushed it into them and they freaked out,” senior Azin Moghadom said.

According to Tebo, there are a few guidelines they must abide by to keep the haunted house a safe and enjoyable place for everyone.

“They initially gave us rules like no touching or swearing,” he said. “When we were inside, though, we were told to just do whatever it took to scare people”

Building a haunted house is not an easy task and can be very time consuming, according to Dougherty-Noe.

“It takes a full year of planning,” she said. “We build from scratch starting in mid September. We built everything inside of the barn.”

The haunted house will continue October 21, 22, 28 and 29 from 7-11 PM at the Winnebago County Expo Center. Tickets are $8 a person.

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photo by Nick Penzenstadler

Seniors Ryan Tebo (left) and Justin Mohelnitzky (right) frighten a small child at the entrance of the ‘Hell’ room at the Jaycees haunted house Asylum. The two O’Neil members volunteered at the event, which raises funds for the local group.

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