A look at how campus recreation teams are celebrating the chilly weather and spooky season with themed activities and events.
As the leaves change color and Halloween creeps around the corner, campus rec departments are coming alive with the holiday and seasonal spirit.
Throughout October, teams host fright nights, themed classes and fall festivals to engage students and the community. This roundup offers a glimpse at some of this year’s activities and inspiration for teams looking to innovate their seasonal programming.
1. Themed Classes and Climbs
Themed fitness classes and climb nights are low-cost but highly engaging options for both teams and students. At California State University Fullerton, Titan Recreation is hosting Witching Wellness Hour: Pilates After Dark — an evening class where participants will also make tea and manifestation jars — along with a costume dodgeball tournament and costume climb.
Midnight Madness at Northern Michigan University is a nighttime climbing event complete with laser lights, music and costumes. Utah State University (USU) Campus Recreation is also getting into the season with the Spooky Cardio Fuse fitness class and the annual Halloween bouldering competition.
SUNY New Paltz put an extra spin on this idea and is hosting a monthly competition called Fall Into Fitness with weekly themes and individually themed classes. For every class attended and costume worn, students receive raffle tickets for a chance to win department merchandise.
2. Haunted Houses and Trails
Haunted house and trail events are another way to bring the Halloween spirit to campus rec programming. Teams bring the haunts to recreation facilities or use existing space through collaboration with another department.
For example, Nightmare on Rutford Ave at the University of Texas at Dallas will transform a residence hall through a partnership between University Recreation and the National Residence Hall Honorary. Along with scares from haunted house characters, the event will include themed activities like pumpkin painting and cookie decorating.
Outdoor haunted experiences are an option for departments who don’t have ample indoor space. At Valdosta State University, Campus Recreation is inviting students to face their fears on their annual Haunted Trail. This year’s trail and live scare actors will take participants on a journey through eight common fears like darkness and spiders.
3. Festivals and Fairs
Georgia State University Recreation (GSU) and California Baptist University (CBU) are both bringing seasonal fun to students with fall festivals. GSU’s event will include pumpkin painting, axe throwing, inflatable games, a mechanical bull and a caricature artist. At CBU, students can play volleyball and enjoy an evening of live music and giveaways.
Wellness fairs are a great opportunity for departments to inform students how to care for their health and safety while incorporating Halloween activities. For example, the University of Arkansas Recreation and Wellness is hosting a Halloween wellness afternoon with giveaways, dirty sodas and interactive activities to help students learn about sexual health and personal safety to have a safer, healthier holiday.
4. Outdoor Adventure
For departments with outdoor adventure facilities, challenge courses can be a perfect setting for a spooky night.
At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Recreation and Wellness is hosting The Great Pumpkin Night at the NEST Challenge Course, where students can climb, paint pumpkins and connect. Hosted by Outdoor Recreation, Heights and Frights at Florida Atlantic University lets students enjoy the zipline, high ropes course, rock wall, costume contest and more.
Many departments also put on Halloween- or fall-themed 5K races or fun runs, like the Swoopocalypse 5K at the University of North Florida, the Big Blue Boo 5K at USU and the Halloween Hustle 5K and 1-mile fun run at Mississippi State University.
5. Aquatics
From movie nights to diving competitions, the pool offers a great opportunity for departments to host a fun fall activity. The University of Arizona is screening Jaws and providing floaties and snacks for students. At USU, the Pumpkin Plunge is the annual Halloween diving contest where participants wear their best costumes.
Holidays are a perfect time to reach community members and include families in the seasonal fun. For example, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is hosting a floating pumpkin patch where kids can pick their perfect pumpkin to decorate and enjoy other Halloween-themed activities like coloring and crafts.
The Not-So-Scary Bottom Line
Holiday and seasonal programming provides a chance for campus rec departments to engage students, reach community members and enhance everyday programming. Whether it’s a festival or a poolside movie, these Halloween activities and fall events showcase how engaging programming doesn’t have to be expensive or require extra resources. There are plenty of accessible but exciting ways to make the season special for students.
