Gathering around a warm fireplace to share spooky tales is a timeless tradition, especially around Halloween. For Elizabethtown College students, this setting served as more than just the place for telling spooky stories, it was a way to grow community, creativity and connect with peers.
Hosted by the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life office as part of their weekly Fake Fireplace, Real Conversations event, the campus event brought together students to share ghost stories, sit around a campfire and engage in conversations. Built on the weekly event, this week specifically was able to play into the Halloween season.
The idea began with requests from groups looking for ways to continue gathering outdoors even as the season began to change.
“Our group is always looking for an opportunity to sit by the fire pit,” said Reverend Amy Shorner-Johnson, Chaplain and Director of Spiritual and Religious Life. “We generally try to get out there twice a year, and Halloween and ghost stories connect to the nostalgia of what one might do around a real fire pit.”
This semester’s event was scheduled right after the international student pumpkin carving activity, which created an opportunity to expand students’ conversations and connections. Organizers hoped this could weave in different cultural traditions into the night while maintaining and encouraging conversations throughout multiple different backgrounds of students.
“We bumped up against the international students’ pumpkin carving event, so we also wanted to hear any cultural stories that people brought from their traditions,” Shorner-Johnson said. “The other primary goal is always to encourage conversation and to learn about different experiences and viewpoints in a hospitable space.”
Making an environment where students can feel comfortable to open up wasn’t difficult. The natural flow of the season and topic did most of the work keeping the conversations flowing.
“I think it being Halloween season and around a fire set the stage,” said Shoner-Johnson.
The response from students exceeded the expectations organizers originally hoped for and were expecting. Despite overlapping with another event, about 18 to 20 students were in attendance, drawn to the idea of spooky stories before Halloween and a sweet treat.
The spooky theme was a huge icebreaker. Students came ready and prepared to speak and contribute to the conversations, using the fireplace and the dark, cooling weather to set the tone and draw in more contributions.
“I think it was an enjoyable topic for those who had a story to share,” Shorner-Johnson said. “Folks came prepared with something to share. The mystery of the topic leaves a lot of room for wonder.”
The stories shared throughout the event ranged from more lighthearted mysteries to those rooted in deeper cultural meaning and traditions. Highlights included a traditional story that featured a ghost fighting for his people, a more modern tale about unsettling baby monitor footage and even some classic mystery stories that keep students intrigued.
Beyond the seasonal fun events, organizers hope students can come away from any Fake Fireplace event with something new. Participating in activities like group storytelling and listening helps students grow essential interpersonal skills that can be used far beyond their lives on campus.
“We always hope this helps students build confidence, communication and listening skills,” Shoner-Johnson said. “Previous leaders have shared that this tim helped prepare them for interviews, counseling careers and social work, and have given great resume talking points. Fostering dialogue across differences, even small differences, is good for every career and relationship.”
The event is a reflection of the campus ministry team’s broader missions, hosting weekly conversations with students designed to be welcoming, low-pressure for students of all backgrounds and religious affiliation.
Looking ahead, students can expect some more conversations throughout the year. The drop-in attendance ensures that students can participate whenever they feel or are available.
“Folks are always welcome to come and stay for however long they like,” said Shorner-Johnson. “It is intentionally drop-in style conversation to make it easily accessible, where we strive for hospitality to be at the center. Topics change every week.”
