A Frightful Friday Night: Spooky Stories & S’mores

JSU Field Schools teamed with USDA Forest Service Friday Night to present a fun “spooky” night for the advanced nature campers. Two vans filled with twenty-four happy children (and a couple of brave parents) traversed their way deep into the forest to discover a charming bonfire on the beach at Coleman Lake.  Chris Raney, USFS, taught the children how to safely build a fire, properly roast wieners and make s’mores. (Safety tip 3: Don’t fling your burning marshmallow…simply blow out the flame!)

As the glowing moon rose over the mirror-like lake, Renee Morrison told of shape shifters, ghost musicians, and other haunted tales. The campers all agreed that they were “deliciously scared” but wanted more. JSU volunteers Bobby Floyd, Teje Sult, and Beth Enders led half of the campers on a night “botany and critter” hike around the lake while Renee told funny stories to the rest who were too frightened to leave the campfire.

“When you get home tonight, take off your shoes & place them under your bed with one toe pointing north and the other toe pointing south. This will keep you from having spooky dreams,” Renee explained.

Arriving back at JSU, campers joyously ran to waiting parents shouting, “It was great! We want to do this every night!” 

You can join JSU Field Schools for fireside storytelling (and s’mores) Friday, October 26 (Ghosts on the Mountain) and Saturday October 27 (My Life as a Black and Tan Coon Hound) at the DeSoto State Park Campfire Talks. Renee Morrison will begin spinning her tales at 7:00 p.m.

For more information visit www.desotostatepark.com or http://fieldschool.jsu.edu.

JSU Field Schools teamed with USDA Forest Service Friday Night to present a fun “spooky” night for the advanced nature campers shown here listening to spooky tales. Photo by Josh Morrison

Chris Raney, USFS, is shown here teaching the adventurers how to safely build a fire, properly roast wieners and make s’mores.  Photo by Josh Morrison

Chris Raney, USFS, demonstrates the techniques for properly roasting wieners and making s’mores.  Photo by Josh Morrison

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