October 23, 2012 Samantha Monteagudo

    This Halloween, the Center for Addiction Recovery (CAR) at Georgia Southern University, the Boys & Girls Club of Bulloch County and the Statesboro Music Festival are proud to bring the Haunted Forest back for another year of creepy, spine-tingling fun! This much-anticipated annual event will take place from Oct. 24–27 and 29–31 from 8 p.m. to midnight and will be closed on Sunday. Admission is $5 per person, but group discounts are available.
    The Haunted Forest is one of the many traditions enjoyed by GSU and traces its sinister roots back to 1980, when GSU recreation and leisure professor “Mouse” Blankenbaker launched the event with the help of her program planning class. The event was such a success that it continued to be an annual occurrence until professor Blakenbaker’s retirement in 2003.
    Fast forward to 2009, with the help, in large part, of GSU’s Center for Addiction Recovery — which gives over $16,000 a year in service award scholarships to students who demonstrate excellence in academics, sobriety activities and community service — the Haunted Forest was brought back to life.
    “The former director of the Center revived it because she thought it would be a great project for students in recovery as well as a way for local treatment and recovery organizations off campus to get involved in service work,” said Emily Eisenhart, the current director of the CAR. “They deserve and need all the support they can get. I’m super excited that Georgia Southern has recognized the need for a Center like ours (which is actually a rarity amongst college campuses nationwide) and is able to meet the needs of this unique population.”
    This spooktacular event will benefit the community and individuals through charitable and community organizations.
    “The proceeds from the Forest benefit the Center for Addiction Recovery as well as the Boys & Girls Club. Our portion of the proceeds will go to our student activities fund, which we use to plan sober events and leadership retreats for our student population,” said Eisenhart.
    Guests will be greeted with a variety of hungry cannibals, creepy clowns and restless zombies, as well as live music courtesy of the Statesboro Music Festival. Performances from Sam Sniper, Ogeechee River Mud, Evensong, Connor Pledger and more will be taking place on Oct. 26, 27 and 31.
    The Haunted Forest is located at the trail on Malecki Drive, next to the soccer field and the GSU water tower. Free parking will be available at Paulson Stadium.
    For more information on this year’s Haunted Forest, click here.

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