Halloween is giving a group of Chicago Ridge-area preteens and teens a chance to do more than dress up and scare people.
They are building their own haunted trail.
The project is part of Jon’s Way, a Chicago Ridge youth group that gives local young people opportunities to get involved in their community, build friendships and develop confidence and leadership skills.
Through activities and community events, Jon’s Way encourages preteens and teens to take an active role in creating projects of their own. The annual Haunted Trail has become one of those opportunities, giving the youth group members a chance to put their ideas, creativity and teamwork to work.
This year, the group is taking inspiration from the popular Netflix series “Stranger Things.”
“We chose this theme because it is so popular with our youth, and we wanted to bring that excitement and energy to this year’s event,” said Karrie Grabinski, president of the Jon’s Way Chicago Ridge Youth Group.
About 20 preteens and teens are expected to take part in the Haunted Trail Oct. 24 at Chicago Ridge Village Hall, but their work began weeks before Halloween.
The group meets Tuesdays to design and build the props that will transform the outdoor space into a “Stranger Things”-inspired Halloween experience.
Students in the Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps at Harold L. Richards High School and the National Junior Honor Society at Finley Junior High also have volunteered their time to help build props and prepare for the big day.
For 11-year-old Chicago Ridge resident Molly Lehnert, being part of Jon’s Way is also about spending time with kids she already knows.
“What I like most about participating is that a lot of people go to the same school as me,” Lehnert said.
Ava Stucky, 12, of Chicago Ridge, enjoys another part of the experience: watching the ideas created by the group come to life.
“My favorite part about being in the haunted house is being able to bring spooky ideas to life and seeing how afraid everyone gets when they walk through,” Stucky said.
“I love working with everyone creatively and helping make something fun for our community. It’s awesome that we are able to host a Halloween experience to remember.”
Grabinski said the project gives the young participants something more lasting than a night of Halloween fun.
“We’re not just building a Haunted Trail. We’re building confidence, leadership, and future community leaders,” she said.
The teens take ownership of the project, work together and turn their ideas into something the community can experience. Along the way, they learn how to collaborate, solve problems and follow a project from an idea to a finished product.
“These preteen/teens take ownership of the project, develop leadership skills, work together, and turn their own creative ideas into reality,” Grabinski said. “They get to see the results of their hard work and creativity come to life, knowing they made it happen.”
The experience also gives the participants a chance to see that their contributions matter.
“It’s an experience that builds confidence, encourages teamwork, and gives them something truly special to be proud of,” Grabinski said.
The Jon’s Way Haunted Trail will be part of a larger Halloween celebration planned at Chicago Ridge Village Hall, 10455 Ridgeland Ave.
An outdoor sensory tent will be available from 3 to 4 p.m., followed by the main event from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24.
Families will have plenty of other Halloween activities to choose from, including a pumpkin patch and costume contest with the Chicago Ridge Library, a spooky train and bumper cars, and a trunk-or-treat hosted by the Chicago Ridge Police Department, Fire Department, Emergency Management Agency and others.
Grabinski said the youth group is especially thankful to the Village of Chicago Ridge for continuing to support the project and providing a place where the young participants can put their ideas into action.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Village of Chicago Ridge for their continued support,” she said. “Their generosity provides a space where our preteens/teens can bring their creative ideas to life. We couldn’t do it without their support.”
With the props taking shape and Halloween approaching, the young builders are getting ready to step into the world they have created.
The result promises to be a night of scares and fun, but for the teens behind the trail, the real reward may be knowing they built it themselves.