Scary Gym is a highly-anticipated event at VFES that requires many volunteers!
Scary Gym: Spook-tacular, fun and safe event for students!
One of our most popular, beloved VFES events! This event is held in late October, in conjunction with Halloween.
What is Scary Gym? VFES family volunteers create a huge maze in the gym for the kids to crawl and run through. We tailor the experience for each grade level to ensure age-appropriate fun for everyone!
Kindergarten and First Grade visit Scary Gym during the school day. Parents do not attend, unless you want to volunteer to help out!
Second, Third, and Fourth Grade children participate in Scary Gym in the evening during scheduled shifts, as Halloween music plays. The gym is lit by daylight – the later it gets, the darker the gym is.
“Startlers” are present to “surprise” 3rd and 4th graders only. Startlers do not jump out at students for the first five minutes of each time slot.
Spooky Gym: All the Thrills without the Chills!
In addition to our traditional Scary Gym, we also offer Spooky Gym! This is an alternate event held on a different day than Scary Gym, that children who may not be comfortable with Scary Gym are welcome to participate in instead. The difference between the two events is Spooky Gym features daylight, fun music, and no startlers. Please note, students who participate in Spooky Gym are not eligible to also attend Scary Gym.
Will My Child be TOO Scared?
The Scary Gym provides students with a fun Halloween activity that promotes self-confidence, risk-taking, and good sportsmanship. To this end, the Scary Gym operates on levels of increasing challenge defined by grade level.
Students have the option to stop participating at any point that their level of comfort warrants. This includes assisting any student out of the maze and to the nearest exit upon request.
Students are encouraged to be cognizant of individual differences and respect the feelings of their peers. The startlers are introduced to the students in the hallway at the beginning of each session. The startlers’ role is to startle, not to frighten students.