As the sun set on the opening day of Woodcrest University’s 2nd annual Harvest Festival, students gathered for an overnight camping trip. The day-long music concert had concluded with Fawn, a local band formed by Delta Omicron Epsilon sorority members, delivering a powerful final performance. As the crowd dispersed, groups of excited students made their way to the bus bound for Camp Whisperwood. Conversations buzzed with excitement and nervous laughter as they imagined the night ahead.
Upon arrival at Camp Whisperwood, students participated in the evening’s first activity: a game of hide and seek. Under the trees, each participant had one goal—to avoid the seeker. Jesse was the first seeker and searched through the shadows until he spotted Thyrvie. She joined the hunt and discovered Prettyy. Meanwhile, others silently hid in the dim woods, escaping detection until the time ran out. At the end of the game, those with the stealthiest hiding skills received prizes, and laughter echoed as students recounted their close encounters.
With the hide-and-seek prizes claimed, campers chose their bunks and settled their belongings in the rustic lodge. The night atmosphere turned eerie as everyone gathered outside around a roaring bonfire. Under a sky scattered with stars, Hanako shared a ghost story that had everyone glancing over their shoulders. She shared the story of “The Whispered One,” of Lila, a woman who vanished at Camp Whisperwood in the summer of 1987, leaving only her locket behind. Rumor has it that her ghost wanders the camp, searching for something lost. Hanako elaborated on the tale, recounting the experience of three campers from the previous fall who ventured too deep into the woods and reportedly encountered Lila’s apparition. By the end of the story, a tense, thrilling silence filled the camp, and no one could resist glancing into the trees to see if Lila might appear.
After the ghost story, the group settled in to watch “The Borderlands,” a horror movie that keeps everyone on edge. Although the plan had been to stay awake until the end, the day’s festivities and the lodge’s warmth beckoned several campers to retire for the night. Only the most determined (or petrified) viewers remained until the movie concluded. Eventually, everyone surrendered to fatigue and made their way to bed.
Morning arrived, with the crisp autumn air welcoming everyone back outside, refreshed and ready to return to campus. As they arrived, the Harvest Festival resumed, with plenty of events still to come.
Camp Whisperwood was an unforgettable experience—a night that blended camaraderie, chills, and tradition. It will undoubtedly be a night to remember for those fortunate enough to attend.