After several years of uncertainty and shifting plans because of the protecting minors on campus policy, Boo Crew held a trunk or treat event this year, followed by Halloween-themed games and activities on Villager Lawn.
About 175 children attended the Oct. 25 event, including students from Samuel Gompers School, Gesu School and other after-school programs, along with children of university faculty and staff.
“It’s a great thing because most of these kids probably won’t get the chance to see a college campus this early in life, and it could be an inspiration for them, to see [the entire St. Joe’s community] giving back,” said Chris Ming, chaperone for the children of the Clyde Community and Youth After School Program.
Boo Crew, which is sponsored by Campus Ministry, has taken place at St. Joe’s for more than 20 years. For most of those years, attendees trick-or-treated at first-year residence halls. Following a change in the protecting minors on campus policy, which required adults who interact with children at the university to complete a set of background checks, the event was cancelled in 2017. A policy change in 2018 allowed trick-or-treaters to visit various buildings around campus, instead of residence halls.
This year, after receiving feedback from Tenisha McDowell, a human resources specialist, students, faculty and staff involved with Boo Crew started brainstorming ideas that not only abided by the protecting minors on campus policy, but also further involved the university’s various departments.
Grace Cote ’20, a student leader on the Boo Crew committee, helped come up with the idea for a trunk or treat after seeing this type of event hosted in her hometown in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
“It’s a really cool idea for us, since it involves the faculty members, too,” Cote said. “Trying to boost their involvement in the community is really good.”
McDowell, who brought her daughter to the Boo Crew event last year, said that gave her the idea to open up the event to the children of other university employees.
In the Science Center parking lot, trick-or-treaters stopped by the trunks of cars decorated by 12 different university departments, including members of the department of decision and system sciences, the department of biology, the President’s Office and The Success Center. The children also got to vote on the best decorated trunk. That prize went to Francis A. Drexel Library staff, who won a pizza party.
After completing the trick-or-treating route through the parking lot, the children then moved to Villager Lawn where student volunteers had organized games and activities, such as a prize wheel, face painting and a haunted ring toss.
Molly Weber ’22, student volunteer, said the event provided ample opportunities for interactions between the children, university students, and participating faculty and administration.
“I thought there was a really good turnout, and the kids seemed to have so much fun,” Weber said. “I think it’s a good way to bring the community together.”
Ming said he and the children he was chaperoning were happy with the event, too.
“Oh, man, it was awesome,” Ming said. “The kids really had a great time. Everything was great. The people were great. They were so nice to the children. It really was a great time.”
