Scouts team up to host haunted house fundraiser

The Scouts BSA’s fourth annual Haunted House with Troops 2019 and 2222 didn’t let the massive Tick Fire destruction stop them from fundraising and scaring the Santa Clarita community on Friday night. It took them three to four weekends to complete the haunted house.

About 30 to 40 Scouts, volunteers and leaders created the setting. The fundraiser took place at the Gilchrist Farm. The property owner of the farm decided to open it for the fundraiser, according to Saugus resident and volunteer Jackie Freeman.

The purpose of the fundraiser is to support their own troops because “they do a lot of Scout activities like hiking, campouts and they use that money to fund that,” said Freeman “Without it, the Scouts don’t have enough money. Their parents would have to put in a lot more money.”

These activities help out the Scouts to build leadership skills and be involved with the community.

Volunteers sold snacks like cotton candy and popcorn. Admission to the haunted house was $5 per person and the event drew residents of all ages.

Groups waited in line to be picked up from a wagon pulled by a tractor. Children and adults hopped on and rode as the attendees were excited to experience the haunted house.

Saugus resident Kevin Lu said there were different levels ranging from “not scary at all” to “super scary.”

Before the attendees arrived, the Scouts were anxious and excited as they were preparing themselves to scare them.

“They are ready to go,” Lu said. “So I was just up there and they were like, ‘Do we have any people? Do we have a line?’”

The small haunted maze was built from scratch. The walls were built, covered up and the Scouts wore costumes, according to Freeman.

Lu hopes that within the years to come the fundraiser increases and grows bigger within the community.