Project Pumpkin, one of Lake Forest Academy’s most beloved traditions, took place on Tuesday, Oct. 27. At this annual event run by LFA’s service learning club, Interact, LFA students connected with elementary school students from North Chicago’s A.J. Katzenmaier Academy (AJK) for a Halloween-themed evening of fun.
During Project Pumpkin, LFA students and fifth graders from AJK dressed up in Halloween costumes, went trunk-or-treating, shared a festive dinner at the student union and listened to a performance from COAX, LFA’s student rock band.
Interact Club leader Caroline Bierig ‘27 called the trunk-or-treating the “highlight of the night.” To host this activity, parents, faculty and students decorated their cars to reflect the spooky season. They then opened their trunks to reveal candy and treats, which they handed out to the elementary schoolers.
This alternative to traditional trick-or-treating was created in response to safety concerns. LFA already had a close relationship with North Chicago service organizations. When they learned that many children in North Chicago could not trick-or-treat in their own neighborhoods, they decided to bring elementary students to LFA’s own campus, so the children would not miss out on Halloween festivities. Interact Club partners with AJK in other ways, including tutoring and STEM lessons.
Bierig said that one of the most rewarding parts of Project Pumpkin is connecting with the kids and hearing about their lives. One moment she valued in particular was a conversation with an AJK student who spoke only Spanish. Bierig said that she enjoyed speaking with this student using the Spanish she knew and “getting to learn from each other.”
Another highlight of this event was the COAX concert. This year the band prepared songs including “Pink + White” by Frank Ocean, “Hot N Cold” by Katy Perry and “Still Into You” by Paramore. This partnership between COAX and Interact is one more way different groups of LFA students were able to join together to support this community event.
Project Pumpkin is one of LFA’s strongest community-building programs. It allows students to bond with Lake Forest’s neighbors to the north, but also fosters community within our own school. Even students who do not attend the event are able to pitch in. For example, in the weeks leading up to Project Pumpkin, Interact Club ran a bake sale selling student favorites – like apple cider, cookies and donuts – to raise funds for the event. The money raised went toward buying Halloween costumes the children can wear and take home.
Bierig also emphasized how Project Pumpkin brings different grade levels together. She said it was one of the first ways she got involved at LFA as a freshman, and she still notices other underclassmen getting a role they might not otherwise have.
In the years since Project Pumpkin was first organized, LFA students and staff alike have enjoyed sharing these moments with AJK. It is always a treat to watch members of both schools create these valuable memories, strengthen their bonds and share parts of each other’s lives for one night each fall.