WYOMISSING, Pa. — Penn State Berks took learning out of the classroom in early October when 14 students, faculty and staff visited "Field of Screams," a haunted Halloween attraction in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The event was organized as an experiential learning activity for humanities, arts and social sciences courses (such as "Rhetoric of American Horror Films" and "Transformative Texts") that deal with topics related to horror and monstrosity within popular cultural texts. 

The event was organized by Cheryl L. Nicholas, associate professor of communication arts and sciences. The group braved two haunted houses, walked through a nuclear wasteland, and went on a spirited hayride. 

“It was a nice bonding experience,” said Nicholas. “The students were able spend an evening with each other and their professors or advisers, while discussing class content and experiencing thrills appropriate for the Halloween season. It was a frightfully good time.”

Jonathan McFadden, a biochemistry and molecular biology major, commented that he enjoyed the haunted hayride in particular. He also stated that he enjoyed the course and that as a biochemistry major, it was “interesting to see how paranoia and terror related to medical issues played out in these horror-themed entertainment spaces.”