Grab your sleeping bag and tent and head out to the South Oval tomorrow night for the first campus-wide Camp Out on the Oval.
The Ohio Staters, Ohio Union Activities Board and the Wellness Center have combined efforts to make this the largest sleepover in Ohio State history.
“Basically, it’s a night of fun,” said Miriam Yu, member of the Ohio Staters and a co-chair of the campout. “When it comes down to it, we are providing students with opportunities they might not get to do otherwise – like sleep out on the Oval.”
All events are free and start at 8 p.m. with a cookout. Hot dogs, soda, chips, cookies and popsicles will be provided by the sponsors.
The all-night event will include inflatable games, a climbing wall, a dunking tank, a raffle and games.
“Bring your own tent or sheets to sleep in,” Yu said. “You can build a fort, or pretty much do whatever you want to.”
Tents will be set up on the west side of the South Oval near Enarson Hall. No registration is required, and sleeping items – such as tents and blankets – will not be provided.
Susan Schmidt, vice president of Ohio Staters and a co-chair of the campout, said she hopes the event will be a chance for everyone to relax and have fun together.
“The Camp Out is something to promote university camaraderie by providing a unique way to hang out and have fun,” Schmidt said. “It’s purely social.”
Raffle tickets will be sold for 25 cents each or five for $1. The proceeds will benefit the Children’s Hunger Alliance. Prizes will be given away every half hour throughout the night and include game systems, mp3 players and tickets to OSU football games.
“There will be big prizes that are worth the 25 cents if you win them,” said Maggie Ryan, OUAB late night coordinator.
An arts and crafts tent will be set up to make Buckeye necklaces or decorate and plant seeds in flower pots. The crafts will go to different charities and nursing homes.
At 11 p.m., “The Butterfly Effect” will be shown on a 26-foot movie screen on the South Oval. From 1-3 a.m. a game of capture the flag will be played and there will be haunted tours.
“Groups of people will be taken around campus to see different areas that are haunted,” Ryan said.
Mack Hall, Bricker Hall, Orton Hall and the Lady of the Lake at Mirror Lake will all be stops on the walk led by volunteers who are knowledgeable about the ghost stories of OSU.
University Police will be on hand in case there are any problems and to make sure everyone’s belongings are not stolen. “We are working with OSU police and will have security there all night,” Schmidt said.
The event will conclude with a breakfast of bagels, cream cheese, and donuts at 8 a.m. Sunday.
