I have always loved spooky books. There is something fun about being scared—especially when you know you are safe and can enjoy the suspense, mystery, and occasional jump along the way. Some of my favorite spooky stories are the ones shared around a campfire, where even the smallest sound can suddenly feel a little suspicious. Memories of Summer and its scares often come back when I think of those evenings.
That love of spooky stories inspired Summer Scares: Creepy Campfire Stories, a program I recently offered for children in grades 2–3. My goal was to recreate the feeling of sitting around a campfire telling scary stories—just without the actual campfire!
Setting the Scene
Atmosphere was an important part of the program. I dimmed the lights and used a battery-operated campfire, battery-operated candles, flashlights, and nighttime forest sounds to transform the room into our own indoor campsite. This set the perfect mood for Summer Scares in our library space.
As children arrived, they gathered around the “campfire” and received a deconstructed s’more with graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. While they ate, we talked about camping, spooky creatures, and whether they would rather encounter Bigfoot or a ghost.
It was a simple way to get everyone comfortable and excited before we started reading. Everyone was eager for those classic Summer-inspired scares.
Stories Around the Campfire
Throughout the hour, I alternated between short scary stories and activities. This helped keep the program moving and worked especially well for second- and third-grade attention spans. Our afternoon of scary stories was truly a Summer Scares highlight for all involved.
Our spooky selections included stories from Mister Shivers: Beneath the Bed and Other Scary Stories by Max Brallier, A Walk in the Dark and Other Scary Stories by Max Brallier, and In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories retold by Alvin Schwartz.
After each story, we talked briefly about what made it creepy. I asked questions such as, “Did you predict the ending?” and “What do you think happened next?” These conversations gave the children a chance to react to the scares and share their own ideas. The stories perfectly captured the spirit of Summer with just enough scares mixed in.
More Than Just Stories
Between stories, we played several campfire-themed games. These games brought Summer fun and a few surprises, much like the scares we love in spooky stories.
Campfire Charades had children acting out everything from roasting marshmallows and pitching a tent to spotting Bigfoot and seeing mysterious glowing eyes.
For our Campfire Story Circle, we passed a flashlight around the circle. I started the story with:
“One warm summer night, a group of campers heard a strange sound coming from the woods…” – an opening perfect for Summer Scares of our own making.
Each child holding the flashlight added one sentence before passing it along. As you might expect, our story quickly became a mixture of creepy, funny, and completely unexpected ideas!
We also tried a Campfire Survival Challenge. Children had to choose only five items from a collection of camping supplies and explain why those were the most important things to bring. Flashlights, blankets, water, first aid supplies—and, of course, marshmallows—all had to compete for a spot.
“Would You Rather?” questions were another easy way to keep everyone participating. Would you rather sleep in a tent or a treehouse? Hear mysterious footsteps or laughter? Meet Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster? The questions sparked plenty of discussion and made great transitions between activities, adding to our Summer’s playful scares.
We finished with a spooky forest craft using paint, branches, and googly eyes. Wrapping up our Summer afternoon with this craft perfectly balanced the scary and the fun—just what Summer Scares is all about.
A Little Scare Can Be a Lot of Fun
What I enjoyed most about Summer Scares was seeing how naturally books and play came together. The children weren’t simply listening to spooky stories. They were acting them out, creating their own, talking about them, and becoming part of the atmosphere.
There is also something special about the tradition of gathering together for a scary story. Whether it is around a real campfire or a battery-operated one in a library program room, sharing that little feeling of nervous anticipation is part of the fun and precisely what makes Summer Scares so memorable.
For librarians interested in trying a similar program, it doesn’t require an elaborate setup. Dim the lights, add a few flashlights and some campfire sounds, choose several age-appropriate spooky stories, and give children opportunities to participate between readings. With a little creativity, you can host Summer’s best scares and inspire young readers.
For one summer afternoon, our library became a campsite—and we discovered that sometimes getting just a little scared together through the magic of Summer Scares can make for a very fun library program.
Jessica Brownley (she/her/hers) is a Youth Services Librarian at the Bartlett Public Library District in Bartlett, Illinois. She is dedicated to developing creative and immersive programs that spark curiosity and joy among children.
All photos by Jessica Brownley, ALSC member
The post Summer Scares: Bringing Campfire Stories Indoors appeared first on ALSC Blog.
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