(From left to right) Junior Nicholas Gaytan, Seniors Ian Ortiz and Austin Espiritu, Sophomore Aidan Carter, Senior Samuel Herrera, and Theater Director Rachel Gilmour are ready to move the freshly delivered bundles of hay. The technician crew started the morning strong with tough gloves and sleeves rolled, lugging hay bales across the park.

Theater’s scenic construction crew and Theatre Director Rachel Gilmour stacking a hay bale display. Actively communicating the field design desired by the Patch Staff who, shortly after, provided the volunteers with beverages. Other supplies like wooden baskets, direction signs and plank boards waiting in the field to be moved where needed.

Seniors Raina Samosorn (left), Malorey Zamora (left center), Sophomore Olivia Memelo (right center) and staff director’s son Cylus (right), resting after the first hour of volunteering. They plan for next course action under the shade, waiting for a moment of cloud cover before returning to work.

Halloween decor set up near the parking entrance greets visitors, provided by Universal City Parks Partners staff, perfect for the approaching autumn season, and upcoming festivities this late October. Similar decorations were set up around park to amplify the Patch’s spooky atmosphere, 10-foot skeletons, fake spiders, webs and rotting tombstones added the fright-facter.

VMHS’ Theater Productions boys, senior Samuel Herrera, sophomore Aidan Carter, senior Ian Ortiz, Junior Nicholas Gaytan, and senior Austin Espiritu take a moment to relax after completing two hours of service by 11 am. Close to exhaustion, the crew waits to carpool to lunch.