As the spooky season creeps into southwest Michigan, hundreds of Niles Scream Park volunteers are picking out their makeup and practicing their scare tactics — for a good cause, of course.

I admittedly am not one of the masses who finds being frightened to the point of shrieking an appealing way to spend a Friday night, but the Niles Scream Park is a cause I would support time and time again. When folks visit the haunted house or any of the many other attractions at the Scream Park, they are supporting countless other organizations within Niles and the surrounding communities.

The Scream Park is renowned for its elaborate attractions, which change every year in order to continue surprising guests year after year. Organizers continue to increase the fear level attracting courageous thrill seekers of all kinds, as is evident with the park’s newest attractions, which permit adults only. People travel from all over the country to visit the amusement park, which wins national awards each year.

Perhaps even more impressive, though, is the fact that this wonderful organization has given more than $1.7 million to local charities in the last 18 years. Volunteers with the Niles Scream Park are paid an hourly rate for their service, which is paid directly to the nonprofit of their choice. Organizations benefiting from the club range from local service organizations to high school sports teams. Students from Brandywine, Buchanan and Niles are awarded scholarships each year from proceeds raised at the park as well.

In addition to the financial contributions made annually, hundreds of young people have received practical experience in acting, makeup artistry, costume design, information technology, organizational communication and countless other fields.

The Niles Scream Park is a complex operation with several amenities and attractions that draws thousands each weekend throughout the season, which makes the fact that the park is almost completely run by volunteers even more impressive.

The park opened last Friday, and will be open from 8 to 11 p.m. the next two weekends; 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through October; and 7 to 10 p.m. Sundays through October. The park, located at 855 Mayflower Road in Niles, will host a black out from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 4.

Prices range depending on which attraction participants choose to attend.   

Whether or not you consider yourself a thrill seeker, I would encourage everyone to support the Niles Haunted House Scream Park as a volunteer, visitor or sponsor. To learn more, visit haunted.org.

Ambrosia Neldon is the general manager at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7700, or by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com.