|
2008Spirits run high during annual trekWhen 20 Imaginasium employees boarded the “Festi-Bus” on the morning of August 7, not even the three event organizers knew how spooky things were going to get.
Sure, the 9th annual “Festivus for the rest of us” included stops at historical monuments and natural landmarks—sites that regularly attract all kinds of spirits—yet the group seemed a magnet for more than its fair share of oddities throughout the day. The weirdness began during the first stop of the trip, an educational experience at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc where the USS Cobia submarine is docked. The only seaman to have died aboard the ship during its World War II battles supposedly still haunts the vessel, although “Ralph” didn’t make his presence known this day.
After a quick stop at the site of the 1962 Sputnik crash, it was off to lunch at the historic Courthouse Pub, where the spookiness took a brief respite, unless you count these two (Art Director Jon Stubb and Project Coordinator Jenny Jensky).
Back on the bus for a 30-minute jaunt, during which gremlins plagued the DVD player, yet spirits remained high. Next stop was Chilton’s Ledge View Nature Center, where the group wasted no time getting dirty exploring incredible caves while getting caked with mud and bloodied by the rough cave floor.
The tour of the caves included several “belly crawls” with tight squeezes (The Challenge, The Squeeze, and The Whale’s Throat), for those who dared. Light in the caves was nonexistent without flashlights, but the cool temperature was a welcome break from the summer heat (and the voracious bugs attacking above). The group’s excellent guide—and apparently part-time comedian—explained that the caves are a work-in-progress with excavations (removing loose soil) regularly taking place.
After a quick change of clothes (for those who required it after the spelunking), the gang was fired up for another adventure. Fond Du Lac is home to the 1856 Octagon House, a national landmark built as an Indian fort and later used as a safe house for the Underground Railroad. The owners and tour guides are gentle souls who saved the historic house from razing in the ’60s and fully believe in its connection to the “other side.” And, who were we to argue? With hundreds of dolls, nine secret passageways, and messages from runaway slaves still appearing on the walls of hidden rooms, this place was dang creepy.
The final stop of Festivus was a leisurely boat ride on Lake Winnebago aboard, coincidentally enough, The Lakeside Spirit. The day’s connection to the spooky was complete. And another Festivus was finished. It’s up for debate if any poltergeists decided to tag along and take up residence at Imaginasium. Some say odd noises have been heard recently. But, others explain that away as Copywriter Drew Williams’ intestinal reaction to his latest homemade stew.
—————————————————————- Festivus, typically organized and kept secret by three Imaginasium staff members (the crew for 2008 was Joe Bergner, Marla Maney, and Eric Severstad), is an annual team development experience that lets associates build camaraderie outside the typical work setting. Past excursions have included visits to Wisconsin Dells, Milwaukee, Door County and even Upper Michigan, with activities ranging from whitewater rafting and plane rides to cycling, canoeing, and horseback riding. |
