Children’s Inn Holds Outdoor Carnival

Cyntana Thomas, 2, daughter of inn employee Dennis Thomas, marvels at bubbles as they float through the air.

Photo: P. Jennifer Forester

6-year-old Emma Sotelo of Texas shows off her butterfly face paint.

Photo: P. Jennifer Forester

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of NIAID, poses with Zilly, the Children's Inn therapy dog.

Photo: P. Jennifer Forester

Muna Albusaidi, 8, beams as she shows off the caricature of her made at the inn's summer carnival.

Photo: Sonja Luecke

The Children’s Inn at NIH recently held an old-fashioned outdoor carnival to bring joy to children and families staying at the inn. Board members, trustees and inn staff members and their families also were invited to join in the fun.

Carnival games set up in the inn’s parking lot included a duck pond, disc drop, knocking over cans, bean bag toss, bowling, a bubble machine and more. Attendees also fearlessly volunteered for the pie attack—inviting children and teens to gently smash cream pies into their faces.

Everyone had a chance to win prizes, enjoy barbecue and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. A caricature artist and face-painting rounded out the fun.

The inn’s Teen Ambassadors—high school students selected to participate in a volunteer program that emulates the activities of a board of directors—ran the carnival game stations and helped children with physical or other health challenges participate in the activities.