Chapel Staff hosts free carnival

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephanie Morris
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The Chapel Carnival is scheduled for Aug. 6, 2014 from 5-8 p.m. at the Northern Plains Chapel.

Activities include a bounce castle, junior slide, bungee run, American hunter game, bull's-eye game, mini hoops game and a Big Foot race. The carnival will also have free hot dogs and hamburgers.

Many of the events mirror those offered at last year's carnival. However, this year the chapel staff feels the biggest attraction will be a new 80-foot long and 12-foot high obstacle course for adults and children.

"This is a big event," said Staff Sgt. Jason Rector, 5th Bomb Wing chaplain assistant. "Last year we had about 500 people show up and that's a conservative estimate."

Parking for the carnival is available at the chapel across the street, at Northern Plains Elementary School and in the youth center parking lot.

The chapel staff is looking for volunteers to help run carnival games, the Big Foot race, the junior slide inflatable and the bungee run.

"We need 10 or 11 volunteers to help with games but the more volunteers we get the better," said Capt. Anthony Wiggins, 5th BW chaplain.

The event took two months to plan and required the efforts of a variety of base agencies.

"The entire chapel staff has been involved in the planning process," Wiggins said. "The big thing is building resiliency by giving people a way to get out and mingle."

Events like the carnival offer an opportunity for base residents to meet new people and strengthen bonds within their own inner circle, said Wiggins. Activities that engage a variety of age groups and professions can also help to strengthen the base community, bringing residents closer together.

In addition to the carnival, the chapel staff is also planning to host seminars for married, single and divorced Airmen in the future.

"This is a way for us to show that the chapel is here for the Airmen and families on base," Wiggins said. "We want to let them know that we are there for them and are always looking for opportunities to reach out to them."