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Carn-Avail is one of the most anticipated events of the session, and it’s built from scratch by the campers in our Avail leadership program.

It starts long before the music and cheering. In the days leading up to Carn-Avail, Avail campers work behind the scenes to design every game, build props, plan the schedule, and transform a corner of Boys Camp into a full-blown carnival. This summer’s event featured a mix of wild creativity and classic camp charm: a water relay course that left campers and staff soaked and laughing, ropes strung between trees to create a “spider web” maze, a homemade skee-ball setup, trivia competitions, and so much more.

Each station was entirely camper-run. Avail participants planned their games with intention, thinking about what would be inclusive, challenging, and most of all, fun for the rest of camp. Then they had to lead: explaining rules clearly, managing lines, adjusting when things didn’t go as expected, and making sure every camper felt welcome and included.

Carn-Avail is fun, but at its core, it’s a leadership lab in disguise. Avail campers model maturity, navigate group dynamics, and show the kind of presence that makes younger campers feel seen and supported. It’s a tough job, and this summer, they rose to the challenge with energy, humor, and real care for their community.

What’s most impressive is that, by the time the carnival begins, it feels effortless, but behind the scenes, it’s been hours of brainstorming, building, troubleshooting, and teamwork. That quiet effort, that willingness to do the work for the sake of others’ joy, is what leadership at Miniwanca is all about.

In a camp full of meaningful moments, Carn-Avail stands out as something special because it reminds us what happens when young people are trusted to lead and supported as they bring their ideas to life.