This was our third year at the SaharaCares Autism Carnival and each year gets better. The SaharaCares Foundation hosts this incredible event each year that takes an army to staff. One of the event coordinators told us that they had 300+ special guest (autistic kids) this year plus their families. They were planning for 1500 - 2000 people and I wouldn't be surprised if there was more than that. What always amazes Ben and I is that this event is completely free and is staffed by an 200+ employees from Sahara. The carnival was at Wheeler Farm in Salt Lake City again this year and there were mini train rides, bounce houses, carnival games, a rock wall, sno cones, face painting, a BBQ lunch, lots of other games and prizes.
One of the best parts about this event is that the directors of the foundation know and understand the needs of families of kids on the spectrum. All of the special guests were given bright t-shirts so that the volunteers could spot them easily and watch for wanderers and runners. The volunteers wore bright yellow shirts and are stationed all around the primitter of the park so that there was a safe zone. Each year we've had a kid wander off and have been able to quickly spot a volunteer and get help finding which ever kid was missing.
It was crazy hot that day so we only went for the last hour. Ben and I were so busy watching kids that we didn't take many pictures, but did get some fun video. Thank you, thank you SaharaCares!
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