Blog
Back to School, Back to Fun!
The 412 Youth Zone’s annual high school event, The Back to School Carnival took place on August 12, 2026. The Youth Zone was transformed into a fun-filled festival with games in every room, tons of candy and prizes, and great food as well—including custom cotton candy creations! 20 young people came to the space, many for the first time ever, to join in on the activities. Everyone received a new backpack, water bottle, and tons of back-to-school supplies to help them feel ready to conquer the new school year.
The event culminated with a pie-throwing competition, where five lucky young people got the chance to launch loaded whipped-cream pies at Zone staff and TAY Navigators. Between the laughter, friendly competition, and plenty of whipped cream flying through the air, it was the perfect way to end the evening. As young people exited the space there was a feeling of belonging and friendship with more than one person remarking that they would be back for future events. For some, simply showing up and joining in was a step outside of their comfort zone, but by the end of the night, the excitement and connections made it clear they were glad they came.