Discover your own best self

We’re a nonprofit youth development organization that engages thousands of youth year-round through community and school programs, summer camps, and leadership conferences at our beautiful properties, Merrowvista in New Hampshire and Miniwanca in Michigan.

Since 1925, we have welcomed young people from around the world to our campuses to discover the richness of our outdoor environments, the fun of interacting with a positive community, and the challenge of self-discovery.

Our communities, our nation, and our world are being changed daily by the coronavirus pandemic, and so too are the program possibilities for the AYF. We are deeply committed to offering high quality, safe programs that give campers and participants the opportunity to connect with their own best selves, to engage in meaningful friendships, and to practice making a positive difference in their communities.

Right now, we are taking time to better understand how other camps operated this summer, how academic institutions navigate this pandemic, and if an effective vaccine will be widely available by the 2021 camp season. As we gather this information, we are delaying the start of our typical enrollment period and will share our plan for the upcoming summer season in early 2021.

We invite you to stay updated and engaged with the AYF community online and on Facebook and Instagram (Merrowvista, Miniwanca). There, you’ll find more information about our plans for 2021, links to join us on Zoom for monthly Evening Reflections, and you can sign up to receive our monthly Founder Sparks email newsletter.

The current moment demands adaptation, reflection, and careful planning to bring our powerful community together again, but rest assured, we will be together again.