Share Your AYF Story

"Every time I go into a new situation, I'm not sure if I'm going to be capable of what I'm about to do, I remind myself of all the times at Miniwanca where I thought, 'Can I really do this?' And then I did."

"People should support the AYF, because it's just a great mission. It’s all about finding yourself, and practicing a balanced life through the Four Folds. It's just a fantastic way to live."

"Camp has taught me not to take things for granted. I’ve met people from different backgrounds, and that has made me appreciate both the things I have and the responsibilities I carry even more."

"I realized that kids don’t have their phones at camp, and it was amazing to see them playing and collaborating with each other. They just knew what they wanted to do — whether it was going to the crafts house or playing nine square. They all instinctively knew how to have fun and connect without their phones."

"I saw lots of smiling faces, and just like how beautiful the beach was. We were following Griffin in her golf cart. She started talking about how much she loves it here, and how this place is full of love. I just couldn't get enough of it."

"Miniwanca is magical in pushing us outside of our comfort zones. When we are pushed beyond our comfort zones and do uncomfortable things, that’s when we learn and grow."

"I’ll always think about my time at camp, because I’ll remember being a part of it—going to the dinners, the breakfasts, and the lunches, and remembering all the people I met. I just really enjoyed my time there. I loved the paddling, craft medley, my cabinmates, evening reflection, the songs, the dances — basically everything."

"Our daughter’s been coming here since second grade. And every year when she comes here she comes back a little bit different. You can really see the change in her. I think self-confidence is one of the biggest changes. Her level of empathy is just unmatched at this point."

"My biggest lesson that I learned from camp was empathy. The ability to hear another person’s story, and not judge it from my own personal point of view. To try and live in their shoes for a little bit."

"I'd say the biggest lesson that I learned here at Miniwanca is that I have the ability to withstand challenging circumstances. I can get through it and even succeed after it."

"I'll never forget my camp counselor, Kristen. She did an amazing job of connecting all of us as a cabin group and making everything so fun. On our last day, we had some kind of special picnic dinner together, and she took us out to the dunes. She even had us take our bed sheets and do these really cool, artistic photos, which she later sent to us. So, months later, we'd open our mail and find these amazing pictures. I had never felt so special and included. I'll never forget that – it was such an awesome experience."

"I will always remember one of the last nights on my Voyager trip. I was feeling down on some things with most of the trip behind me. I ended up having a long conversation on the banks of the Mississippi River. Under the stars with a couple of my close friends on that trip. The conversation changed my perspective on so many different things in my life."

"The most important lesson I learned here was how to be confident and how to be my best self. It helped me grow into who I am and feel comfortable in my own skin, especially when I was a Quad leader as a kid. As an Avail camper and in the Four Trails program, I learned how to lead both at camp and in life."

"We’ve gained so much from being part of the AYF community. I would encourage future campers to step out of their comfort zones and try something new. They’ll likely enjoy it, learn more about themselves, and discover ways to grow as individuals."

"What I take away from Miniwanca, or what I enjoyed most about it, is that it's where I learned self-confidence, independence, and self-reliance."

"The AYF will continue to be a part of our family's story because we came across it in the most random of ways. I had gotten a book from Goodwill called 'I Dare You.' We took a shot in the dark. We had never been to the camp or seen anything about it, and our oldest flew out. She came to the camp and said, 'It was the most amazing experience.'"

"Miniwanca prepared me by pressing me into some leadership positions and providing mentors, some of them for the rest of my life."