Share Your AYF Story

The one thing I would tell a future camper about camp is that just like you should really come because it's a place for growth and it's really fun. You can come here and grow physically and mentally in all the four folds.

I believe the physical space—the sand dunes, the water, and the surrounding nature—is absolutely what camp is about. To me, that’s Miniwanca. Nature is an essential component of it, along with the feelings and the energy we bring to this place and the energy that has been felt here for so long. I’m sure everyone says this, but Miniwanca has undoubtedly been the most influential thing in my life. It’s what helped me realize that I could make it and that I could do it.

“The most important thing I learned at camp was the beauty and the challenge of trying to be your own self, at your very best, all the time. They seem like wonderful words when I first heard them. And it took a number of years at camp to actually understand what that meant.”

“The most important lesson that I’ve learned at camp is that it’s ok to take things slow and enjoy the nature, and just take what comes your way and make the best situation out of it as possible.”

“The most important thing I learned at camp was how to step outside my comfort zone. To be bold, and try new things. And to really, whole-heartedly be my true self. You get accepted for that here. You get celebrated for that here...It is really empowering and really inspires you to live your best life here, and back at home.”

“All five of my kids attended camp here and five of my grandchildren, and I think we will have two more next year. Everything they gained from camp, and I felt I gained, was the friendships, of course, the experiences, the confidence in trying new things, learning new things, learning how to set goals, and learning how to work for something you believe in.”

“The most important thing I learned at camp was definitely to take time to my day, to pause and check in with myself. Reflection is a very big thing that we do here. … I take time to reflect on where I’m at as a way to personally grow and to make sure my actions are for the betterment of myself.”

“The day I picked my daughter up from camp last year … was the best day in the entire year. … We drove all the way from camp to our home in Long Island, and it took us almost 10 hours. And the whole way, my daughter is just talking, talking, talking, filling me in on everything that she did at camp. The things she wanted to share was not how much fun she had, but all the challenges that she overcame and the growth that she experienced.”