Summer Seminars for Women

Turning to wonder

july 29 to aug. 2, 2026

Summer Seminars for Women is full for 2026. You can join the waitlist online.

Summer Seminars for Women is a five-day retreat offering a unique opportunity for women across multiple generations to come together for learning, reflection, connection, and fun through individual and group activities. The American Youth Foundation mission is the bedrock of our work, and our programs are intentionally designed to encourage participants of all ages to unleash their best.

New for 2026!

Summer Seminars for Women will explore West and East Camp, where the adventure team will offer low ropes interest groups.
More full-time Miniwanca staff will support the program
More inter-generational interaction with the Girls Camp community.
An optional add-on day Aug. 3 for an additional cost (includes meals).

Join the waitlist

This year's theme: Turning to Wonder

Imagine viewing something, someone, and ourselves through the lens of curiosity or openness over criticism or judgment. Shifting our focus to a place of interest, observation, and even awe can create a deepening of understanding, relationship-building, and self-awareness.

Our session keynotes, Amy Powell and Joy Kiefer, along with the SSW Coordinators and the Miniwanca leadership team, will provide a "safe container" that will allow for exploration, experience, connection, and practice.

We'll also turn inward, listen to and trust our own inner teacher, navigate, and share our sense of wonder with a strong community of women. Throughout SSW, we'll integrate lots of time in nature, joy-filled activity, fun, connection, and pie!

Summer 2026 Pricing

2026 Rate

$650

Optional Aug. 3 Add-On

$100

Rate includes dormitory-style lodging, all meals, and activities.

join the waitlist

2026 Speakers

Amy Powell

Author, Thought-Leader, Connector, Community Builder

Amy Powell – author of Rise Like a Woman, storyteller, and seasoned leadership coach – helps women navigate the often-confusing mazes, hierarchies, and unspoken norms of the working world and the world we live in. She's worked globally with senior leaders and currently focuses on coaching groups and individuals.

Whether you’re in a “job that pays,” volunteering, or any of the many identities women have, Amy is committed to helping you pursue what feels meaningful, energizing, and authentic. Where do we find our allies and champions? Drawing on 30 years of coaching and 15 years of leading her signature program, Women on the Rise, Amy will share reflections, practical exercises, and actionable strategies to help you move through messy or challenging situations with clarity … and to find a team or community of your own who can help you grow into what’s right for you.

This session will reflect on how humans fit into our larger natural environment by exploring the amazing similarities between us and our closest living biological relatives, primates (like apes and monkeys).

Scientists have long leaned on primate studies to broaden their understanding of human behavior and health. In some primate species, females hold the power in the group, are highly cooperative, have lasting relationships, and spend long periods of time caring for their young. Our SSW community will learn more about parallels between primates and humans to reshape and strengthen our understanding of our own experiences as women.

Jennifer will share what sparked her passion for studying primates and why her work has shifted toward collaboratively growing local conservation efforts and environmental stewardship. Just as SSW brings together women from all walks of life to create community, Jennifer owes her unlikely life path to women guides and mentors who encouraged her to pursue meaning and paths less traveled.

Jennifer also develops training and education programs for an affordable, cooperative housing nonprofit organization. She lives in Milwaukee with her family and enjoys being a mother to two fun daughters. Attending Summer Seminars for Women in 2023 was her opportunity to fulfill her childhood dream of experiencing sleepaway camp.

Joy Kiefer

Teacher, Mindfulness Practitioner, and Co-Seeker

Joy Zalis Kiefer, PhD, CPCC, is a personal, leadership, and team development coach who helps people grow with clarity, confidence, and compassion. As the founder of JZK Coaching and Leadership Development, she brings over 20 years experience in coaching, higher education, and organizational leadership to her work with individuals and groups.

Joy is trained in Internal Family Systems (Level 2) and is a certified Effortless Mindfulness facilitator, integrating both into a grounded, accessible approach to personal and professional growth. Whether supporting leaders, teams, or individuals navigating personal challenges, Joy creates spaces that foster insight, skill-building, and meaningful change. Joy subscribes to an “each one can teach one” philosophy, and her experiential session will include creating awareness-building and befriending our own inner leader.

During this session, Meredith will guide us through an interactive and introspective process called SoulCollage®. As a trained SoulCollage® Facilitator, Meredith will support our group as we create our intuitive collages using a variety of images. There are many ways we can quiet our minds, and simply be in conversation with and listen to ourselves.

Using the materials we will have available on site (as well as what participants will bring), our morning will include a fascinating mix of learning, creating, doing, sharing, and observing. Being in community while exploring our own pathways, how we travelled them, and how we honor the people who have helped light the way in our lives will culminate into a unique and illuminating creation to take home.

Questions?

Holley Young

Director of Adult Programs