Miniwanca Community and School Program

Community building, leadership development, and environmental education

Each year, thousands of kids and teens discover their best selves and connect with their peers at Miniwanca Community and School Programs. We facilitate transformative youth empowerment programs for groups seeking time in nature, team building, space for a retreat, training, or professional event.

We welcome schools, youth organizations, scouting groups, athletic teams, and even adult community groups and corporate retreats to our home on the Lake Michigan sand dunes to disconnect from everyday challenges and focus on community building, leadership development, and the stunning natural world.

What makes our programs different?

Miniwanca programs offer a truly collaborative partnership. We work closely with our community and school partners to understand your learning objectives, then design an age-appropriate program that meets your goals and aligns with American Youth Foundation program outcomes.

Miniwanca staff facilitate all learning experiences and onsite activities. Partner chaperones support behavior and supervise participants after the day’s activities end and overnight.

We have several options for your school or community group's stay at Miniwanca.

Option 1

All-Inclusive Overnight Program

Includes:

Outdoor education program experience aligned with your goals

1:12 Miniwanca staff-to-participant ratio

Access to and facilitation of any activity

Onsite overnight accommodation

All meals and s’mores

When:

Year-round

Ideal for:

Groups between 12 to 150 who want a fully immersive empowerment experience

Option 2

Miniwanca to You

Includes:

One-day program experience at your school or meeting place

1 to 2 highly trained Miniwanca staff facilitating at your school

When:

Year-round

Ideal for:

School classes and youth groups up to # of people

Option 3

Facility Rental

Includes:

Full use of Four Seasons Lodge, Well Site camping area, or an entire camp facility

Dorm-style overnight lodging, cabins, or tent camping

Meal options are available, but not required

When:

Year-round

Ideal for:

Youth and adult groups or retreats up to 300 people

Option 4

Custom Program

Looking for a day program? Want to focus on a specific sport, skill, or activity? We can help!

Includes:

1:12 Miniwanca staff-to-participant ratio

Access to and facilitation of any Miniwanca activity

Onsite overnight accommodation

All meals

When:

Year-round

Ideal for:

Clubs, sports teams, other specialized groups

Request Info

Miniwanca

Available Activities

Community and school programs have access to all site activities, which are facilitated by Miniwanca staff.

Archery

Arts & Crafts

Campfire Circles

Canoeing

Civic action & service

Dune ecology

High ropes course

Hiking

Kayaking

Leadership Training

Challenge course

Mindfulness activities

Outdoor Cooking

Shelter building & habitats

Team building

Lodging

Cabins
Our rustic, three-season cabins accommodate up to 16 children and 3 adults. Cabins have screened windows and do not have electricity. Nearby bathroom facilities do have electricity and provide private, single-occupancy showers spaces, toilets, and sinks.

Four Seasons Lodge
Our fully winterized lodge accommodates up to 120 individuals in primarily dorm-style sleeping arrangements. Shared bathroom facilities provide private, single-occupancy showers and toilets. There are several communal meeting spares, a full commercial kitchen, and access to audio-visual equipment.

Well Site
Our most rustic option accommodates up to TK people who can set up their shelters on tent sites nestled in the woods overlooking Lake Michigan. Hike the nearby trails, then gather around the fire circle to cook a meal and watch the sun set over the water. Porta-Jon facilities and well water access nearby.

Food

Miniwanca serves delicious meals made from scratch for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our food program is an important part of community living, and we make time for reflection, gratitude, and celebration. Everyone shares in the preparation, service, and cleanup of the space.

With advance notice, the Food Program Team can provide vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options, as well as accommodate many dietary allergies. Miniwanca is a peanut-aware facility; we do not serve peanuts or tree nuts.

Frequently Asked Questions

At Merrowvista, we value the need to address the social issues present in a child’s daily life in order to maximize academic and social learning. Research tells us that when a child feels social anxiety, the brain’s ability to absorb new information in limited. At Merrowvista, we create a learning environment and community where young people feel a sense of belonging, safety and trust. Programs include conversations and strategies to transfer these lessons back to their school and home communities.

Merrowvista is situated within a unique ecosystem. Its volcanic mountains and lake, forests, wetlands, streams and meadows provide a rich, bio-diverse environment for students to learn about the world around them. Concepts discussed in class take on new meaning through hands-on exploration. Shared experiences such as making it to the top of a mountain, collaborating to successfully build a raft, or celebrating a discovery at the beaver dam build connections that can reshape the way students work together back at school.

We are able to accommodate certain allergies and dietary needs. Merrowvista is a peanut aware facility. We do not serve peanuts or tree nuts from our kitchen during meal service. In addition, we can provide vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free options with advance notice. We may ask families to provide certain food items for children with complex allergies or dietary needs. We are committed to making a plan that works for everyone. Please contact us if you have questions about our offerings.

We enthusiastically welcome children with diverse backgrounds, experiences and identities. We value each participant’s right to fully experience Merrowvista free from prejudice and harassment. All of our staff members are trained to supervise children and to prevent and address incidents of conflict or bullying based on any aspect of a person’s identity, including, but not limited to: race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and religious affiliation.

Questions?

Michael Harter

Director of Conferences, Community, and School Programs

Email