Community and School Programs
Merrowvista
November 26, 2024
Merrowvista internship program leaves lasting impact
Merrowvista Community and School Programs provide growth opportunities to thousands of kids and teens, but there’s another key group that benefits, too. The dedicated internship cohorts who develop and run...
Community and School Programs
Miniwanca
November 26, 2024
Young leaders unite at Michigan Middle School Leadership Initiative at Miniwanca
About 40 students recently gathered for the Michigan Middle School Leadership Initiative, a youth empowerment program at Miniwanca. In four days, they built a community and discussed how to create...
Miniwanca
September 27, 2024
Spark 2024 enkindles joy at Miniwanca
More than 60 people descended on Miniwanca for four days in September to pursue their personal bests during Spark, the American Youth Foundation’s retreat for adults. This is the third...
Miniwanca
September 26, 2024
Staff Spotlight: Miniwanca’s Sydney Freeman
Sydney Freeman is often the first person people meet when they arrive at Miniwanca and the first voice they hear on the phone. As Office Manager, Freeman knows her role...
Community and School Programs
September 26, 2024
AYF Community and School Programs welcome thousands in 2024
Around 2,000 kids and teens will experience the power of American Youth Foundation programs this fall through the organization’s Community and School Programs at Miniwanca and Merrowvista. CSP welcome participants...
Miniwanca
August 29, 2024
Dare to Adventure brings new faces to Miniwanca
Chicago-area youth got a chance to experience summer camp for the first time this month at Dare to Adventure, a four-day outdoor educational experience at Miniwanca. This is the second...
Staff Spotlight
August 29, 2024
Staff Spotlight: Advancement’s Nick Tamboli
After several years working at other nonprofits, Nick Tamboli wanted a job that combined his love of the outdoors with his passion for helping youth discover their best. He joined...
Merrowvista
August 29, 2024
First Merrowvista Spark enkindles a new community
Merrowvista welcomed 20 eager participants to its first Spark, a three-day retreat for adults, Aug. 23 to 25. AYF Director of Adult Programs Holley Young said it was a joy...
Miniwanca
August 6, 2024
Bringing Miniwanca magic to the ‘real world’
Girls Camp Director Bethany Wise is back with another dispatch from Miniwanca! If I had a nickel for every time I heard someone refer to “the real world” at camp,...
Merrowvista
July 23, 2024
Merrowvista wraps Session A with Four Fold Tournament
As we wrapped up Session A last week, we reflected on all our Trailblazers and Pioneers have accomplished. I loved seeing all these wild and fun campers have achieved. They...
Miniwanca
July 19, 2024
Session A wraps up at Miniwanca
Assistant Camp Director Brianna Moynihan recaps the last week of interest groups during Session A. I cannot believe it’s last week of Session A for Camp Miniwanca Summer 2024! We...
Merrowvista
July 18, 2024
Merrowvista campers embrace life on trail
As we approach the end of session A, every cabin group (called Villages at camp) has taken some sort of outdoor adventure trip. Whether it was an overnight at the...
Merrowvista
July 18, 2024
Merrowvista bids farewell to Session A
Camp Director Katsu Okuma is back with another dispatch from Merrowvista as camp prepares to say goodbye to Session A and welcome Session B campers....
Merrowvista
July 9, 2024
Welcoming summer at the Merrowvista waterfront
Hello everyone! My name is Audrey, and I am the waterfront coordinator this summer at Merrowvista. This past week, the waterfront has become a focal point of camp activities, and...
General Updates
July 5, 2024
Dispatch from the Merrowvista Director – Day 3!
Camp Director Katsu Okuma is back with another dispatch from Merrowvista! Our first week has been filled with sunshine, new friends, community, and sunscreen. We can’t believe it’s already day...
Girls Camp
Miniwanca
July 5, 2024
Girls Camp celebrates Miniwanca Magic
Girls Camp Director Bethany Wise recaps the Fourth of July festivities this year. Camp Miniwanca 2024 is off to a flying start! We welcomed over 100 campers for our first...
Boys Camp
Girls Camp
Miniwanca
July 5, 2024
Summer Camp 2024 arrives at Miniwanca
Four Trails Manager Regan Gibson Wiesler recaps the first week of summer 2024 at Miniwanca. The first week of camp has been an incredible journey filled with excitement, new friendships,...
Merrowvista
July 2, 2024
Summer 2024 kicks off in Canaan Valley
Summer camp 2024 has officially begun at Merrowvista! Our first campers arrived on Sunday, and we’re already making new friends and building community in the Canaan Valley....