Six months ago, young leaders hatched some wonderful plans while participating in Miniwanca’s Michigan Middle School Leadership Initiative (MMLI). These middle schoolers were concerned about their peers’ mental health, so they decided...

Poppy Potter’s life work is rooted in American Youth Foundation programs. She started as an AYF intern in St. Louis, eventually supporting the work of the International Leadership Conference. That...

Volunteers are an invaluable part of our American Youth Foundation community, whether chaperoning campers on their way to Miniwanca or sweeping out the cabins at Merrowvista. Each year, there are...

Curious to learn more about Merrowvista? Get a firsthand look during our Open House on April 18! Registered, new, and interested camper families are welcome to tour our beautiful site,...

Ingrid Washinawatok inspired campers with her indomitable spirit during her time at Miniwanca Girls Camp in the 1970s. As an adult, Ingrid was a rising Menominee leader who championed Indigenous...

The boys are back in town – at Miniwanca, that is. The American Youth Foundation will welcome alumni back to East Camp for a special Miniwanca Boys Camp Reunion Sept. 4...

Miniwanca Younger Boys Camp alums Mark Drew and John Drew of Daniel & Henry Co. have been proud sponsors of the Donald Danforth Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament since 2002. This...

At 100 years old, the Rev. Dr. Margaret Towner’s life has spanned the existence of the American Youth Foundation. Her remarkable journey mirrors the AYF’s own century of developing courageous...

The American Youth Foundation invites you to join us once again for a virtual experience that will bring intention to your new year, called the YearCompass. Originating over a decade...

Hundreds of kids are already registered for 2026 programs at Miniwanca and Merrowvista. Your donation today will help prepare staff, strengthen program quality, and fund scholarships that open doors for...

The Miniwanca team is hitting the road this winter to share exciting plans for National Leadership Conference and summer camp 2026! Find the location closest to you and RSVP below...

Merrowvista Camp Director Madelyn Cook is hitting the road this winter to share exciting plans for summer camp 2026! Find the location closest to you and RSVP below to learn...

We’re thrilled to report that thanks to more than 250 donors, we unlocked the additional gift and soared past our previous Giving Tuesday records! This year, our goal is to...

JT Max was first introduced to the National Leadership Conference in 2007 during his first year as a member of the class Serving Through Action. After graduation in 2010, he...

As temps drop and snow blankets the mountains of New Hampshire, the Merrowvista program team swaps sandals for snowshoes and embraces the exciting opportunities a New England winter brings. Many...

Each year, the Miniwanca fire grows brighter. Growth brings opportunity, and Miniwanca is strengthening our leadership team with new roles that will serve our increasing number of campers and families...

This month, the American Youth Foundation capped its year of centennial celebrations with a day of community, joyful reunions, and Founder Hearts in St. Louis. St. Louis is at the...

The American Youth Foundation centennial celebrations continued this month as more than 150 people made the trip up the winding mountain roads to Merrowvista for Homecoming. For three days, these...

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 fourth...

Trevor Uhl and his siblings, Keegan, Katrina, and Lindsey, spent their summers roaming the mountains and valleys of Merrowvista in the late ’80s and ’90s. That time had such a...

Older Merrowvista campers have exciting new choices for summer camp 2026. In addition to the Four Trails adventure programs, Merrowvista will offer new in-camp options for middle- and high school-aged...

For decades, the Four Trails biking program was a defining part of the American Youth Foundation experience. Generations of campers discovered resilience, teamwork, and a deeper sense of self while...

Nearly 200 people returned to the sand dunes and lakeshores of Miniwanca last weekend for a joyful homecoming. The three-day event kicked off a slew of centennial celebrations taking place...

With two older sisters at Miniwanca, Bridget Gilmore impatiently waited until she could join the fun at 9 years old. She spent seven happy summers on the sand dunes as...