With a glistening silver sky above, Friday at Girls Camp was a day that went beyond the ordinary. Today was Dreams Come True, which provided campers the chance to try...

The American Youth Foundation’s motto, “My own self, at my very best, all the time,” was the first thing each camper upon arrival at Miniwanca one week ago. Each day...

Miniwanca was filled with laughter as the campers headed into another typical day. Campers spent their morning with friends in various interest groups, sporting newly painted nails from the Wanca...

The day at Girls Camp began like any other typical Miniwanca day with a morning Polar Bear dip before breakfast followed by cabin CORE (Connect, Orient, Reflect, Empower) sessions. The...

With the first two full days of camp complete, campers are learning the routines of life at Miniwanca. The daily theme for these fun days were “wonder” and “intention,” two...

The entire Merrowvista 2022 staff is working diligently with only three days until campers arrive for Session A. Last week, the staff spent the week honing their skills in various...

Bryant Field at Boys Camp had its first action-packed morning of the summer on Monday, June 27. Campers joined together to raise flags, participate in morning stretches, and prepare the...

Ten members of the Mulcahy Fellowship gathered on the dunes of Miniwanca for their first retreat this month. The Mulcahy Fellowship is an initiative to intentionally honor, support, and uplift...

The air was buzzing with excitement for Opening Day as staff welcomed campers back to Miniwanca. Beginning at noon and lasting just past 5 p.m., campers arrived on site with...

The National Leadership Conference roared back to life this summer after two years of virtual and abbreviated gatherings. NLC Co-Director Erin O’Brien said it was emotional to reconnect with youth...

The sun is shining, Lake Michigan is roaring, and staff are smiling as summer 2022 staff training is almost finished. With just one day left until Session A campers arrive,...

Staff are hard at work preparing the site for campers’ arrival to Merrowvista in less than two weeks. From installing docks in Dan Hole Pond to setting up new little...

Thank you to all who joined us Tuesday evening at Advancing Toward Our Best! We recorded the webinar for those who weren’t able to make it. We hope it provides...

Volunteers recently gathered in the crisp spring air at Miniwanca and Merrowvista to roll up their sleeves and prepare the sites for summer 2022. At Miniwanca, Director of Operations Griffin...

The 20th Donald Danforth Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament took place in St. Louis on May 9, raising $108,000 for scholarship funds to support youth attending American Youth Foundation programs. The...

For as long as she can remember, Carrie Hargreaves Smith was interested in a health care career. She loved math, science, and learning about all the human body’s intricate processes....

Upon joining City Year AmeriCorps, each member is presented with a red jacket, which they dedicate to a person, idea, or cause that inspires them to serve. Most people dedicate...

More than a dozen members of the American Youth Foundation staff recently completed Camp Mental Health Certification offered by Let’s Empower, Advocate, and Do. LEAD is a nonprofit dedicated to...