This Thanksgiving will be unlike any in recent memory. Instead of gathering, we’re asked to stay home for the collective good. Instead of packing the car or boarding our flights,...

Wow, Founder Friends! Thank you for making yesterday our most successful #GivingTuesday ever! Your contributions raised more than $20,000 in scholarship support for participants at Merrowvista, Miniwanca, National Leadership Conference,...

Fall at Merrowvista is a magical time not many get to experience. Enjoy these beautiful snapshots of camp in all its autumnal glory, and share your favorite photos of camp...

More than 50 enkindled spirits gathered for an evening of celebration and connection during Be the Spark!, the American Youth Foundation’s first virtual fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 25. The event...

by Karen Reimer and Jan Strube The origins of the National Leadership Conference are rooted in the earliest days of the American Youth Foundation. Learn about the evolution of this...

We know you miss camp as much as we do. That’s why we’re bringing camp into your homes via Zoom each month with Evening Reflections! Evening Reflections takes place the...

“What starts as an individual dream can indeed build a mighty current, which will sweep the world. So hold fast to your dreams. Work hard and make them your own....

While we cannot host our Girls Camp Reunion at Miniwanca this summer, we hope you will join us for a free Virtual Labor Day Girls Camp Reunion September 3-6 for...

Willky’s AYF journey began at Merrowvista when was a 9th grader at Codman Academy. In the first days of forming their new school community, Codman students came to Merrowvista as...

The American Youth Foundation is always eager to hear about our program participants and alumni making positive change in their communities. Do you know a camper or alum who is...

The American Youth Foundation continues to adapt its programs to online platforms. After the success of Invincible Summer, the Summer Seminars for Women community also gathered on Zoom and Canvas...

Lexie has grown up at Miniwanca Girls Camp and the National Leadership Conference, returning each summer and completing the Odyssey cycling trip from Michigan to New Hampshire. She has been...

Dear AYF Community, Author Anne Lamott says there are essentially three prayers that get us through tough times: Help, Thanks, and Wow. This summer has been full of such moments...

AYF campers across the country have spent the last two weeks building forts, logging miles on their virtual Four Trails treks, and teaching their families the sudsy fun of Arlos and Dishland.    Invincible Summer, the AYF’s free online summer programming, has united the Merrowvista and Miniwanca campers under one...

In mid-June, participants from NLC convened online for this year’s National Leadership Conference on Zoom. They engaged in programming that connected them with their community, developed leadership skills, and discussed...

For almost 100 years, the American Youth Foundation has built and relied upon a community of life-giving partners to ensure the growth and success of our year-round programs at both...

The American Youth Foundation’s longstanding partner, Kids4Peace Boston, is offering a free online training for preteens and teenagers who want to learn more about anti-racism work and how they can enact these practices in their lives. This...

Coordinator Kal Bowers is back with another chapter of their of their original story, Wash Your Hands, Send Your Letters. This week, he checks in with the Beavers and Porcupines...