The American Youth Foundation continues to carefully build back its programs to pre-pandemic levels, including our Community and School Programs at Miniwanca and Merrowvista. This year, both sites are welcoming...

The four folds are at the core of all AYF youth programming, whether camp or the many students visiting Merrowvista for community school programs. These folds are physical, mental, religious,...

During each camp session at Merrowvista, the community unites around three different campfire events. The first fire takes place at Opening Circle, where all campers introduce themselves, share their village...

Pioneers and Seekers are very busy during their two or three weeks at camp. Although some days are unique, most days stick to a solid routine to give the campers...

Seekers in Session B have recently returned from various trips across the 6oo acres of Merrowvista. The trips allow youth to step away from the regular camp schedule for a...

Last Friday, Merrowvista bid farewell to the rest of the campers in Session A. After a quick intersession for staff to get some well-deserved rest, camp welcomed the Session B...

The Four Fold tournament is underway at Merrowvista, and the competition is intense. On Wednesday morning, the teams assembled at the Activity Center to learn more about an event new...

At Merrowvista, there are two kinds of weather days: beautiful golden days (sunny) and beautiful silver days (rainy). As campers entered the last week of Session A, not even a...

A camp-wide hunt for a missing wooden hedgehog is underway at Merrowvista. Facilities Infrastructure Manager made Woody the hedgehog in the woodshop, and each morning, a staff member hides Woody...

Merrowvista has many unique evening traditions like Fire Circles, Evening Reflections, and Candlelight Sing. On nights without a special tradition, the community gathers for Night’s Doings. This year, Merrowvista introduced...

The first week of camp for Merrowvista’s Session A is wrapping up with tremendous excitement, concluding the first round of interest groups. Interest groups are a core component of summer...

Last Sunday, July 3, was one of the best days of the year at Merrowvista: Opening Day for the first session of summer camp 2022. It was all hands on...

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...

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...

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....

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...