Community and School Programs
Founder Fire
Merrowvista
Miniwanca
National Leadership Conference
April 24, 2025
AYF programs spark purpose through intentional outcomes
For the last 100 years, American Youth Foundation programs have fostered self-discovery through a balanced approach of personal growth, community building, and interconnected program goals. Recently, AYF leadership updated its...
Inspired Impact
Miniwanca
National Leadership Conference
March 20, 2025
Inspired Impact: Amy Hughes
The lessons Amy Hughes learned during International Leadership Conference and National Leadership Conference in the mid-1990s laid the foundation for her personal and professional life today. Hughes is a medical...
AYF Centennial
Merrowvista
Miniwanca
March 19, 2025
Kick off the AYF centennial celebrations April 16
Save the date: The American Youth Foundation is kicking off its centennial festivities with a virtual gathering Wednesday, April 16! Join President and CEO Liz Marshall and other AYF leadership...
Founder Fire
Merrowvista
Miniwanca
March 19, 2025
Wayfinders and Avail campers learn through service
Summer camp often calls to mind visions of youth adventuring daringly as they hike through rugged terrain or aspiring nobly as they master sailing or kayaking in open water. However,...
Miniwanca
March 11, 2025
Meet 2025 Miniwanca Spark keynote speaker Robin Dennany
Spark, a four-day retreat designed for adults, returns to Miniwanca for its fourth year Sept. 11 to 14, 2025. Registration opens Monday, March 17. This year, Spark welcomes keynote speaker...
General Updates
Merrowvista
Miniwanca
March 1, 2025
Working at Summer Camp: More than Just a Job
Learn more about working at Miniwanca! Learn more about working at Merrowvista! At first glance, it may not be obvious how coordinating a high-energy skit or Night’s Doings correlates to...
Inspired Impact
Miniwanca
January 30, 2025
Inspired Impact: The Bell Family
Miniwanca and the four-fold way of living were fundamental to Albie Bell and Katie Maus as teenagers attending and working at camp in the ’80s and ’90s. They passed these...
AYF Centennial
Merrowvista
Miniwanca
January 30, 2025
Registration opens for AYF centennial events
The American Youth Foundation kicked off its centennial year Tuesday, Jan. 28, when it opened registration for four celebratory events taking place at Miniwanca, Merrowvista, and in St. Louis. The...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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,...
Community and School Programs
Miniwanca
May 30, 2024
United Way honors Oceana County Leadership Lab teens
Three cheers are in order for four Oceana County teens whose volunteer efforts were recently recognized by United Way of the Lakeshore in west Michigan. Aubriana Foster, Zen Jones, Sova...
Miniwanca
April 29, 2024
Staff Spotlight: Miniwanca’s Brianna Moynihan
Miniwanca Assistant Director of Camps Brianna Moynihan has attended summer camp for as long as she remembers: as a camper, then a counselor, and a director. She is passionate about...