By the NLC Team My own self, At my very best, All the time is a moving target. Our best self requires a commitment to growth and change as we...

In AYF programs we often speak about the power of enkindled spirits; how one enkindled spirit has the power to change the world by sharing their light and their gifts...

By Heather Kiley Vice President, AYF My own self, At my very best, All the time, especially when it’s hard. That’s what we practice in AYF. We acknowledge that the more...

Leadership is at the heart of Miniwanca’s programs, as outstanding role models provide guidance and inspiration for our campers and staff. This fall we conducted a nationwide search for a...

“In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” -Albert Camus Margaret “Gigs” Hoerner is long-time Miniwanca Girl. A camper for eight years,...

Dear Friends, We write with great sadness to share that Steve Schrepper, Facilities Manager at Miniwanca, passed away on Monday morning from late stage stomach cancer. All of us remember Steve...

By Scott Myers I was out for a walk with my dog and my daughter the other day when I saw a young boy, no older than 10. He was...

This is the unabridged version of the article originally published in the 2017 Founder Fire, released in November. By Samme Orwig Whether you’ve attended camp for one season or twenty,...

2018 John Sterling McCarthy passed away on Monday, March 26, 2018. Full Obituary 2017 Marlene Pierce Marlene Pierce, wife of “Daddy Don” Pierce, passed away on December 17, 2017 in...

“We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well,...

Miniwanca Magic: it’s something we talk a lot about, especially as we near the end of the summer each year. Campers comment on how amazing it is to be part...

Today is the last full day at Miniwanca. We continue to be astonished that the session is nearly over. Campers came out in full force this morning to get in...

Ride In Day at Miniwanca! Some even refer to it as “a day better than Christmas”. On this exciting day, we welcomed home our intrepid Odyssey and Voyager campers. Before...

This morning there was a beautiful start to the day as the mist burned off in the morning sunshine. Our brave Polar Bears headed down to start their day with...

What a wonderful Sunday we have had here at Miniwanca! We started off our day waking up gently to the beautiful sunrise. Sunday is the one day of the week...

Though it is only Saturday, in camp time it is already the start of a new week! Yesterday campers chose their new round of Interest Groups and they headed right...

Today was an adventurous, atypical day here at Miniwanca! Although we woke up to the Polar Bear call and jumped into Lake Michigan like usual, the rest of Adventure Day...

Though the day dawned gray and humid, it quickly cleared up into what can only be called a perfect Miniwanca day. Campers started the day with their typical hop into...

Welcome to a beautiful silver day here at Miniwanca! We all woke up to gray skies and the threat of rain, but campers took it in stride and headed down...

Welcome to the first typical day of this week! Campers rose to the early morning sunshine and an enthusiastic Polar Bear call this morning. Our Polar Bears hopped right out...

What a wonderful day we’ve had here at Miniwanca! Our 98 two week campers arrived today, bringing tons of energy and laughter to our community. It has been a fantastic...

This morning dawned gray and gloomy at Miniwanca. Thankfully, our campers were not up for a morning Polar Bear but we did have an early rising bell so our one...

It has been another wonderful day here at Miniwanca today! We rose to a bright and hot day here on the shore of Lake Michigan, and campers gleefully headed down...

We have been on a string of beautiful Miniwanca days here lately! Though the morning dawned a little gray and wet, all the rain had passed in time for the...