The chorus of bird song seemed to pause momentarily as the Turn of the Road bell rang out over the Draws, Dunes, Ridges, and Trails to wake up the campers...

As our three-week voyage of discovery heads into its final few days, the community has become deeply intertwined, cabins feel like home, and everyone has accepted the dare to discover...

At Miniwanca, Quads support each other and people flourish as they dare to dream. The golden sun shined brightly above downtown Miniwanca to kick off Dreams Come True, Adventure Day!...

“Polar Bears! Polar Bears! Come on, all you Polar Bears!” traveled through the cabin bays as the lifeguards made their way down to Lake Michigan to start the morning. Brave...

After the Polar Bears went for a dip, a golden Miniwanca day began with a morning stretch that included learning the dance moves to the rekindle summer flash mob. Next,...

The Founder Family is a deeply connected community that spans far beyond the 360 acres of Miniwanca’s beachfront sand dunes, forested trails, sun-drenched ridges and moss-covered draws. This family expands...

As the morning sun peeked through the shelter of the trees, the Darers woke up in the Hollow. On the Green Acre, the Seeker age group peeled back their sleeping...

Almost one week into this three-week journey, the Camp Miniwanca community is settling into a balanced rhythm. Under the umbrella of Miniwanca magic, campers are seeking new adventures, building connections,...

LITS rang the Turn of the Road bell as an invitation to rise and gather on the beach for Evening Reflection. Cabin groups arrived donning shirts, hats and even pants...

We’re pleased to report that all Miniwanca campers and staff have tested negative for COVID-19. Thank you so much to all our camp families for adhering to our pre-camp COVID-19 protocols and...

Summer 2021 has officially begun at Miniwanca! The Media Specialist will share periodic dispatches from Girls Camp and Boys Camp here on the blog. Check back often as we share...

Summer 2021 has officially begun at Miniwanca! The Media Specialist will share periodic dispatches from Girls Camp and Boys Camp here on the blog. Check back often as we share...

As the American Youth Foundation prepares for summer 2021, the program and operations teams are eager to fill 200 seasonal staff jobs at Merrowvista and Miniwanca. AYF Senior Program Director...

In January, we announced dates and changes to our summer 2021 program offerings. Unfortunately, guidance regarding COVID-19 means we cannot offer our off-site Four Trails programs this year, since campers cannot...

Though the AYF wasn’t able to welcome campers this summer, Miniwanca and Merrowvista were still abuzz this year with the whirring of power tools and landscaping equipment. The facilities teams...

After careful assessment, the American Youth Foundation Board and staff feel we can offer safe, mission-supporting programs at Miniwanca and Merrowvista in summer 2021. It is clear that COVID-19 is...

by Liz Marshall As the pandemic rocked the country in spring 2020, American Youth Foundation alumni sought connection and community with their Founder Family despite the physical distance. They asked...

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...