Fall to spring programs are established at Miniwanca and Merrowvista, bringing schools to site for programming.
1988
The Summer Seminars for Women and Mothers Camp programs begin at Miniwanca. Mothers Camp lasts five years; however, Summer Seminars for Women continues, becoming the longest-standing adult program offered by the AYF, inviting large-scale alumni engagement.
1987: A new Founder medal
The Founder medal design was changed to better represent the AYF’s commitment to inclusion through multifaith programming. The profile of Jesus was changed to the Founder Fire to signify the four fires of courage, beauty, love, and truth, and the importance of four-fold, balanced living. The AYF welcomes the first school programs to Miniwanca and Merrowvista and purchases a building …
1986
The American Youth Foundation changed the length of the younger camp sessions at both camps to provide more options to families, including choices for two-, three-, and five-week programs.
1985: A New Strategic Plan
Robert “Bob” McArthur is named the eighth Executive Director of the American Youth Foundation. Under McArthur’s leadership, the AYF embarks on a two-year strategic plan to address declining enrollment and stave off threat of closure. This plan prioritized fiscal responsibility, community partnerships, initiatives to increase diversity and inclusion, expanding the religious origins of the camp to include other faith traditions …
1984
Camp conference programs (now NLC) return to Merrowvista for the first time since WWII.
1982
Miniwanca saw the first coed National Leadershiop Conference class, Mama-Wissan (“Many join as one”) with 453 first-year participants. At Merrowvista, Labrador Canoe Adventure Odyssey program begins at Merrowvista.
1980
Kenneth Bryant is named the seventh Executive Director of the AYF, serving until 1985. Due to budgetary reasons, the AYF decides to close Miniwanca Younger Boys camp programs for one year, allocating resources to Merrowvista.
1979
The Voyageur biking trip around Nova Scotia begins for Merrowvista boys in the Four Trails program.
1978
Older Boys and Older Girls camp programs are officially renamed the National Leadership Conference. Miniwanca dedicates the Marie Shaver Center to celebrate Horace’s service to the AYF. The center is still used today for leadership classes during NLC, and as a space to host music Interest Groups.
1975: Experiential Leadership
Dick Phillips is named the sixth Executive Director of the AYF and serves until 1980. Phillips was focused on expanding the experiences offered for leadership instruction at the Older Boys and Older Girls programs. He initiated the Community Forums, bringing in guest speakers to the Council Circle to open and close the conferences, viewing these two keynotes as a convocation …
1970
Joseph Getlin is named the fifth Executive Director and serves until 1975. The Board appoints a long-range planning committee. At Merrowvista, the Four Trails program, the first co-ed AYF program, begins. At Miniwanca, the Jekyll Dormitory is built for additional staff housing.
1969: The origins of Four Trails
Merrowvista creates the AYF’s first Outpost Program, the predecessor to today’s Four Trails program. The first offsite Outpost experience brought campers to Vermont, where they spent three weeks wilderness camping. Younger campers experienced “sleep outs” at the Outpost Campsite on Dan Hole Pond. Outpost was later developed at Miniwanca, following Merrowvista’s model to better engage the participants of the Younger …
1968
Merrowvista dedicates the Dave Green trail in honor of his service to the camp community during and after the camp’s closure due to WWII. Miniwanca builds the Donald Danforth Leadership Center at West Camp and hosts its first Alumni and Family Camp.
1967
Miniwanca builds Orwig Chapel for the Younger Boys program.
1966
Merrowvista builds Holbrook Chapel in memory of former Merrowvista camper Perry Holbrook.
1965
Miniwanca builds the Woods Dormitory to provide housing for the growing number of seasonal staff on site.
1963
William P. Oliver Jr. is named the fourth Executive Director of the AYF and serves until 1970.
