Giving Back

The American Youth Foundation is committed to offering our camp and community programs to all open to the experience of discovering their strengths and using their capacities for good.

As a nonprofit foundation fueled by generous donations from our alumni and families, the AYF offsets the price of every program for every participant. Tuition revenue does not cover the true cost of our programs, which is approximately $2,200 per participant per week, or $315 per day. The foundation pays almost one-third of each participant’s cost, bringing the tuition down for all. AYF also offers generous full scholarships and need-based financial aid to families who are unable to meet the full cost of tuition.

This commitment to making AYF programs accessible runs deep in the history of Miniwanca and Merrowvista. From the early days of the conference programs, participants received scholarships and then were encouraged to “pay it forward” and give to others for the experience they received.

If you are interested in an AYF camp, conference, or community program, do not be discouraged by the prices listed for tuition. We encourage all prospective camper families to register and complete the Scholarship and Financial Aid application to apply for discounted tuition. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so please apply early.

For those who have experienced an AYF program and feel grateful for its lifelong impact, we invite you to help us make the experience available to the next generation. Please consider a tax-deductible contribution to the foundation to help support these empowering programs and dynamic communities. Click here to donate now.

When we come together to support this work, we’re able to open the AYF experience to more and more young people, and we live up to the call of being the American Youth Foundation, where all are welcome to the challenge of living at their best.