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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 Robin Dennany. She will share the concept of “The Hero’s Journey,” a powerful idea explored by author and teacher Joseph Campbell. The concept posits that all stories are iterations of a single, timeless myth. During this session, she will guide us through how understanding our own personal journey can help us connect with ourselves and others and build stronger communities. Robin will facilitate our exploration individually and with our collective Spark community.

Robin’s journey with the American Youth Foundation began in 2010 as a Voyageur leader, guiding groups of teenagers on transformative 21-day wilderness kayaking trips. From the beginning, she was inspired by the AYF principles of best self, four-fold living, and building positive community, leading her to become a full-time Community and Schools Program Coordinator later that same year.

As a mother of two daughters, Robin’s family is embedded in the AYF community, and she returns to the dunes at any opportunity. Her eldest daughter will attend her second summer at Miniwanca in 2025, and both eagerly count down the days to Volunteer Weekend each year. Robin believes Miniwanca feels more like home than anywhere else, a place where the bonds of community are nurtured, and a place that has shaped her life.

Currently, Robin serves as the Aquatics Director for the Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore, where she trains the next generation of lifeguards, water safety instructors, first aid responders, and babysitters. Despite identifying as an introvert, Robin finds purpose and grounding in facilitating groups and practicing servant leadership. She is also an active board member and semiannual pulpit speaker at Harbor Unitarian Universalist Congregation, where she continues to lead and serve with humility.

Over the years, Robin has honed her leadership skills, facilitating a wide range of groups and leading quests for the National Leadership Conference. She has also been a passionate participant in Spark since its inception, which has been a vital source of personal rejuvenation. It is fitting that she is returning to Spark in a capacity of sharing her knowledge and “giving back” to this beloved community! In her spare time, Robin is a passionate multimedia artist and gardener. She enjoys blending creativity with nature and finds peace and inspiration in her art and the natural world.