Blog
Find out what's happening at AYF and our camps. You can also view blog posts for summer camp by using the links below:
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May 23, 2022
Golf Tournament raises more than $100,000 for AYF scholarships
The 20th Donald Danforth Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament took place in St. Louis on May 9, raising $108,000 for scholarship funds to support youth attending …
May 20, 2022
Staff Spotlight: Carrie Hargreaves Smith
For as long as she can remember, Carrie Hargreaves Smith was interested in a health care career. She loved math, science, and learning about all …
May 17, 2022
Enkindled Spirits: Grace Blinkhoff
Upon joining City Year AmeriCorps, each member is presented with a red jacket, which they dedicate to a person, idea, or cause that inspires them …
April 28, 2022
AYF staff complete LEAD Camp Mental Health training
More than a dozen members of the American Youth Foundation staff recently completed Camp Mental Health Certification offered by Let’s Empower, Advocate, and Do. LEAD …
April 27, 2022
Miniwanca to rebuild deteriorating Assembly
After years of leaning and disuse, the beloved Assembly at Miniwanca will see new life in 2023. Visitors to Girls Camp last year saw the …
April 27, 2022
Staff Spotlight: Miniwanca’s Emily Knuth
One of Emily Jones Knuth’s fondest camp memories is serving as Quad Leader in eighth grade and again as a high school senior. She relished …
April 22, 2022
Meet AYF board chair DD Danforth-Burlin
The American Youth Foundation has played a pivotal role in DD Danforth-Burlin’s life. The four-fold way of living has steered her through her youth as …
March 31, 2022
Join the Merrowvista seasonal staff Recruitment Challenge
Merrowvista Seasonal Staff are our best recruiters, so let’s see what we can do together! It’s time to engage your friendly, competitive spirit and win …
March 25, 2022
Staff Spotlight: Merrowvista’s Jamie O’Hagin
Jamie O’Hagin knows what it’s like to be the nervous new kid at camp. A bully tarnished her only prior camp experience, and she was …
March 25, 2022
AYF takes action steps toward DEI goals
The American Youth Foundation is committed to building equitable program communities and empowering youth to create equity in their own communities. Director of Community Life, …
March 22, 2022
Enkindled Spirits: Robert Pike
by Dana Rieck High school physics teacher Robert Pike works hard to learn his students’ names within the first three days of each semester, so …
February 23, 2022
Merrowvista Wayfinders leave a legacy at North Star Shelter
Summer 2021 was filled with joys and challenges as the American Youth Foundation found new ways to welcome campers back to Miniwanca and Merrowvista in …