national leadership conference

June 29, 2023

2023 National Leadership Conference delivers powerful program

More than 150 teens gathered on the sand dunes of Miniwanca for National Leadership Conference. The American Youth Foundation’s oldest program, NLC is a transformative …

April 24, 2023

NLC volunteer staff serve humbly

The National Leadership Conference roared back to life in summer 2022 after two years of virtual and abbreviated gatherings and brought with it a fresh …

February 27, 2023

Purina Leadership Labs expand AYF reach across the country

The American Youth Foundation continues to connect with new communities across the country. Recently, nearly 50 teenagers in Iowa experienced a taste of the AYF’s …

January 18, 2023

NLC Class Challenge raises $10,000 for 2023 scholarships

National Leadership Conference classes form strong bonds during this transformative four-year program – bonds that hold tight long after their last fire circle together. In …

May 26, 2022

Advancing Toward Our Best

Thank you to all who joined us Tuesday evening at Advancing Toward Our Best! We recorded the webinar for those who weren’t able to make …

Michael Harter, Miniwanca Boys Camp Director

February 18, 2022

Staff Spotlight: Miniwanca’s Michael Harter

Michael Harter’s career has always found him at the intersection of youth empowerment and mental health, a passion he credits to his own foundational experiences …

February 18, 2022

NLC finds closer connection in 2021

by Dana Rieck National Leadership Conference participants were finally able to gather on the dunes of Miniwanca once again in 2021, albeit in a new, …

October 26, 2021

NLC welcomes new co-director team

The future of the National Leadership Conference looks bright in 2022.The American Youth Foundation is pleased to return to the full eight-day conference, welcoming first-year …

December 14, 2020

Important update about NLC 2021

Dear NLC staff, participants, and families, I hope this finds you well despite the very real challenges posed by the pandemic. If only COVID-19 were …

NLC archiveblogpost

October 28, 2020

From the Archives: National Leadership Conference

by Karen Reimer and Jan Strube The origins of the National Leadership Conference are rooted in the earliest days of the American Youth Foundation. Learn …

Lexie Hill

August 19, 2020

Enkindled Spirits: Lexie Hill

Lexie has grown up at Miniwanca Girls Camp and the National Leadership Conference, returning each summer and completing the Odyssey cycling trip from Michigan to …

July 16, 2020

NLC-Z 2020: Final Presentations

In mid-June, participants from NLC convened online for this year’s National Leadership Conference on Zoom. They engaged in programming that connected them with their community, …

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