February 20, 2024

The National Leadership Conference community is a prime example of serving humbly. Each summer, dozens of dedicated volunteers staff the American Youth Foundation’s longest running …

January 24, 2024

If you’ve ever attended National Leadership Conference, you’ve likely met the Mayor of Miniwanca, Todd Bundy. The NLC community bestowed this honorary title on him …

April 24, 2023

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

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

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 …

June 29, 2022

The National Leadership Conference roared back to life this summer after two years of virtual and abbreviated gatherings. NLC Co-Director Erin O’Brien said it was …

March 22, 2022

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 18, 2022

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

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

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 …