Seth Johnson
Prior to joining us at Miniwanca, Seth started his culinary career in Columbus, Ohio in 2003. He has worked in restaurants and most recently as the Executive Chef of Muskegon Public Schools. In his free time, Seth likes gardening, home improvement projects, and cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes and Detroit Lions!
Ceanna Fried
Ceanna first came to Merrowvista is 1999 and fell in love! After completing her camper journey, she joined the summer camp staff and then the internship cohort for community and school programs. She loves that the AYF inspires all campers to strive to be their own best selves and creates a space for participants to explore the world around them. …
Matt Loper
Matt Loper is a dedicated leader in youth development, outdoor education, and nonprofit management with a deep-rooted connection to the American Youth Foundation spanning over 15 years. His journey with AYF has taken him from community and school program leadership to operations management and program innovation, serving in a variety of roles at both Merrowvista and Miniwanca. After receiving a …
Presli Schumacker
Presli has loved Miniwanca since 2011, when she spent her first summer on the dunes as a “staff kid.” She has returned nearly every summer since as a camper, National Leadership Conference participant, cabin leader, Four Trails leader, summer camp coordinator, and school program facilitator. She believes the real magic of Miniwanca is the impact of being part of a …
Beth Dunn
Beth (Walker) Dunn (she/her) attended Miniwanca in the ’90s. At 13, she nervously embarked on her first Four Trails trip. With her amazing cohort, she returned summer after summer to canoe, backpack and bike around the Great Lakes and Canadian wilderness. Her most epic journey was in 1997 when AYF partnered with Outward Bound to run Voyageur, resulting in a …
Madelyn Cook
Madelyn Cook is an enthusiastic teacher, researcher, and builder of positive community with experience teaching at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate level. Madelyn holds a bachelor in chemistry and environmental studies from Kenyon College and a doctor of philosophy in earth and environmental sciences from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Though Madelyn is a recent addition to the …
Holley Young
Longtime Summer Seminars for Women participant and volunteer Holley Young stepped into the part-time role of Adult Programs Lead in 2022 and Director of Adult Programs in 2023. The role merges her skillset with her passion, and she looks forward to helping offer meaningful program content that supports the AYF mission and provides connection among participants.
Michael Robinson
Michael was first introduced to AYF in the early 2000s by family members who attend Merrowvista for summer programming. He had to wait until 2008 to experience the National Leadership Conference. His class, Deeply Rooted, and its meaning was fundamental in his development. He has tried to keep roots in his global community and support where he can. Michael started …
Molly Mulcahy
Molly’s introduction to the AYF took place when she volunteered on the health team when her children were campers. She began working for the AYF in 2016, bringing 20 years of professional experience in social work and community justice. Along with her background in human services, she brought extensive database and management experience to her role. As a member of …
Beth Wilson
Beth has been involved in the AYF community since 1989, missing only two years out of 30 years to start a family. She was a member of the National Leadership Conference class To Seek Again and Again. Since then, she has served in many volunteer and leadership roles within NLC, including a member of the central staff, and has mentored …
Erin O’Brien
Erin began her time with AYF in the summer of 2000 as a participant in the ILC (now NLC) at Miniwanca representing her home state of Maryland’s 4-H. Erin graduated from the NLC with the class Leaders for a New Beginning and never left! She has been a volunteer on staff every year since her participant graduation in many different …
Chad Warner
Chad joined the AYF family in 2008 as a Community and Schools Program Facilitator. Since then, he has worn many hats and has had the opportunity to work in almost every department at Miniwanca. Whether he has been working as a CSP Coordinator, Camps Coordinator, Four Trails Trip Leader, NLC mentor, NLC Central Staff member, running the Food Program, or …
Sydney Freeman
Sydney Freeman began her Miniwanca journey as a camper at age 9, spending every summer on the dunes discovering her best self. She went through the Four Trails program, then transitioned to the seasonal staff team where she served as a cabin leader, trip leader, Girls Camp coordinator, and Community and Schools Programs facilitator. She earned a degree in arts …
Brianna Moynihan
Brianna has attended summer camp for as long as she remembers: as a camper, then a counselor, and a director. She is passionate about connecting youth with nature and developing those that work with youth. Brianna is from Grand Haven, Michigan and has spent most of her life in west Michigan. She has a degree from Michigan State University in …
Tiwi Freeman
Tiwi first made a connection with AYF through Miniwanca’s sister camp, Merrowvista, in 2010. Holding a variety of positions there, he completed his internship in 2013 as a member of I-45. In 2014 he moved to Seattle to try to incorporate his passion for working with youth with his degree in technology. For 2 years he managed an after school …
Bethany Wise
Bethany Wise first experienced summer camp at 9 years old and has been in love with it ever since. That passion has taken to her to camps in Ohio, Hawaii, and now Michigan, where she’s thrilled to bring her years of experience from camp and classroom teaching to Miniwanca. Bethany believes in the power of learning. She has an undergraduate …
Michael Harter
Michael began his time with AYF in 1997 as a participant in the ILC taking place at Merrowvista. As he aged from camper to adult, he continued to give back and was inspired by the AYF in innumerable ways. Michael is a current NLC co-director, as well as former mentor and Boys Camp staffer. Michael earned a bachelor’s degree in …
Griffin Vogler
Griffin brings her passion for community, mentorship, and inspirational growth to the AYF after a 10-year career in the senior healthcare industry in Kansas City where her work ranged from program coordinator to executive director. Her degree in organizational leadership combined with her work experience has presented many opportunities to bring best self and balanced living practices into her professional …
