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Founder Fire
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 to serve. Most people dedicate...
General Updates
Merrowvista
Miniwanca
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 is a nonprofit dedicated to...
Merrowvista
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 awesome prizes while helping recruit...
Merrowvista
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 worried she’d find the same...
Merrowvista
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 the midst of a pandemic....
Merrowvista
January 24, 2022
Staff Spotlight: Merrowvista’s Kim Novotny
Kim Novotny knows meals at Merrowvista are important community experiences. As Food Program Manager, she strives to make those meals healthy, delicious, and memorable. Novotny first joined the Merrowvista seasonal...
General Updates
Merrowvista
Miniwanca
December 15, 2020
2020 is a year of renovation at Miniwanca, Merrowvista
Though the AYF wasn’t able to welcome campers this summer, Miniwanca and Merrowvista were still abuzz this year with the whirring of power tools and landscaping equipment. The facilities teams...
General Updates
Merrowvista
Miniwanca
December 14, 2020
Learn more about summer 2021 at Miniwanca and Merrowvista
After careful assessment, the American Youth Foundation Board and staff feel we can offer safe, mission-supporting programs at Miniwanca and Merrowvista in summer 2021. It is clear that COVID-19 is...
General Updates
November 19, 2020
Astrid Wielens joins AYF as Senior Health and Safety Director
2020 has been a challenging year for all nonprofit organizations as reduced revenues put a strain on human resources. This month, Zebra Crossings and the American Youth Foundation advanced their...
Founder Fire
November 18, 2020
Embark on a pilgrimage this holiday season
This Thanksgiving will be unlike any in recent memory. Instead of gathering, we’re asked to stay home for the collective good. Instead of packing the car or boarding our flights,...
General Updates
September 30, 2020
An Update About Registration
These last six months, our AYF family has gone through many adjustments as the world and our programs changed course. We all continue to live in a time of uncertainty...
General Updates
September 17, 2020
Join us for monthly Evening Reflections
We know you miss camp as much as we do. That’s why we’re bringing camp into your homes via Zoom each month with Evening Reflections! Evening Reflections takes place the...
General Updates
August 27, 2020
Tell us about Founder Friends living the mission
The American Youth Foundation is always eager to hear about our program participants and alumni making positive change in their communities. Do you know a camper or alum who is...
General Updates
Merrowvista
Miniwanca
August 5, 2020
Wow. Thanks. Help. An important COVID-19 update from the AYF
Dear AYF Community, Author Anne Lamott says there are essentially three prayers that get us through tough times: Help, Thanks, and Wow. This summer has been full of such moments...
Merrowvista
Miniwanca
July 21, 2020
Merrowvista, Miniwanca campers flock to Invincible Summer Â
AYF campers across the country have spent the last two weeks building forts, logging miles on their virtual Four Trails treks, and teaching their families the sudsy fun of Arlos and Dishland.   Invincible Summer, the AYF’s free online summer programming, has united the Merrowvista and Miniwanca campers under one...
Merrowvista
July 16, 2020
Zebra Crossings, AYF offer camp experiences for children with chronic health issues
For almost 100 years, the American Youth Foundation has built and relied upon a community of life-giving partners to ensure the growth and success of our year-round programs at both...
General Updates
Merrowvista
Miniwanca
National Leadership Conference
July 8, 2020
Learn to be an active anti-racist ally with Kids4Peace Boston
The American Youth Foundation’s longstanding partner, Kids4Peace Boston, is offering a free online training for preteens and teenagers who want to learn more about anti-racism work and how they can enact these practices in their lives. This...
Merrowvista
June 22, 2020
Wash Your Hands, Send Your Letters: Chapter 4
Coordinator Kal Bowers is back with another chapter of their of their original story, Wash Your Hands, Send Your Letters. This week, he checks in with the Beavers and Porcupines...