As summer winds down, there are a few traditions that help mark the meaningful moments we’ve shared. One of the most beloved at Boys Camp is the Fifth-Year Banquet. Held...

One of the most powerful parts of a summer at Miniwanca is watching campers step into challenge by choice, an essential philosophy in adventure education that encourages individuals to stretch...

The Odyssey program at Miniwanca is a capstone adventure that takes campers on a journey of self-discovery and growth as they backpack the 100 Mile Wilderness of the Appalachian Trail....

Carn-Avail is one of the most anticipated events of the session, and it’s built from scratch by the campers in our Avail leadership program. It starts long before the music...

At Miniwanca, adventure doesn’t just live on the trails — it comes to life in the stories our campers create. This summer, our LARP and Dungeons & Dragons interest groups...

by Regan Gibson Wiesler, Four Trails Manager The Voyageur program at Miniwanca is a capstone trip filled with traditions and celebrations that enrich the experience and foster a deep sense...

by Bethany Wise, Miniwanca Girls Camp Director Of all 20-some summers I have spent at camp, one of my most memorable was the first time my little sister, Paige, joined...

A Gathering Place Completed in 1926, The Assembly was the oldest original building at Miniwanca. J. R. Marcum, a friend of AYF founder Preston Orwig, funded the $4,000 facility. Nestled...

Miniwanca Adventurers go on a 120-mile canoe journey down the Au Sable River, a National Scenic river in northern Michigan. The group paddle through the Huron Manistee National Forest and...

The Explorers embark on a journey to the stunning Picture Rocks National Lakeshore, where they backpack 42 miles along the shores of Lake Superior. Here are the five top moments...

by Briana Moynihan, Assistant Camp Director “POOOOLLLLARRR BEARRR!” That sound wakes many campers at Miniwanca each morning. It’s the call of the early risers – the bold, adventurous campers who...

As Hannah Montana famously said, Trailblazers “get the best of both worlds.” Miniwanca’s Trailblazer program is an introduction to backcountry adventures. This three-week program introduces campers to backpacking, canoeing, and...

Our Four Trails Program is led by experienced and passionate leaders committed to providing a safe, enriching, and unforgettable experience for our campers. Here’s a closer look at the Four...

Eager third-graders kicked off an impressive arboreal mission in April when they helped launch The Tree Lab at Miniwanca. Nearly 100 students from Shelby Elementary began the process of planting...

by Bethany Wise, Miniwanca Girls Camp Director Let’s go back to August 2024. Just days after wrapping up an incredible summer, while everything is still fresh in our minds, the...

You can feel it in the air at Miniwanca and Merrowvista: summer 2025 is just around the corner, and staff are eagerly awaiting the campers’ arrival. The summer season kicks...

The lessons Amy Hughes learned during International Leadership Conference and National Leadership Conference in the mid-1990s laid the foundation for her personal and professional life today. Hughes is a medical...

Save the date: The American Youth Foundation is kicking off its centennial festivities with a virtual gathering Wednesday, April 16! Join President and CEO Liz Marshall and other AYF leadership...