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...

Summer camp often calls to mind visions of youth adventuring daringly as they hike through rugged terrain or aspiring nobly as they master sailing or kayaking in open water. However,...

Spark, a four-day retreat designed for adults, returns to Miniwanca for its fourth year Sept. 11 to 14, 2025. Registration opens Monday, March 17. This year, Spark welcomes keynote speaker...

Learn more about working at Miniwanca! Learn more about working at Merrowvista! At first glance, it may not be obvious how coordinating a high-energy skit or Night’s Doings correlates to...

Miniwanca and the four-fold way of living were fundamental to Albie Bell and Katie Maus as teenagers attending and working at camp in the ’80s and ’90s. They passed these...

The American Youth Foundation kicked off its centennial year Tuesday, Jan. 28, when it opened registration for four celebratory events taking place at Miniwanca, Merrowvista, and in St. Louis. The...

About 40 students recently gathered for the Michigan Middle School Leadership Initiative, a youth empowerment program at Miniwanca. In four days, they built a community and discussed how to create...

More than 60 people descended on Miniwanca for four days in September to pursue their personal bests during Spark, the American Youth Foundation’s retreat for adults. This is the third...

Sydney Freeman is often the first person people meet when they arrive at Miniwanca and the first voice they hear on the phone. As Office Manager, Freeman knows her role...

Chicago-area youth got a chance to experience summer camp for the first time this month at Dare to Adventure, a four-day outdoor educational experience at Miniwanca. This is the second...

Girls Camp Director Bethany Wise is back with another dispatch from Miniwanca! If I had a nickel for every time I heard someone refer to “the real world” at camp,...