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...

After several years working at other nonprofits, Nick Tamboli wanted a job that combined his love of the outdoors with his passion for helping youth discover their best. He joined...

The Four Trails program at Miniwanca first sparked Mads Chomentowski’s love for outdoor adventure when they were a teen. Now, Mads (better known as “Earl” to the Miniwanca community) will...

Miniwanca Assistant Director of Camps Brianna Moynihan has attended summer camp for as long as she remembers: as a camper, then a counselor, and a director. She is passionate about...

Katsu Okuma wasn’t a “camp kid” growing up. Instead, he spent summers traveling around Ohio playing baseball. The camp bug finally got him in high school when he attended the...

Seven years ago, Jamie Sweetser’s family friend Kim Novotny convinced her to try something new. She joined the seasonal kitchen team at Merrowvista and, under Novotny’s guidance as Food Program...

Kris Light has a 20-year history with the American Youth Foundation. His foundation with the AYF began as a seasonal Four Trails leader, camp coordinator, and Community and Schools Program...

Dayna Vuksinick never intended to work with kids as a career. In fact, the Utah native thought she’d use her outdoor education degree as a park ranger for the National...

Information Technology Manager Romauld Dugue works behind the scenes at the American Youth Foundation, ensuring the three sites stay connected to deliver quality youth programming year-round. Dugue first heard about...

Holley Young’s history with the American Youth Foundation started in 1975 when she attended Miniwanca Girl Camp as a Piper. Five weeks later, she was hooked and nearly inconsolable about...

Director of Miniwanca Griffin Vogler brought her passion for community, mentorship, and inspirational growth to the American Youth Foundation in 2020 after a 10-year career in the senior healthcare industry....

Aubrie Boyd grew up loving summer camp life, from her first sleepaway camp experience at Camp Wyandot in Ohio to her role as a seasonal staffer at other campers. She...

Miniwanca was a transformative force in Sandra George’s life. She returned to camp summer after summer, first as a camper and National Leadership Conference participant, then as a seasonal staff...

Miniwanca Girls Camp Director Bethany Wise is new to the American Youth Foundation, but not to the world of youth development and outdoor education. Bethany spend her childhood summers as...

One of Emily Jones Knuth’s fondest camp memories is serving as Quad Leader in eighth grade and again as a high school senior. She relished the chance to add the...

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...

Michael Harter’s career has always found him at the intersection of youth empowerment and mental health, a passion he credits to his own foundational experiences as an AYF participant. He’s...

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...