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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 me. I had attended for a few years before Paige was old enough and ready to try a week away.

Before camp, we sat on my bed all night as I walked her through every single thing that would happen at camp, from the registration line until mom and dad picked us up. I was so excited to finally have someone else to share this special place with.

To this day, that was of the best weeks of my life. I remember how close our cabin was, even with the girls that we didn’t know before. We played matchmaker with our cabin leader and drove her crazy during a lunch where we kept chugging lemonade and water until we all laughed so hard we spit it all over the table. I remember the strange bird call we made up to find each other at camp-wide events, and the freedom that came from embracing our silliest, weirdest selves.

I was so moved by the kindness my friends showed my little sister and how welcome they made her feel. I remember sitting with her on the front stoop of our cabin when she was homesick and reassuring her that everything was going to be okay. This magical week cemented my passion for summer camp experiences and is why I absolutely love working at Miniwanca.

My sister and I returned to camp together for years as campers and then as staff members. I loved working alongside my sister and seeing her interact with campers. A huge part of our sisterly inside jokes even today are silly things that happened while we were working at camp. Even as adults living in different states, camp is something we will always have as a throughline keeping us together.

This is why siblings who come to Miniwanca together have a special place in my heart. This year, we have five sibling pairs working on staff together, and 20 staff members with camper siblings. We also have over 110 families who have multiple kids attending Miniwanca!

Summer camp is such a special place for siblings to bond. There are few opportunities where kids can work on their own sibling relationship without their parents. Even when they attend the same school, grade and classroom separate means they may not spend that much time together.

Siblings at camp may end up in the same interest groups or quads, where learn how to work together alongside people outside their family. It provides them an opportunity to see the other as their own person. The chance to get to know your sibling in a new environment opens the doors for a much deeper bond that will last a lifetime.

It is no coincidence that Miniwanca has its own sibling. The two camps of the American Youth Foundation, Miniwanca and Merrowvista, have shared values, history, and founders. Each also has their own traditions, lingo, and memories that give a unique experience to those who attend.

Just like siblings, these camps complement each other — different in personality but bound by love and legacy. Attending summer camp with your sibling means you each get to explore your own path while still sharing a common ground. It’s a bond strengthened by lake swims, campfire stories, and the quiet understanding of what it means to call a place like Miniwanca — or Merrowvista — home.