Former American Youth Foundation President Anna Kay Vorsteg first established the internship program in the 1990s, envisioning a months-long experience for young adults to work in youth education while developing their interpersonal skills.

“It’s a really great opportunity for these young adults who are just getting out of college, who are unsure of what they want to do next, to come and learn these skills,” said Dayna Vuksinick, Merrowvista Director of Community and Schools Programs.

The pandemic shifted the internship program for a few years. Vuksinick said staffing shortages post-COVID limited its structure and activities, and it was a challenge to balance intern growth opportunities with workload to avoid burnout.

This fall, Merrowvista returned to the internship’s original iteration: a two-part program with the same cohort. Each group has about six to 10 interns, who must be at least 21 or a senior in college. This year, Merrowvista has eight fall interns and two lead facilitators, who are previous interns, to help train and coordinate programming.

The fall portion of the internship typically lasts about 12 weeks, starting right after summer camp and running through November. The interns can opt to return in the spring to work CSP from February to May.

Up to 2,000 students come through Merrowvista CSP every year. The interns do everything from connecting with schools and clients to creating programming and working in the kitchen to cleaning the site between groups.

Vuksinick said after COVID, CSP shifted to focus on students’ social and emotional learning, as well as developing their leadership and communication skills. She said the interns are encouraged to be creative and put their own unique stamp on the activities, rather than just following a strict curriculum.

“At the end of the season, they have this sense of ownership over the entire space,” Vuksinick said.

In the spring, they also work on a special project when kids aren’t on site. In 2019, Vuksinick said the interns worked with a nonprofit to create a more robust composting system for Merrowvista and then created programming for kids to learn about composting.

“These projects are their chance to leave their mark on Merrowvista,” she said. “The idea is to build something that can better the camp.”

The connections made during the internship create lasting personal and professional bonds.

Matt Loper, former AYF Director of Programs, said his 2007-2008 intern cohort remains close. They attend each other’s weddings, celebrate the birth of their children, and this year grieved together when one of them passed away. He said the program is set up to create an “incredible group identity formation process.”

“It was probably the best year of my life,” he said. “We really bonded. We were forged in the fire of these intense days together.”

Like Loper, some Merrowvista interns go on to full-time work with the AYF. Former Merrowvista Camp Director Lauren Abrami, Miniwanca Boys Camp Director Tiwi Freeman, and Vice President of Strategic Programs Kris Light are also former Merrowvista interns.

A more recent intern, Hannah Harris, has been a part of the Merrowvista community since she was a baby; both her parents were educators. Her 10-person intern cohort began in fall 2019 but was interrupted in spring when the pandemic shut down normal operations.

She still considers her fellow interns close friends. “The early spring was so awesome,” she said. “We were really thrilled to be reunited when we came back to program.”

While interns get the chance to work with kids, Harris said the program’s other significant appeal is that it acts as an accelerated course for college grads to learn skills they wouldn’t necessarily learn in a traditional office setting, particularly social-emotional intelligence skills.

“Your people skills are really what grow the most,” she said. “You get to essentially play for your job, which is so lucky, but it’s tough, too, and there’s a lot to navigate socially with that.”

Loper agreed. “You’re learning skills that you’re putting into practice day after day after day — and you’re getting the chance to learn your own specific approach, your style,” he said.

For more information about the 2025 Merrowvista internship experience, email Vuksinick at dvuksinick@ayf.com.

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Once she arrived and began working program, she was hooked on the American Youth Foundation mission and values. She jumped at the chance to join the full-time team and now serves as Director of Community and School Programs for Merrowvista. Here, she shares the best parts of her job, how she tailors CSP programs to partner organizations, and her first impressions of the New England wilderness.

What were your first impressions of Merrowvista and CSP program?
“I started in a nontraditional season, but it was the most fun I had ever had at a job. I loved the idea that we get to serve kids who may not have the chance to come to a place like this and experience it to its fullest. I love watching the team challenges and watching the kids learn how to communicate effectively with one another. I’ve watched kids grow in a matter of three days, and there is something so special about witnessing that.”

What about the AYF mission and values resonated with you?
“I really appreciated how it felt like an open invitation to be myself. I was happy that it was a place that wanted
people to be the best versions of themselves, whatever that means to them.”

Why did you want to take on a full-time role with the AYF?
“I’ve never felt so comfortable at a place or job like I have with this one. It felt like such an easy choice to want to be part of this community full-time, to be able to serve and work with kids in this capacity.”

How are community and school programs different than summer camp? How are they similar?
“The major differences are that the programs are much shorter, anywhere from one to five days, and the programming is more intentional when it comes to a focus on building community and communication with each other. At the end of each activity, the facilitators will always debrief about what they just did. They discuss what they learned and how they can take it back with them into school and regular life.

“As far as similarities, we do song challenges at mealtimes, we do dishes, we dance like no one is watching, and we get to be our authentic selves.”

What are some of your favorite things about things about working with CSP partners?
“Meeting a wide variety of people. We work with private and public schools from rural New Hampshire to inner-city Boston. We work with different health-related programs, such as kids who have had heart surgery, kids with asthma, kids with diabetes, and their families. There are so many beautiful programs that allow Merrowvista to be part of their community.”

The AYF works closely with CSP partners to create a program that combines the values of both organizations. How do you find that balance?
“We really lean into the values the programs bring and add undertones of our own values. At each closing fire, the volunteers say something about each value the partner organization brought with them. We weave our own values in, too, using the AYF language of best self and the four folds throughout the activities.”

You’re originally from Utah. What were the biggest differences when you relocated to New Hampshire?
“I cannot believe how green it is here! The weather has really been the biggest change for me. I’m used to dry, desert weather, but here, everything is green and luscious and damp. The winter is totally different, as well. The amount of snow we receive, along with how it turns into ice overnight – it’s so wild to me!”

When you’re not working, what are some of your favorite things to do?
“I love camping and especially hammocking. Any place by water with big trees is the type of place I want to be. I also enjoy reading, puzzling, and playing a little Zelda.”

What TV show has left a lasting impression on you?
“‘Schitt’s Creek’ and ‘Our Flag Means Death’ – both of them have characters who are truly authentic to themselves and nobody bats and eye. Everyone just wants everyone to be happy and be who they are without judgement. I think they have wonderful messages.”

What’s one of the best pieces of advice you’ve ever received?
“When I had to decide between two things, my mom used to tell me, ‘Flip a coin – you’ll always know which side you want it to land on.’ It’s helped me make a lot of big decisions in my life. It makes me truly realize which decision I want to make without having to truly choose.”

Where is your favorite place on Merrowvista’s campus?
“On the Farmhouse porch in a rocking chair early in the morning with a cup of coffee in my hand. There is nothing better than that.”

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