How are AYF programs different than other summer camp and youth leadership programs?

“What sets the AYF apart is the deep intentionality behind the curriculum and programming. Every element is designed with care to support personal growth. The staff and volunteers are deeply committed to empowering young people, helping them discover the spark that enkindles their best selves.”

How has your time with the AYF affected you?

“One of the most meaningful ways the AYF has impacted me is by helping me discover my passion for helping others grow into their best selves. Through my experience as an NLC participant and volunteer, I learned how powerful intentional programming and supportive communities can be in building confidence and leadership. That foundation has guided me into a 15-year career as the Adventure Program Coordinator for Great Parks of Hamilton County in Cincinnati, Ohio.

“There, I’ve developed programs that reflect the same spirit of personal growth I experienced through the AYF, including the Women in the Outdoors Series, which empowers women to explore new outdoor skills, challenge themselves, and connect in nature. The thread between my AYF roots and the work I do today is clear: creating spaces where people feel supported to stretch, reflect, and grow.”

Why do you support the AYF?

“I support the AYF today because I believe in the power and potential of young people. As a mentor, I’ve witnessed profound growth in those who come through these dunes in just one week. I’ve seen quiet, shy, and reserved individuals become gleeful, connected, and empowered.

“This place becomes a home for many, welcoming young people from all walks of life, even from around the world. The AYF creates the kind of environment where that transformation is not only possible but expected. I continue to support this work because I want to keep showing up for young people as they discover their voice, their confidence, and their capacity to lead.”

Why should others support the AYF?

“Every contribution helps create a space where young people feel seen, valued, and inspired to become their best selves. These experiences can be truly life-changing: giving youth the confidence, courage, and community they need to step into their potential.

“By giving back, supporters become part of that transformation, helping to open doors for young people who might not otherwise have the chance to grow and lead. It’s an investment in the future and in the power of hope, connection, and possibility. I encourage everyone to get involved — whether through a donation or volunteering your time — to help continue this vital work and make a lasting impact on the lives of young people.”

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Hughes still carves out time to volunteer at NLC as often as she can, and she returns to Miniwanca as her children eagerly attend camp each summer. Here’s why Amy Hughes continues to support the AYF 30 years after her first ILC experience.

What is your history with the AYF?
I was first introduced to the AYF through International Leadership Conference at Miniwanca in 1995. I was the only girl from my high school to receive the I Dare You! award and I was so nervous to attend!

ILC transitioned to National Leadership Conference a few years after I started. I completed my full four years of programming with my class of Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility). The program was so impactful, that I stayed on as staff until 2004 when I had to take a break to complete medical school/residency/fellowship training.

I returned to the dunes in 2014 and still to this day try to prioritize my June vacation schedule to continue to volunteer with NLC.

What sets the AYF programs apart from other youth development programs?
For me, it was the first leadership development program that was also a sleepaway camp. I had previously attended other leadership forums and programs, but even if they were multiple days, I drove back and forth each day. The ability to remain onsite and live in community with other campers brought incredibly deep and long lasting friendships. And we bonded over some ridiculous experiences about raccoons in the wilderness, which still brings us laughter today. I also absolutely love the focus of deeper self-reflection as a way to understand your personalized leadership style.

What is one way the AYF impacted you?
Miniwanca was life changing for me. I came from a privileged background of private schools, a comfortable lifestyle, and happily married parents. The classmates around me at my private school were all like me. There was very minimal diversity.

Going to Miniwanca, particularly my first several years when the program was international, was a bit mind blowing. To be able to deep dive into hard, emotionally challenging topics with teens from different countries, cities, and suburbs was the most eye-opening experience of my young adulthood.

It as the first opportunity I’d had to have those deep discussions in my everyday life. Being able to experience it through the eyes of a different culture, race, socioeconomic status, family structure, or gender was one of the most impactful lessons in tolerance, curiosity, and empathy. There are truly formative memories I hold close to my heart of very specific interactions that changed my worldview for the better.

How has AYF impacted your family?
My best friends are from camp, and so many decades later, our kids are old enough to start attending NLC themselves. I am so excited that my oldest son will  join me on the dunes this June for his inaugural year of NLC.

All three of my kids started attending summer camp at Miniwanca as soon as they were 8 years old and could register. They continue to go back yearly, and I can see the confidence it brings them to be independent thinkers and learn how to live without Mom and Dad beside them every step of the way. As my other two get old enough, they will also join Mom on the sand dunes for NLC, and I can’t wait!

Why do you support the AYF today?
I support the AYF because of their life-changing programming and because of the positive impacts I have seen in the teens I have helped facilitate and mentor over two decades with Miniwanca. If we can continue to encourage leading with curiosity, empathy, reflection, and bravery, then I think our world would be a much better place.

Why should others support the AYF through financial gifts or volunteering?
For the same reason that I choose to personally support the AYF: cultivating our future leaders in the art of curiosity, kindness, empathy, knowledge, and bravery will have long lasting impact on the future of our world as a whole.

The post Inspired Impact: Amy Hughes appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

“We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for our conference participants,” said NLC Co-Director Erin O’Brien. “Because of these generous supporters, students who otherwise would not have been able to attend NLC this summer will get the chance to do so.”

As in 2022, Serving Through Action, the NLC graduating class of 2010, raised the most money – $3,208 – and had the most donors give to the campaign in their name at 43.

The NLC community also showed their support in March by participating in a virtual 5K and sharing their walk, hike, run, or stroll on social media.

“Our NLC community is spread across the country, and this challenge allowed so many people to reconnect online and in person,” O’Brien said. “Their enthusiasm is a testament to the power of our transformational programs and how much they value the impact NLC has on these young leaders.

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Now, this community will answer the call again this March during the second NLC Class Challenge, a fundraiser that supports scholarships for teens to attend the 2024 conference.

The Class Challenge began in fall 2022 and raised more than $10,000, supporting 10 full scholarships to NLC 2023. NLC Co-Director Erin O’Brien said it was so successful, they knew they wanted to go even bigger this year.

“We were so impressed at our community’s enthusiasm and passion for this project,” O’Brien said. “We knew that if we moved the challenge to the spring and gave people more time to prepare, then we’d be able to support even more NLC participants through scholarship and financial aid.”

The NLC Class Challenge kicks off Monday, March 4 and runs through Thursday, March 14. As in 2022, this year’s challenge is two-fold: Which class can raise the most money, and which class can get the most donations? The winning classes will receive NLC-branded prizes.

Serving Through Action, which graduated in 2010, took both categories during the first challenge. Co-Director Beth Wilson believes several classes will give them a run for their money this year.

“The NLC community is a competitive bunch,” Wilson said. “We’re confident they’ll rise to the challenge.”

To build community across the country, O’Brien said alumni and fundraisers can join a virtual 5K via social media anytime on Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10. Participants are encouraged to gather in person or simply slip on their walking shoes to take a stroll and a selfie.

“We want everyone to step out, exercise their physical fold, and share their photo on Facebook or Instagram,” O’Brien said. “Be sure to use the hashtag #NLCClassChallenge so we can all cheer each other on!”

Anyone who donates $40 or more during the fundraiser will receive a medal to commemorate their participation.

Though the challenge is focused on NLC alumni, Co-Director Michael Harter said the entire AYF community is encouraged to contribute and help young leaders discover their best at NLC 2024.

“If you don’t know a class or person associated with NLC, you can donate in support of the future class of 2025,” Harter said. “Though we’re sure there are plenty of alumni who’d love to get to know you and welcome your gift on behalf on their class!”

The NLC Class Challenge winners will be announced Thursday, April 11 at 8 p.m. ET during an informational Zoom call about NLC 2024. For more information and to receive the Zoom link in your email, sign up for the AYF email list.

The post 2024 NLC Class Challenge kicks off March 4 appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

Bundy, as he’s better known by the NLC community, is a tireless advocate for youth who has dedicated his life to mentorship through NLC and another formative nonprofit, Florida 4-H. In August 2023, Florida 4-H inducted Bundy into its Hall of Fame, honoring his more than 40 years of service to the organization.

“The Florida 4-H Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding 4-H alumni, volunteers, professionals, and community leaders,” the 4-H said in a statement. “Members have made significant contributions to 4-H and their community through accomplishments in the areas of citizenship, leadership, career and character.”

Bundy participated in many 4-H programs in his youth. As an adult, he gave back to the organization that shaped him through multiple terms on the Florida 4-H Foundation Board of Directors and as a powerful fundraiser.

Florida 4-H first connected Bundy with the American Youth Foundation when he received an I Dare You Award (now called the National Leadership Award) and attended his first National Leadership Conference in 1987.

“I was hooked by Miniwanca’s scenery, the beautiful sunsets, the history of the AYF, and the best community and cabinmates ever – many of whom are still serving on NLC staff to this day,” Bundy said. “I mattered. We mattered. When I left Camp Miniwanca in 1987, I told everybody even if I had to walk, I would be back the next year. This summer will be my 34th conference at NLC. Miniwanca is my family – I’m a lifer!”

NLC Co-Director Michael Harter said Bundy puts the AYF motto into action year-round.

“His service-based leadership shows up at NLC, but goes far beyond camp. His example of unleashing his best into his community is an inspiration for us all,” Harter said. “Bundy serves with a full heart, whether singing a song, gifting some beef jerky from his not-so-secret snack stash, or in his boots and sunglasses on the final morning of conference. Thousands of youth over the years have been inspired by Todd Bundy.”

Bundy said each year, he prioritizes making sure everyone at NLC knows they matter. “I make it a mission to make sure each camper and staff member is having a great time, to see if I can lend a helping hand, offer words of encouragement or worldly wisdom,” he said. “If nothing else, I let folks know that I care and try to leave them with a smile on their face. I have a heart for people.”

That passion for people and supporting the next generation has made Bundy a dedicated guiding light for hundreds of teens and young adults in NLC and 4-H.

“The AYF and 4-H are both wonderful youth organizations that are all about making a positive impact on youth and making our world a better place to live,” he said. “There is too much negativity in the world today, and these two organizations and others like them are making strides for a brighter tomorrow.”

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“We all look at NLC as such a place of hope,” said NLC Co-Director Erin O’Brien said. “We see that in the participants, and it reminds us there are things to be hopeful for. Future generations will make big positive changes.”

This year, NLC saw new leadership under O’Brien and fellow Co-Directors Michael Harter and Beth Wilson. The three American Youth Foundation staff members worked hard to prepare a transformational eight-day experience for teens and young adults – familiar territory, as each spent several years as NLC volunteer staff.

Wilson said these dedicated individuals are key to the program’s success. “Volunteers work their tails off,” said Wilson. “Not only that, but they also have such a positive energy that we couldn’t bring without them. When I leave, my heart is so full because the participants and the volunteers give their all.”

This year, approximately 75 volunteers dedicated countless hours to planning and executing this powerful week. When volunteers describe their experience with NLC, the concept of community inevitably creeps into the conversation. It’s the driving force that motivates them to come back year after year – in some cases for decades – to put on a life-changing program full of tradition and transformational moments.

Most people join the volunteer staff after they complete the NLC program themselves. That was the case for Shawn Herron, but unlike most volunteers, he returned in 2018, more than 30 years after he was a program participant.

“It felt like coming home,” he said. “I don’t remember the curriculum and I don’t remember a lot of the specifics from 30 years ago, but I remember the feeling and the sense of community. That’s the biggest part of the experience.”

Herron credits the passion NLC elicits to the connection, commitment, and shared values of staff and participants. Herron also enjoys being able to support high schoolers knowing the impact NLC had on his life.

Similarly, Isabella Pallotto’s experience as a participant stuck with her. Shortly after graduating NLC, she chose to volunteer and give back to the program that gave her so much.

“We just get to meet so many great high schoolers who are truly leaders in their community,” she said. “It’s so amazing, and I think when we go back into the real world where things like the political landscape can be so hard, we can feel a little helpless. Coming to NLC and seeing so many young people who are so excited and passionate … that’s really special and inspiring to witness every year.”

Pallotto said everybody who attends leaves with new friends, whether they’re returning or first-time participants. The group works to make everyone feel comfortable and included from the start.

O’Brien echoed that sentiment, noting that volunteers and participants feel like a family who provides unconditional support to everyone and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. She added that many volunteers choked up when they saw the participants walk into camp for the first time in two years.

“There are so many people who have volunteered longer than I have and who have given up that time in their lives,” she said. “That’s not an easy thing to do, to ask someone in the middle of summer to volunteer two whole weeks of their time. I think it really speaks to how much we love what we’re doing, how much we believe in youth empowerment and how much it brings us together.”

Wilson said one of the reasons she continues to give her all to NLC is because during every conference, the participants teach her something new about the world or herself. O’Brien said seeing and experiencing everyone’s personal growth keeps her motivated.

“It’s life changing,” she said. “I think every single person who has been a part of it can say that NLC has changed their lives in some way – whether it’s relationships or the things that they learned while they were there.”

The post NLC volunteer staff serve humbly appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

Michael Harter, Miniwanca Director of Conferences, Community and School Programs, facilitated the leadership workshops with the support of Nestlé Purina. This valuable partnership is rooted in the founding of both organizations (William H. Danforth founded Purina and co-founded the AYF.) and continued company culture.

“Nestlé Purina is committed to increasing engagement with youth in their communities, and they give us the opportunity and space to offer high-quality programming for leadership and youth development.”

During the daylong program, the participants first toured the Purina manufacturing facilities in Davenport or Clinton, Iowa. Then, Harter led them in teambuilding activities focused on leadership and collaboration.

“The leadership lab opens up a world of possibility to youth who didn’t know it is existed before,” he said. “In a short time, it challenges them to question what they know about leadership. It’s not just being in charge. Every young person has the capacity for leadership, and it’s a skill that can be learned and practiced.”

He said the Purina Leadership Labs offer teens a sample of AYF programs, and all are encouraged to attend the weeklong National Leadership Conference.

“NLC and the Purina Learning Lab are both based in experiential education,” Harter said. “The learning labs take place in a short amount of time, but we want to give these students a taste of what leadership development can feel like outside of an academic experience.”

Harter said programs like this are vital as the AYF works to increase its reach and relevance.

“The work of the AYF is not the experience at camp. It’s what a person brings home with them, how they have grown and how they can make an impact on their community,” Harter said. “The more the AYF can reach out into communities, the wider the ideas of best self, and balanced living, and positive community can spread.”

The post Purina Leadership Labs expand AYF reach across the country appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

In late 2022, NLC Co-Directors Erin O’Brien, Beth Wilson, and Michael Harter presented NLC alumni with a challenge: Which class could raise the most money for 2023 NLC scholarships, and how many people could they get to participate?

Dozens of alumni participated in the Fuel the Founder Fire Challenge, rallying their classmates to solicit contributions from family and friends across the country. When the clock struck midnight on Jan. 31, these devoted alumni had raised $10,271 in just 30 days.

“We were so impressed with our alumni’s ability to come through during such a busy time of year,” O’Brien said. “Their continued dedication to NLC long after they’ve graduated shows how powerful their connection has remained over the years.”

The class Serving Through Action was true to its name, with 30 donations raising $6,000 of the total scholarship funds. The class To Seek Again and Again was second in total number of participants, while Capable and Strong took second in total dollars raised. The class Deeply Rooted was third in both categories.

“Turning fundraising into a friendly competition is fun, and truly we’re so grateful for every dollar and donor,” said O’Brien. “At the end of the day, 2023 NLC participants are the true winners, as all $10,271 will go toward scholarships for them.”

If you’d like to make a gift to the National Leadership Conference, you can contribute online.

The post NLC Class Challenge raises $10,000 for 2023 scholarships appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

NLC Co-Director Erin O’Brien said it was emotional to reconnect with youth and volunteer staff after so much time apart.

“I got choked up several times with happiness over the simple fact that it was happening,” she said. “I am proud we were able to give the participants and staff a full conference after everything we have all been through over the last few years. I think we all needed the connections, the positive interactions, and the hope that NLC provides for so many.”

NLC 2022 saw nearly 100 first-year participants take their first steps on the dunes, as well as the welcome return of 40 third- and fourth-year participants. There was no second-year class since the program was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19.

For eight days, the NLC participants gathered in community and as classes, creating and strengthening bonds that will last a lifetime. The week was filled with powerful discussion, emotional reunions, and moments of levity as everyone had fun along the way.

Fellow Co-Director Beth Wilson said it was particularly powerful to watch the fourth-year class, Connected in Compassion, graduate.

“One of my favorite mission moments is when each fourth-year graduating participant said something about how NLC has changed their lives,” Wilson said. “This class literally had to wait six years to graduate and still almost 20 of them returned.”

It was also exciting to welcome the first-year participants, many of whom are the children of current and former NLC staff members. “This class will graduate in the 100th year of the AYF,” O’Brien said. “The chose the name Focus Forward Lasting Legacy – fitting for the centennial class of the AYF’s first program.”

The magic of NLC wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated NLC staff, a team of 75 volunteers from across the country who give their time and skills to host this life-changing program.

“This program wouldn’t exist without the volunteer staff. They work so hard, they show up for the participants, and each volunteer brings their own gifts to our program,” O’Brien said. “It is such a vibrant, loving, positive community filled with the most inspiring people.”

Wilson recalled the instant connection between staff and participants. “We were all there for the same reason, and after a few days when the participants got an idea what camp was like, it was a feeling I’ve never experienced before,” she said. “To see what we had worked so hard for over the past year come together and see these young adults not only have fun, but also learn about themselves and others was magical to me.”

The post NLC returns to Miniwanca with powerful program appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

High school physics teacher Robert Pike works hard to learn his students’ names within the first three days of each semester, so they feel valued and appreciated — a habit he started as a longtime mentor for National Leadership Conference.

Pike keeps a smile on NLC participants’ faces nearly every summer, but it took nearly 20 years to return to the AYF after his time as a Miniwanca camper and then volunteer, as his teaching schedule was incompatible with NLC programming. He returned to the shores of Lake Michigan when the program was moved from August to June.

Pike recalls his time at camp in the 1980s as positive and memorable, so he works to create similar experiences for first-year participants, the group he works with every year. Pike loves the conference’s emphasis on inclusion and open, respectful dialogue. He’s passionate about getting young people to work together — whether at conference or in the classroom — so that they can determine on their own what specifically they need help understanding.

Last year Campbell High School students awarded Pike the school’s MLK Humanitarian Award, which honors those who embody the spirit and mission of legendary civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Pike attributes this honor to all he has learned from participants and staff members throughout his time with AYF, passing the flame from one NLC class to the next. He said he will continue to mentor NLC participants each year because the genuine, humble philosophies of best self and balanced living established by the camp’s founders withstand the test of time.

The article originally appeared in the 2021 Founder Fire. 

The post Enkindled Spirits: Robert Pike appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

National Leadership Conference participants were finally able to gather on the dunes of Miniwanca once again in 2021, albeit in a new, more intimate way.

While the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the traditional eight-day annual conference, the American Youth Foundation hosted two four-day mini-conferences, bringing both challenges and unexpected benefits. The first mini-conference from July 22 to 25, 2021 welcomed 32 participants from the Connected in Compassion and yunážiŋkhiyA classes, and the second took place July 29 to Aug. 1, 2021 with 12 members of the Bold Hearts, Rising Voice class.

2021 central staff member and current NLC Co-Director Erin O’Brien has been a part of NLC since summer 2000 — she graduated as a participant and has volunteered ever since. She loves being witness to those “a-ha” moments where people connect with an idea or learn something about themselves. This year’s conference, she said, provided plenty of those same moments, despite being shorter and smaller than a typical year.

“I think people really needed the familiarity and knowing that that positive community is still there, and that even with all these crazy things going on in the world, we are still a place where you can have safe, open conversations about things that might be difficult to talk about,” she said.

Claire Swayze is a member of the Bold Hearts, Rising Voice class and attended the mini-conference. She felt the conversations were deeper, and it was easier to be more open and authentic in the smaller group.

“The one thing that I really noticed is by splitting up the conferences, we really got to deep dive into some of the things that have been going on in the world, and I got to form some really close connections with those from my class that did attend,” Swayze said.

Like Swayze, Landon Schumacker, a member of the yunážiŋkhiyA class, said the smaller group afforded some intimacy not usually found at the larger conference. One of his 2021 standout NLC moments was the Opening Fire, usually a loud and raucous event with hundreds of people. This year, he said the energy was totally different, but no less inspiring.

“That was one of the first times during the conference — and I would have this moment several times over — where I was like, ‘This is the same, this is great,’” Schumacker said. “It didn’t feel abbreviated or super altered. It felt like conference in a really fantastic and really impactful way.”

Class mentor Amy Hughes said 2020 was tough, especially for the participants slated to graduate, because the virtual NLC-Z in 2020 was so different and challenging. This year, she and other organizers worked hard to turn the traditional eight-day experience into four days with purpose and meaning.

“We very intentionally went through the curriculum — you can imagine it’s very hard to go through a seven-day curriculum and try to put it basically within 48 hours — and it took a tremendous amount of time and lots of Zoom sessions back and forth with my co-mentors,” she said.

O’Brien echoed that, saying finding a balance of feeling prepared and not feeling overwhelmed was the most challenging element of the mini-conferences . They wanted to be sure the participants got something meaningful out of the conference but didn’t feel stretched thin. Both staff members said they hope to continue to be able to pivot the curriculum once the conference goes back to its full eight days in 2022.

Intentionality is also something else O’Brien emphasized, noting participants gathered frequently to ask important questions and made sure there was time and space for everyone to feel like they had a voice. This, she noted, is not always the case in the larger group setting.

Hughes said the modifications also changed the way in which organizers measured the success of the event — moving away from a numerical-based assessment of retention to direct feedback from participants.

“The kids in the class were so wonderful to each other, and so I think that was one of the other surrogate markers for us,” she said.

Both Schumacker and Swayze encourage anyone thinking to join NLC to do so. Schumacker said he would be “unrecognizable” without his conference experience. Swayze said the community and mission of the conference touches her heart every year and she takes pride in being a part of NLC’s legacy.

“We all are there for the same reason: We are all there to just do good in this world and to learn how to help others to do good in this world, and that is just so important,” Swayze said.

O’Brien encapsulated why the conference resonates with so many, in 2021 and historically.

“What makes it magical and what makes the connections is the positive community,” she said. “It’s about having a place to go that’s not only beautiful physically, but beautiful in the way that people treat each other, in the way that people communicate with one another and in the things that we learn about ourselves while we are there.”

The AYF is thrilled to announce that National Leadership Conference will return to its original eight-day format in 2022. This year’s NLC will be June 11 to 18; registration is now open.

The post NLC finds closer connection in 2021 appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

Next year will also see three longtime NLC staff answer the call to leadership. Miniwanca Director of Programs Michael Harter and NLC Central Staff Members Erin O’Brien and Beth Wilson will serve as NLC co-directors, working together to enhance the conference experience for all staff and participants.

Erin has been with NLC 23 consecutive years, as a member of the Leaders for a New Beginning class, a mentor, and staff.

“I am so excited to collaborate with our team to create a conference experience that brings joy, connection, and inspiration to all staff and participants and embodies the AYF’s mission and core values,” she said.

Beth Wilson has been a participant, mentor, and staff member since 1989. “I wouldn’t be the person that I am today without NLC in my life,” she said. “As a director this year I hope to be part of changing lives for the better and watching these young adults flourish.”

Michael also has more than 20 years experience with NLC, graduating as a member of To Give Light in 1998 and mentoring classes at Merrowvista and Miniwanca.

“I am ready to help bring this community back together and build on the quality of youth development that happened in summer 2021,” Michael said. “The NLC community is such an important part of the larger AYF family, and I feel so lucky to help move our community forward.”

The leadership team’s first step is to build the 2022 staff team. Applications will open in mid-November, and they encourage all interested individuals to apply.

As the AYF continues to navigate evolving pandemic conditions, it will share testing, masking, and vaccination protocols for staff and participants. Visit ayf.com for more information about rates, scholarships, registration and more as it develops, and interested participants are encouraged to sign up for our email list to receive updates as soon as they become available.

As the AYF continues to navigate evolving pandemic conditions, it will share testing, masking, and vaccination protocols for staff and participants. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email nlc@ayf.com. Thank you for your continued support!

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I hope this finds you well despite the very real challenges posed by the pandemic. If only COVID-19 were merely a hypothetical leadership scenario on the sand dunes. Sadly, it is not, and so we continue to navigate this serious situation together. Today, we want to update you on the status of 2021 NLC and gauge your interest and ability to attend conference in an altered form this summer.

Our programming abilities in 2021 will be seriously restricted by the current CDC, state, and licensing regulations. The American Youth Foundation Board and staff have determined we cannot offer the traditional eight-day, in-person conference at Miniwanca in June. The shorter program format, staffing model, and demands of travel do not align with current requirements placed upon us. Know that we have every intention to offer programming for the NLC community in mid to late summer 2021, but it is too soon to know when, where, and what it will be.

For these reasons, we will wait until March to announce the plan for the 2021 National Leadership Conference. If conditions improve, we will update you with good news of greater possibilities. We believe this is the most honest and transparent approach to take with our families and participants. After a year of so much disappointment, we do not want to overpromise and under-deliver. We wish more of this were in our control. But we intend to grab the variables we can control and make something powerful from them.

Despite this pandemic, we will continue our march toward a full return of the National Leadership Conference and to ultimately do more, not less, than ever before. We will work to ensure a strong finish for the khiyA and Connected in Compassion classes who started so strongly. This is AYF’s legacy program, and it will endure!

Never Give Up…

Anna Kay Vorsteg
AYF President

The post Important update about NLC 2021 appeared first on American Youth Foundation.