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.

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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

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What will summer 2021 look like?

As you can imagine, our operating conditions will be quite restrictive to prevent exposure of our children and staff to COVID-19. New CDC, state, and industry regulations for camps mean we must reduce the number of participants in our camp communities and the number of sessions offered. We will create a community “bubble,” requiring staff and campers to remain onsite for the duration of their time at camp. We intend to expand our site-based wilderness elements on our properties for older campers.

While it will not be simple, we are confident these adapted programs will possess powerful signature elements of our AYF programs. We will announce 2021 program dates and offerings in mid-January, and registration will open the following week.

How can I help?

Camper and family feedback are critical to our planning. While regulations will determine some of how we operate, we still have many decisions ahead and appreciate your input in this process. We hope you will find a few minutes this week to complete this survey, even if you do not expect your child to participate in 2021.

Summer 2021 Survey

This year poses new challenges not just at Miniwanca and Merrowvista, but also for you, our campers and families. Many variables will need to be considered as you decide if you will participate this summer: vaccine availability, additional costs, transportation, response if illness presents, ability to test and quarantine pre-camp, and more. Please use this survey to express your thoughts and better understand the circumstances we are currently wrestling with. The information you provide will shape our vision for 2021.

What if conditions change this spring?

Some youth programs have opened summer registration now, assuming pre-pandemic conditions and offering pre-pandemic programs. These organizations promise to reach out in the spring with any changes, additional costs related to COVID-19 testing, and cancelation.

Like many others, the AYF is building our 2021 plan based on current conditions. If those 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, participants, and seasonal staff. After a year of so much disappointment, we do not want to overpromise and under-deliver.

When will summer 2021 hiring begin?

As you may recall, the loss of program revenue this year necessitated an unfortunate reduction of our year-round staff and several sad departures. Fortunately, the security of the coming 2021 summer season means we can begin to rebuild our team. We started with Astrid Wielens, who now serves as Senior Health and Safety Director. Astrid has a long history with the AYF, having served in leadership roles at Merrowvista for 14 years and more recently on our Risk Management Committee.

We are also pleased to announce that Emily Knuth will serve as Miniwanca Girls Camp Director. Emily also has a lifetime of history with Miniwanca, as a former camper and staff member, as well as a current camper parent and volunteer. Emily is a seasoned professional who also works at DePauw University’s Prindle Institute for Ethics, one of our partner organizations.

We are beginning the process of summer staff hiring. There are many roles to fill, and we expect it will be more challenging to recruit camp nurses and health team staff with the current demands of the pandemic. We are seeking cabin and village leaders, as well as more experienced adults to lead our summer programs. Online applications will open in January, and we hope you will share them with qualified and interested candidates.

What’s next?

We know you will have many questions as more plans are announced in 2021. We will add Frequently Asked Questions with to our website and email with more information as plans for summer 2021 develop. We will do our best to respond to questions in a timely manner. Please be aware that our staff will enjoy a well-earned holiday break Thursday, Dec. 24 through Sunday, Jan. 3; our virtual offices will reopen Monday, Jan. 4.

As we wrap this difficult year, we thank you and our broader AYF family for lifting us in our time of need, ensuring not only the organization’s health, but also our staff’s. So many shone a light on the AYF in 2020, illuminating us during what could have been a very dark year. Please know we are profoundly grateful and look forward to serving as a light for you in the years ahead.

Wishing you a healthy, happy, hopeful holiday season. May you find new ways and reasons to celebrate.

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