As the pandemic rocked the country in spring 2020, American Youth Foundation alumni sought connection and community with their Founder Family despite the physical distance. They asked AYF leadership for ways to connect and reflect, drawing strength from one another through their shared camp experiences.

Within days, new virtual events and platforms began to take shape for participants and staff of all ages. The first AYF-wide live event on March 26 was an Evening Reflection on Zoom. More than 20 participants gathered to listen to poetry and music, converse, and enjoy a recording of the sunset over Lake Michigan.

By focusing on the sights and sounds of Miniwanca and Merrowvista, these virtual programs allowed people to step outside the social confines of quarantine while staying in their homes. The limitless space made it possible for people from different AYF backgrounds to join events where the tools of Four Fold balanced living served as common ground.

One AYF community that thrived in this new space was Summer Seminars for Women, a program that originated at Miniwanca in 1988. Each summer, women gather on the sand dunes for a five-day experience focused around reflection, community building, and retreat. During this unique season, the pandemic shifted SSW events online and drew more participants than ever.

In July, AYF presented the 32nd annual SSW in a fully virtual format with the theme of “Living the Mission at Home.” The five-day program consisted of opening and closing circles, a social night, and two thought-provoking seminars. Each event allowed participants to meet, socialize, and dig deeper
into their own goals.

These sessions were free and open to the public, and they saw daily audiences of 40 to 80 participants. One highlight of SSW was AYF President Anna Kay Vorsteg’s seminar, “The Four Folds for Today,” which offered an update to the timeless philosophy of balanced living.

“Anna Kay’s session put forth a dare to meet three unique challenges of this moment — the pandemic, racial injustice, and climate change — all through the lens of being guided by one’s values,” said SSW coordinator Holley Young. “To see this group of women take time, reflect, and then open up in conversation really underscored how there is a need for spaces like these that give time to and honor the process of looking inside and engaging with the world.”

SSW also gave participants the chance to explore their personal journeys through creative writing. Kirstin Anglea, a facilitator trained with the Center for Courage and Renewal in Greenville, South Carolina, led a session entitled “Where I’m From,” which invited the women to write poems that evoked specific memories.

“I was so struck by the way women opened up to each other in their breakout rooms and discovered such specific and moving common elements of their life stories,” said Shannon O’Toole, another SSW coordinator.

Building on the success of Summer Seminars for Women, AYF also offered a series of virtual events for attendees of the Miniwanca Girls Camp Labor Day Reunion and Living the Mission Retreat this fall. The model of clustering events into a four-day experience has worked well, as it mirrors the community-building experience of a short camp program.

Highlights of the virtual reunion included meetups for groups from each decade, as well as playful Night’s Doings and Interest Group gatherings. A camp-themed Grab Bag activity issued a lighthearted challenge to participants: a virtual treasure hunt to gather the most camp items at home. Meetups uniting former campers from the 1950s and 1960s through the 1990s and 2000s drew women who had intended to make the trip to Michigan for the in-person events, as well as others who had not planned to attend.

Old camp friends discovered each other online, and several former cabin leaders found campers they hadn’t heard from in decades. During the kickoff and closing events, all former Girls Camp Directors offered inspiration and advice for applying the skills learned at camp to the world’s current challenges. Suzy Marshall LaPine, Vanette McKinney, Mary Struckoff, Liz Marshall, and Hannah Patterson each issued a healthy dare as the sessions ended.

“I have found this to be a wonderful few days,” said Marshall LaPine. “I feel somehow more positive and more empowered to do something about the terrible problems in our world today.”

As they reconnected with each other and made new friends, reunion attendees reflected on ways they can make an impact on the challenges we face.

In October, Living Your Purpose, the latest in the series of Living the Mission adult programs, gave another group of adults the opportunity for self-reflection in an online retreat setting. As AYF develops these virtual offerings, there will be more opportunities to bring the work of our founders to life and to build community in uncharted new ways.

The post Connecting across the miles, across the generations appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

Evening Reflections takes place the third Thursday of each month at 8 p.m. ET. Here are the upcoming dates:

Thursday, April 15
Thursday, May 20
Thursday, June 17
Thursday, July 15

We’ll engage, and connect with the AYF community though reflection and discussion. All campers, alumni, friends, and family are welcome to join.

Click here to join on Zoom! 

The post Join us for monthly Evening Reflections appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

There is no obligation to attend the whole program– simply choose from events on the schedule. We look forward to seeing you in one of our virtual events! Click here to register or use enrollment code G6CM3T if you already have a Canvas account. You can also click directly into the Zoom rooms to join us when sessions are taking place. Hope to see you soon!

Schedule of Events

Thursday, September 3

Opening Circle
8 pm Eastern/ 7 pm Central  in this Zoom room
Let’s gather to launch the reunion. We’ll have introductions, ice breakers, and a reflection to start our virtual reunion.

Friday, September 4

Night’s Doings
8 pm Eastern/ 7 pm Central in this Zoom room
Join us for Nights Doings, a chance to play some games and reconnect with friends. Be ready for Grab Bag, Trivia, and some cheers and songs.

Saturday, September 5

AYF Update: Four Folds for Today with Anna Kay
11 Eastern/ 10 am Central in this Zoom room
Join us for an update on Miniwanca and the American Youth Foundation with president Anna Kay Vorsteg.

Decade Meet-Ups
Come connect with others from your era. Make new friends and keep the old!

Campers and Staff of the 1950’s and 1960’s hosted by Jan Strube
2 pm Eastern/ 1 pm Central in this Zoom room

Campers and Staff of the 1970’s
2 pm Eastern/ 1 pm Central in this Zoom room

Campers and Staff of the 1980’s
3 pm Eastern/ 2 pm Central in this Zoom room

Campers and Staff of the 1990’s and 2000’s
3 pm Eastern/ 2 pm Central in this Zoom room

“Miniwanca: Finding the Camp – and Building It” with Samme Orwig
4 pm Eastern/ 3 pm Central in this Zoom room
Pictures and stories from the first years of the American Youth Foundation

Sunday, September 6 

Afternoon Interest Groups

Founder Mural Stories with PJ Smith
2 pm Eastern/1 pm Central in this Zoom room

Baking Wancabread with DD Danforth Burlin
3 pm Eastern /2 pm Central in this Zoom room

Explore the Miniwanca Archives with Jan Strube and Karen Reimer
4 pm Eastern/ 3 pm Central in this Zoom room

Candlelight Sing and Closing Circle
8 pm EDT/ 7pm CDT Candlelight Sing and Closing Circle 

The post Labor Day Girls Camp Reunion Goes Virtual appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

Author Anne Lamott says there are essentially three prayers that get us through tough times: Help, Thanks, and Wow. This summer has been full of such moments for the American Youth Foundation. It will likely not go down in the record books as a favorite, but these long months have been rich in ways we never imagined. Even as we navigate so much loss, I feel hopeful not only for the future of the AYF, but also for what lies ahead for our human family. We have so many reasons to say: Help. Thanks. Wow.

Wow | As our virtual summer programs come to an end, we are wowed by all we learned and accomplished. We were in our growth zone as we stumbled and stretched to connect online. We came together, proving virtual connections possible and powerful. Hundreds joined our various online spaces, gathering in community while taking part in activities and conversations intended to move them in the direction of their best. The pandemic limited our abilities to gather at Miniwanca and Merrowvista, but it did not stop us from gathering as Miniwanca and Merrowvista.

Thanks | This unique season could not have been possible without the direct and generous support of so many. Our deepest thanks to all who donated to help keep us in motion and to the volunteers who shared their time and talent during our virtual programs. Of course, we are grateful for all who participated in our Invincible Summer camp, National Leadership Conference (NLC-Z), and Summer Seminars for Women. We hope all of you gained something from these collective efforts – we sure did.

Help | We look ahead at a changed landscape, adapting as we act to secure a healthy future and asking for your help to persevere during these difficult times. We are disappointed to share that the AYF will not be able to offer our Community and School Programs at Miniwanca and Merrowvista in the coming semester. The AYF typically serves more than 5,000 participants in three- to five-day residential programs during the academic year. This loss quickly translates to losses on other fronts.

This pandemic-induced program interruption has meant the elimination of nearly all program revenue for this year and, as a result, the loss of need for many staff positions. With great sadness, we must say goodbye to twelve beloved team members at the end of August. In addition to these layoffs, our Senior Leadership Team will also take a reduction in pay.

We are experiencing a triple-prayer moment.

It is hard to lose dedicated colleagues who have wowed us with their gifts. We are thankful for the efforts they have poured into Miniwanca and Merrowvista. We ask for your love, support, and help lifting their spirits. We also ask for your continued financial gifts to support our ongoing work, maintaining sites and systems to ensure our swift return to mission-supporting programs.

No one faces an easy assignment, but we are united to do everything we can to ensure a long, strong future for the AYF. Our team has held this news with amazing grace, and now it feels important to share it with our broader community.

It has been a unique and challenging summer for the AYF, a season that required letting go, surfaced rich learning, and revealed items of critical concern that were equaled with just as many points of light. We must recognize not only the real threat of complex issues like a pandemic, racial injustice, the environmental crisis, and much more, but also recognize the urgent invitation they pose. The world needs bold actors who will dare to bring their best to these problems. The AYF will endure – we must, for it is our mission to inspire such actors.

I pray that you, your family, and friends are in good health and able to take good action, and I hope you know that the AYF is working hard to ensure its continued health. May the fiscal discipline we act with today prove that we intend to be about this mission for another hundred years. We will not run the well dry; rather, we will adjust the flow, conserving what we have until sources are replenished.

Here’s hoping we drink from the fountains of Miniwanca and Merrowvista next summer. Until then, let’s keep drinking from the wells of truth, beauty, love, and courage.

Wishing you continued rich discoveries on the journey toward your best,

Anna Kay Vorsteg
President

The post Wow. Thanks. Help. An important COVID-19 update from the AYF appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

Invincible Summer, the AYF’s free online summer programming, has united the Merrowvista and Miniwanca campers under one AYF banner, joining one another for Interest Groups, Games Nights, and much more. Some campers have even elected to undertake a Founder Medal Challenge, pursuing virtual badges and attending Zoom events to earn an actual Founder Medal to be sent to them at the end of the summer.  

Miniwanca parent Katie Bell said registering her children Nate, 12, and Sam, 9, for Invincible Summer was an easy decision. 

“We cherish the experiences we have while at Miniwanca and how that magic and spark carries forward into the world we live in while away from the dunes,” Bell said. “We chose to participate as an opportunity to continue to grow in these uncertain times while at home. Knowing the staff who created Invincible Summer and trusting that they would bring their all and best to this, it was a no–brainer.” 

Bell said Sam has thoroughly enjoyed his time in weekly Interest Groups, which she said have the energy and feel of in-person camp. “Sam has loved the IGs he’s participated in: Nature Crafts, where he built a super creative fairy house in our yard, and then Scavenger Hunts, where he went all over the house finding cool things,” Bell said. “We’re just getting into the badges, which I can see really being fun for the kids to do.”

Chelsea Bernthal, Miniwanca director of community and school programs, said it was important not only to provide fun activities, but also to bridge the distance between camp friends and rekindle connection. 

“There have been lots of moments watching kids see a familiar face and witnessing that spark of recognition when they realize, ‘This is my community,’” she said. “One child who participated in a lot of our spring programming has taken a lot of leadership and initiative during Interest Groups, and that’s really sweet to see. He feels comfortable in the Zoom space, teaching people how to use it and keeping the conversation going.” 

Four Trails, Trailblazers, and Avail campers have had the chance to connect with their trip groups and villages in small group discussions, and the entire community has gathered for Evening Reflection, Night’s Doings, and a very special flash mob.  

Amidst the fun and games, Four Trails manager Andrew McIver said campers are exploring what it truly means to live as their best selves in their daily lives. 

“One of my favorite programs is the Inspired Best Selves workshop,” he said. “Every time I go, I’m really surprised at how open people are being in the virtual setting. No matter the setting, AYF values feel like them come through.”  

While the virtual space won’t replace an in-person camp experience, Bernthal said Invincible Summer is helping to reinforce one of the AYF’s key values: positive community. 

“Every time campers leave camp, we tell them the place isn’t what makes Miniwanca or Merrowvista special,” she said. “They all have the capacity to create positive community wherever they are, and this is challenging them to create that away from camp and away from anything they expected.”  

Invincible Summer will culminate on Friday, July 31 with a Final Fire Celebration on Zoom. Learn more about the final two weeks of programming and other activities online.  

The post Merrowvista, Miniwanca campers flock to Invincible Summer   appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

At the end of the week, each class created a final presentation video reflecting on their NLC experiences and having a little fun.

Four Years: 

Third Years: 

Second Years: 

BHRV Ogga Chaka

Watch “BHRV Ogga Chaka” on Streamable.

The post NLC-Z 2020: Final Presentations appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

(Catch up on Chapter 1, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3!)

Chapter 4: Biking Beavers and the March of the Porcupines

Have you ever seen a bounty of Beavers busily biking by? The cars that passed the biking Beavers certainly had not. You see, it takes three whole Beavers to ride a bike: One to sit on the seat and control the handlebars and gear shifts, and the other two to hang off the stick the first is sitting on, continually doing pull ups in order to power the pedals. With helmets made of coconut shells and their panyard racks chalk full of sticks and logs, the Beavers had been peddling through the Ossipee Region for the past three days.

The Wishing Tree had challenged the Beavers to adventure outside of the valley to discover the other dams in the area and to represent Merrowvista in the greater Beaver community. And that they did! Throughout their journey they had visited neighboring colonies of Beavers they had never encountered before. Some colonies even invited the Beavers of the Dam into their homes, showing them new building techniques and, one time, even sharing a delicious, leaf-based meal with them.

In return, the Beavers of the Dam told their new friends of Merrowvista and its scrumptious moss and leaves. As their trip was ending in a day or so, The Wishing Tree wanted to give them a warm welcome back into the community, and after reading this letter from a camper, they knew exactly who to contact.

Dear Wishing Tree,

Hey! It’s Ruby! I have been a camper at MV for a few years now, and I was in Little Haystack last summer as a Four Week Trailblazer. When I was a Pioneer in Moosilauke, I always told my leaders I was going to the Super Biff, but I was really coming to see you. Is it true that you really grant wishes if somebody throws a stone through the Y in your branches? I think they’re right, because some of those wishes came true.

I just graduated from 8th grade a couple weeks ago, and I was asked to be the class speaker. It was over Zoom…which was different, but it was still a very nice ceremony. In my speech I talked about camp and the things that it has taught me. I miss it, did this whole thing have to happen this year?

I was going to be an Explorer this summer, and I guess I’m still an Explorer, I’ll just have to wait until next summer. I’m excited to do hiking and canoeing, but I don’t know about biking. I know how to ride a bike, but not that well. I keep thinking about Voyageur and Odyssey Walk-In, and how cool it would be to one of those kids walking their bike back into camp. I’m worried that I’ll miss being a Trailblazer because the Four Trails kids spend so much time outside of camp. But Walk-In is enough to get me to at least try.

See ya next year,

Ruby

From their perch in the Meadow, the Wishing Tree bellowed…

Ahoy there! You spiny chaps!
It’s time to come out and listen!
This letter I’ve read from a camper today.
Cause my ancient eyes to glisten!

Out on the trail, as we speak right now
Are 15 Beavers voyaging home!
Their arms are tired, their tails are tan,
Up the hills and valleys they roam!

Upon their return, celebration is in order,
Full of cheering and dazzling signs!
I challenge you to paint and color
Banners and posters of the affirmation kind!

A list of the Beaver’s names I’ll send
Courtesy of our fabulous friends the Roots
Make a personal sign for each of them,
As budding artists, you I recruit!

You must march from your homes in the forest,
Though they may be cozy and undisturbed,
Head to Lodge of New Jersey!
Porcupines, I beg that you heed my word!   

The Porcupines of Weston Shelter were a quaint, keep-to-themselves colony of Mammals. Living in the tall Trees that surround Weston Shelter, the Porcupines only rarely ever ventured outside the area near the Squirrel Biff, and when they did, it was to munch on the bark, stems and nuts they found so delicious.  The branches they called home served as their ultimate happy place; therefore, the Porcupines didn’t really get out much. Their dramatic appearance and tendency to spend time alone led the Porcupines to live quite a solitary life, and that was something that they were OK with.

But sometimes, certain Porcupines wondered what life would be like to have some company or what life was like up near the Farmhouse. What really kept them away from the rest of the community was they were nervous for what the other animals would think of them. In their mind, the last thing a Rock Troll or a Beaver would want to see coming toward them was a giant ball of spikes, and so when the Tree had asked them their favor to venture to the other side of camp, the decision whether or not to go caused major anxiety among the colony.

There were some Porcupines that felt that it was far too dangerous to travel that far away from their home base and warned that the woods around New Jersey were a dark and precarious place, full of unfriendly inhabitants. Yet a group of 10 tweenage Porcupines felt excited by the idea of exploring the other corners of the Valley, sometimes feeling they had been missing out on what was happening up the hill.

So, much to the protest of their loved ones, the March of the Porcupines began at dusk. Moving up the hill in single file, the bright eyed and spiny tailed Porcupines sang a song as they marched past Danforth Lodge.

Whoa ho ho, here we go,
Up the Danforth Hill from to and fro!

Explorers We, sent by the Tree,
What’s at New Jersey Lodge, we’ll wait and see!

They stumbled and bumbled up the hill as the sun set in the Valley. To their right they passed the climbing tower with its colorful handholds as they chugged along, singing their song. The moon lit their path to the right of the Lower Parking Area, where the mischievous Raccoons were scavenging in the nearby dumpster, their yellow eyes flickering in the moonlight. They looked curiously at the round, slow moving spine-balls hiking up the hill, and wondered what could possibly be bringing the shy-natured Porcupines so far away from their homes.

The Porcupine that had been leading the explorers, Quilla, locked eyes with one of the Racoons perched on top of the dumpster. For only a moment, Quilla, paused before nodding to the Racoon and continuing upward, signaling for the rest to follow. The Raccoon nodded back, surprised that a Porcupine would be so bold as to challenge their territory near the dumpster. The Racoons had found a new level of respect for the Porcupines after that day, for they realized that it was the Porcupine’s valley just as much as it was theirs.

After three hours of a grueling uphill climb, the Porcupines finally made it to the A-Field where a midnight breeze blew across the grass. Above, the stars shone brighter than they had ever seen before, and Quilla and crew paused to look at the glowing gemstones that dotted the sky.

With New Jersey Lodge in view, Quilla led the party towards the Whale Watch in front of New Jersey. Interestingly, the lights were already on, and from a distance, they could see movement in the lodge. Nervously, the Porcupines discussed whether or not they should move forward towards New Jersey.

“We’ve come this far, we have to see what’s inside!” Quilla said to the group.

Cautiously, she led the way as the Porcupines made their final accent of the New Jersey Porch. As they reached the double doors, the Roots stretched out from under the porch to open the door. The doors swung open to reveal dozens of Chipmunks and Squirrels prepping the materials needed for sign making.

The Porcupines stared wide-eyed at the 30 or so four-legged creatures that populated the room. Squirrels jaws dropped as the Porcupines introduced themselves to the rest of the crowd, “Um…we were sent by the Tree to make signs for the Beaver’s return,” said Quilla sheepishly, “but it seems like you all have already started…”

“We’re here to help!” said a bushy-tailed Squirrel, “The Tree sent us too!”

Together, 40 or so four-legged mammals got to work. Squirrels rolled out giant sheets of paper while the chipmunks cut straight lines with their teeth. Porcupines poured paint into wooden bowls while others cleaned the paintbrushes in the sink. Glitter and string flew through the air as the Porcupines sang their song for their new friends. The Chipmunks had a song of their own in classic acapella style, which they chirped to an enthusiastic audience.

The Porcupines were surprised that these were the “scary” inhabitants of the L-Village Forest the rest of their colony were scared of, but in reality, the Squirrels and Chipmunks could not have been more kind. With new friendships being formed and paint being splattered, the mammals of New Jersey worked through the night and the next morning.

By the time dawn broke, they had perfectly painted and decorated 15 individual signs for each of the returning Beavers. Representing all the colors of the rainbow, the signs sparkled with glitter and vibrant colors, lettered with the names of each of the Beavers. High fives and pats on the back abounded, the paint covered rodents stood on the New Jersey Porch admiring the 15 signs drying on the ground.

As the Beavers completed their accent of Camp Hill, a proper New Hampshire rainstorm floated in from over the mountains just in time for Walk In. It wouldn’t be Walk In without a little rain. The artists on the New Jersey porch quickly brought their signs under the safety of the overhang as the Roots began to ring the Bell continuously, hundreds and hundreds of times, to signal the beginning of Beaver Walk In.

“But our signs will get wet if we try to walk them across the A-Field! They’ll be ruined!” a concerned Chipmunk chirped from the NJ Porch. The rest of the group sadly nodded their heads in agreement, feeling disheartened.

“Don’t you get it,” said Quilla, “this isn’t about signs or paint or glitter. This is about being there for the Beavers when they come back into camp, to show them how proud of them we are. Who cares if the signs get wet? They’ll see that we tried.”

The Wishing Tree was not going to let a little rain get in the way of all of their hard work, so all at once, he instructed the Trees near New Jersey to lean down to make a tunnel of branches and leaves, allowing the Porcupines and their friends to reach the Farmhouse with their signs completely dry! All the animals stood in wonder watching as the branches used their leaves to create the tunnel, stretching all the way to the Farmhouse. The Bell still ringing proud, the Porcupines grabbed the signs and rushed towards Walk-In Hill. The sound of the Bell resonated throughout the valley, which inspired the rest of the Porcupines by Weston Shelter to venture up the hill in the storm.

As the Beavers rounded the corner near the Shop, walking the five bikes up the final hill, they couldn’t believe what they saw. The tree branches were filled with Squirrels and Chipmunks cheering and singing and holding their beautiful signs. Porcupines jumping up and down signs above their head lined the road as the Beavers made the final push. Birds cawed and flew over the Beavers heads, dropping flowers from their beaks as confetti.

The Wishing Tree clapped from Meadow in the rain making the Trees shake, so proud to see the incredible show the Porcupines had put on. They especially clapped for Quilla, for she was the only one to truly understand the reason why the campers and staff held this strange biannual tradition. It was to come together as a community, to celebrate the accomplishments of the ones that they care about, and why not make it a show?

The tree shouted:

To Porcupines! To Quilla!
I can’t believe you actually did it!
The signs you made, radiant and bright,
The Beavers nor I will soon forget it!

You’ve made it feel like Summer here
In ways that I didn’t believe.
The energy and love that you demonstrated today,
Is comparable to that of what Campers achieve!

That night, after the Beavers did their bike love and emptied their panyards, they met the Squirrels, Chipmunks, and Porcupines on the A-Field for a night of stargazing. For the first time, the Porcupines felt like they were a part of a group, a community, a larger family.

The next artifact was on its way to the Circle, a stone paintbrush used to make the exceptional signs. The fire sparked and grew as the Tree representing the Explorers placed the brush next to the Skippers License and the Pool Noodle, in the section where hundreds of Explorers have sat and sung over the years. Explorers that were nervous to bike, Explorers that didn’t know if they would like it, Explorers who challenged themselves to take what they had learned as Pioneers and Trailblazers and apply it to a mobile community.

The Tree shook its head and wiped a tear. They couldn’t wait to see what came next. At this point, anything was possible!

The post Wash Your Hands, Send Your Letters: Chapter 4 appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

(Catch up on Chapter 1 and Chapter 2!)

Chapter 3: The Battle of the A-Field

The summer sun was just starting to show its face in the Valley. The days got warmer and warmer during the late May afternoons. As the ground softened and the frost melted away, the wildflowers and grasses of the Ossipee Mountains started to flourish. The blueberry bushes at the Waterfront returned to green, and the frogs and tadpoles swam curiously along the Pond’s edge, happy to see that almost all the ice had melted away.

The thousands of birds who call the trees their home seemed to chirp louder and wake earlier in the morning, the Wishing Tree noticed. A local cat whose family lived nearby had wandered over to the base of the Tree and lazily flopped onto a sunny spot near the it’s trunk. Ever so carefully, the Tree reached down with one of its branches and gave it a small scratch behind its ear. Eventually, the cat climbed up the leaning branch up into the Tree until she found a comfortable spot. On the stoop, a small postcard sat waiting to be read.

Dear Wishing Tree,

Hey, it’s Jacob from Canaan last year. I understand why we can’t go back to camp this summer, but it’s still not easy. My cabin has been together since we were Pioneers and we were going to be four-week Trailblazers this summer. My family has been playing a lot of games together, but I can’t wait to be back to play Capture the Flag. I’ve been coming up with some strategies. Just wish I could use them now.

-Jacob from Canaan

Ah, the Rock Trolls, some of the humblest and hardest working creatures in the entire state of New Hampshire. They are also some of the shyest folks you can imagine.

The Rocks had taken residence on the hill near the AC when the camp was first being built. Eventually, they found it so comfortable that when the Amphitheater was created, they immediately volunteered to serve as the benches, thrilled by the idea of supporting Merrowivsta’s community members in their quest to develop their best selves. They felt… important! Strong! Noble! Their flat heads and smooth surface made for perfect seating, and they didn’t mind the company either.

From where they stayed, lodged in the side of the hill, they had watched dozens of MV theatrical productions, MV Idols and Closing Circles. They had watched campers complete their climbing goals and play dodgeball on rainy summer afternoons.

When the Wishing Tree called the Rocks’ attention from just a few feet down the hill, the Rocks rolled from the dirt that had held them in place for so long.

Lumpy, some would say, the surface of the rock troll’s skin was weathered with lichen and dusted with dirt, which got stronger as kids ripped up the grass when they didn’t want to pay attention to a certain MV idol performance (they of course paid full attention when the nose flutes emerged. Ah, the glory of Chris Morse).

Anyway, as they emerged groggily from the hill, there was a slight rumbling to the ground. One by one they plummeted forward, with the smallest of the trolls almost bouncing off the AC floor due to their lengthy descent.

One would think a Rock Troll’s face would have limited expressions, due to the rock and all, but no. These were charismatic souls, contorting their stone features to express an impressive range of emotions, but their expressions of competition and brainstorming were some of their most striking. Once one troll had an idea, the whole troll fleet would suddenly be deep in thought, furiously wrinkling their foreheads–almost as if their minds were one single entity, making them a fierce competitor to anyone who dared challenge them.

Calling Igneous! Calling Granite!
Calling my wonderful friends, the Stones!
It’s time to rise up!
Rub your eyes and shake your bones!

It’s been too many years
since I’ve seen your expressive faces
I call upon you for a game with cheers,
Soon it will be off to the races!

At each end of the A-Field
Your foe’s flag you must obtain!
I really hope it’s sunny.
Nonetheless, we’ll play in rain!

So stretch those legs, hydrate up!
The Battle of the A-Field is starting soon!
It’s the Rock Trolls versus the Raccoons
Starting tomorrow, see you there at 6 past noon!

Bursting with excitement, the Rocks spent the next 24 hours preparing for the next day’s competition. While easygoing most of the time, as soon as the Rocks got wind that a competition was afoot, their entire disposition changed.

That afternoon, they did a group jog, well it was more like a group roll, on the path through the meadow and around the Eating Lodge. They used the basketball court to practice defense drills, bobbing and weaving through the cones they found in the Athletic Shed.

The Raccoons, who had also been contacted by the Tree, made similar preparations of their own. As the resident “bad boys” of the Canaan Valley, the Raccoons usually kept to themselves, but just like the Rocks, there was nothing like a healthy competition to bring them out of hiding.

Stealthy, crafty, and cunning, the group of Trash Pandas had a few tricks up their sleeves that they knew would give them advantage during the game. In their mind, it was time to reclaim the A-Field for the Raccoons again, and what better time than the Battle of the A-Field for them to mount a takeover?

The next night was perfect weather for a game of Capture the Flag. The early evening sun poked out just behind Flagg Mountain illuminating the battleground. The Roots had measured out the exact dimensions of for the boundaries and had placed cones neatly around the A-Field. They had made the flag and jail circles on either side and carefully placed the cut-up pool noodles that would be used as flags inside.

The Tree had sent them to deliver paint to each of the teams beforehand, and the Rocks spent the entire afternoon rolling themselves in red paint. The Raccoons carefully used their tails to paint each other’s faces with blue paint as they made the final preparations on their secret weapons.

The vines that trellis around the bell confidently rung the bell 17 times to signal the teams to gather. From the AC Path came the Rocks, marching in formation singing the songs of their people. The smallest and quickest rocks took the lead as the larger, more defensive rocks brought up the back of the formation. The chant they sung went:

(Chanting)

We the rocks
Of earth and stone
Benches we
The AC our home.

For Daniel Hope
We do our best
Put our perseverance
To the test.

The Rocks Rolled in Red made their way to the soccer goal nearest them as the first of the Raccoons started to appear from the L-Village forest. Their blue tails whipping back and forth, the Raccoons pulled a dish cart that they must have stolen from the Dishroom behind them. Draped with a blanket, there was no way to see what was on the cart, but the Rocks were not intimidated, they were going to win this game fair and square. The game was a best out of five, with the first team to win three rounds taking the title.

With the two teams ready to go, the Vines rung the bell 10 times to signal the start of the game. The Rocks and Raccoons ran towards the center of the A-Field and started to size up their opponents. The Rocks were far more organized than the opposition, making sure to assign different Rocks to attack and defend.

A few minutes in, the Rocks had tagged a dozen or so Raccoons who sat impatiently in the jail circle. “Barricade Formation!” one of the large Rocks called while defending the flag circle. Like clockwork, or rockwork, I suppose, the stones lined up and started charging towards the Raccoons flag circle, protecting a few speedier rocks from being tagged. It worked like a dream and before you knew it, the Rocks secured the first round! They cheered the speedy Rock who brought the flag across the finish line and quickly got ready for round 2.

The second round happened much like the first did, with the disorganized Raccoons jumping and falling all over the field. While they had speed and maneuvering skills, they never thought that they would be going up against actual strategic formations! Using a “flying V” strategy, the Rocks easily won the second round, their preparations and training obviously paying off.

With one Rock capture away from defeat, the Raccoons knew that it was time to unveil their plan. Ripping off the blanket from the dish cart revealed what looked like 10 kite-like devices with climbing harnesses attached to the bottom. Smirking, the Raccoons started to climb into the hang gliders that they had constructed out of sticks, leaves and bits of trash they had scavenged from the dumpster. Climbing up the posts of the soccer goal, the 10 Flying Raccoons pulled down their homemade aviator goggles and waited for round three to start.

As the bell rung to start the round, the Raccoons jumped off the crossbar and into the air, soaring over the heads of the Rocks who looked up with panicked expressions. Floating into the flag circle some of the pilots made it all the way to the other side of the A-Field and landed on the opposing teams crossbar. The Raccoons who landed in the flag circle simply threw the flag to those on the crossbar who safely flew back to their territory.

It was no surprise that the Raccoons secured the next two rounds easily, as the Rocks tried desperately to come up with a new strategy to defend against the vertical Trash Pandas. The entire Night’s Doings would come down to one final round.

The Wishing Tree had been watching from down the hill, and was disappointed at the Raccoons for their tricks, as it was definitely not Best-Self Capture the Flag. He thought of what it could do to help the Rocks, but because there are no trees on the A-Field, he struggled to find a solution.

Before the final round started, the Rocks finally came up with a strategy to defend their flag circle. Using the larger rocks as it’s base, the Rocks formed a giant wall that surrounded the flag, with the smallest rocks on top of the wall to tag the pilots. The strategy worked perfectly as the round started! Any pilot who dared venture near the flag circle was easily tagged by the high-up rocks.

The Rocks had a secret strategy of their own, and now that the aerial offensive was being kept to a minimum, the largest of all the Rocks, Igneous Iggy, signaled for the fastest Rock, Sedimentary Tony, to jump into his arms. With a throw that even Tom Brady would be proud of, Iggy chucked Tony all the way across the A-Field and into the Raccoon’s flag circle.

The Wishing Tree gave a small cheer, and quickly covered his mouth. Seeing that the Rocks were just one run away from losing the game, they circled the flag circle where Tony tightly clutched the blue pool noodle. As they closed in closer to the circle, Tony could see no way of escaping and bringing the flag to safety.

Just then, the Roots opened up a Rock sized hole in the grass right in front of Tony! The Wishing Tree cheered once more, and yelled, “Roll, Tony! Roll!” Following the Roots lead, Tony jumped into the hole where he started digging towards the other side of the A-Field. The Raccoons desperately tried to dig into the soil to tag him, but Tony was far too quick!

Bursting out the the ground, Tony crossed the midline and scored the final point, blue flag in hand! The Rocks had done it! The Battle of the A-Field was theirs!

The Tree gave a hip-hip-hooray from down the hill and shouted:

Well, golly, you did it!
The Title goes to the Rocks!
That game was so intense,
It had me nervously knitting my grass socks!
You came together as team
You worked hard, got creative!
Champions once again
A title I am happy to give!

With that, the Roots took the blue pool noodle and replaced it with a plaque commemorating the Rocks incredible victory over the Raccoons. The Raccoons applauded the Rocks graciously, commending the Rocks on their ability to think outside the box. They then returned to the forest to their homes.

The Rocks applauded as they left the A-Field, recognizing the incredible fight they put up. Singing and cheering, the Rocks rolled back to the AC Hill, happy to have gotten some exercise, some fun and just a smidgen of competition.

A huge summer rainstorm hit the valley that night, with streams of water carving paths through the various paths of Merrowvista. The aluminum roofs of the cabins vibrated with the falling rain, creating a kind of percussion performance, accompanied by the sound of puddles being filled with droplets.

The Circle Trees were elated to hear that another artifact was on its way, as the Tree that represented the Trailblazers waiting for the roots to bring their delivery. Within the Circle, the Stone Skippers Licence sat alone on the bench. When the Artifact arrived from the Roots, the Trees’ oohed and ahhed at the pool noodle made completely of stone. The Wishing Tree had really outdone itself this time.

Slowly and carefully, the Tree outside of the Circle gently placed the noodle down next to the Skippers Licence, in the section where the campers of Sentinel, Liberty, Canaan, Laffayette, Carter Dome, Lincoln, Madison and Little Haystack would have sat, and have sat for dozens of summers before. The fire that was completely unlit before began to emit a small purple spark, knowing that something was coming. Two sections represented, the Tree smiled from the Meadow. It was happening, the creatures were learning!

The post Wash Your Hands, Send Your Letters: Chapter 3 appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

Summer 2020 will undoubtedly be different than years past, but president Anna Kay Vorsteg shared that the AYF community has already exceeded her expectations. 

“This pandemic has issued a very real test of our values and priorities, and we passed,” Anna Kay said. “We collectively passed so beautifully.”   

In April, Anna Kay made the difficult announcement that summer 2020 could not proceed as planned due to the coronavirus pandemic, but even she was not prepared for the deluge of goodwill from the wider Founder Friends community.  

“It’s so emotional for me, and I was aware that we were sending out news to thousands who shared that same emotion,” Anna Kay said. “Historically, when I’ve sent hard news of a much smaller scale, I’ve received some mad or sad reactions. I expected some negativity. I was bracing for it. But the night the announcement went out, my phone lit up with texts and calls of support and a willingness to help.”  

That outpouring of kindness was just the beginning. The AYF was flooded with messages of understanding and a desire to best support the organization during this unprecedented time.   

“Everyone recognized our shared loss. There’s something special about that. They understand that this isn’t a business relationship. It’s so much more than that,” Anna Kay said. “I’m so touched by the messages that showed they cared not just for the fiscal state that we were in, but the emotional state, as well.”  

Shortly after the announcement, the AYF hosted virtual Town Halls for parents, campers and seasonal staff to help process the news. 

“The people who blew me away were some of the campers I spoke with who’ve worked toward these culminating experiences for years. This is their Voyageur year or their Odyssey year.” Anna Kay said. “I’m sure a part of them is so deeply upset, but the fact that they could keep that disappointment from coming at us is remarkable. The maturity required for that is so impressive.”   

Anna Kay said her focus has now shifted to the broader world and how campers, summer staff, and National Leadership Conference attendees can support their own communities.  

“This is an invitation to be our best and apply it in a sincere way at a needy time,” Anna Kay said. “For example, instead of coming to the AYF this summer, maybe we challenge our teenagers to bring the AYF into a household that desperately needs childcare, when it is safe to do so. They could bring routine and schedule to a family and introduce the AYF mission. Imagine 1,000 households with AYF enkindled spirits as their childcare this summer.”   

As AYF transitions to virtual summer programming, Anna Kay encouraged all Founder Friends to lean on each other and reach out for support during what will a difficult summer for many.   

“In times of trouble and times of challenge, just like all those trips we lead, part of why we can accomplish those remarkable things is we are doing it with others,” she said. “We won’t let the physical distances between us keep us from community this summer.” 

The post Our Community Rises to the Challenge appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

Over the past month, you have adjusted to changes and experienced the loss of many beloved aspects of your lives. You’ve heeded the call for distancing and made sacrifices to help your families and communities to weather this storm. Our communities, our nation, and our world are being changed daily by this coronavirus pandemic, and so too are the program possibilities for the AYF in 2020.

I write to share a difficult but clear decision – we will not be able to gather for residential programs at Miniwanca or Merrowvista this summer. That includes summer camp and Miniwanca and Merrowvista, the National Leadership Conference, Summer Seminars for Women, and Alumni and Family Camp. In truth, it is not a decision, but a blinding recognition. Along with national leaders in outdoor programming, we are announcing that we need to make a major change of course this season. In this time of physical distance, we will offer only free online programming to connect our community until we can safely gather in person.

Our AYF directors and Board members have been working for the past month to consider every barrier and issue before us as we prepared for Miniwanca and Merrowvista camps and the National Leadership Conference. After exploring medical practices and protocols, licensing regulations, accreditation standards, staffing requirements, and program promises, this team came to the conclusion that we will not have the staff, health screenings, resources or expertise necessary to conduct safe programs in the traditional NLC, in-camp and Four Trails formats.

We know this change comes as yet another disappointment among so many you have had to endure this spring. As staff, we share your deep sadness; we know what this means in the lives of all who have been looking forward to a summer experience at both Merrowvista and Miniwanca.

As we navigate this unprecedented time, we are keenly aware that many of our families are feeling financial strain and uncertainty. Please know we will provide full refunds of all fees paid in hopes of offering some relief. Our staff will email the families next week to initiate the refund process and to offer several options for a timely return of their deposits or apply their payments toward a place in summer 2021.

This news certainly will bring up questions for you and especially the participants and campers you are connected to. We do not have all the answers right now, but we will do all we can to support our communities through this transition.  The future of our summer camps will be more flexible, offering the possibility for more choices among program offerings. Campers enrolled in programs such as Voyageur or Odyssey will have options in 2021 like participating in the trip that was missed in 2020 or enrolling in another program. Participants in the National Leadership Conference will be able to continue through their program progression as they would have during the 2020 National Leadership Conference.

While the AYF is taking a different path this summer, we are still on mission and in motion, and we fully intend to be for another 100 years. Thanks to the generosity of our donors through the decades, our nonprofit is supported by an endowment that will help us navigate through this storm and stay vibrant and buoyant as we reach our centennial in 2025.

As we have often said in our AYF communities, “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.” Let’s lean on one another, offering the shelter of connection and understanding as we strive to live at our best during these uncertain times. We will look for you in new ways, gathering on the Cyber Sand Dunes and in the Virtual Valley, our online hubs for connection and virtual programs. Trust that when we can gather safely on the sand dunes of Miniwanca and the hillsides of Merrowvista, we will. I look very forward to seeing you there.

Until then, let’s do all we can to ensure our own health and the health of others. Let us bring our best to this needy world. And let us all…

Aspire Nobly, Adventure Daringly, and Serve Humbly

Anna Kay Vorsteg
AYF President

Andy Mulcahy
AYF Director of Operations

Liz Marshall
AYF Director of Advancement

Matt Loper
AYF Director of Programs

The post Adjusting Our Sails appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

Read An Important Update from AYF President Anna Kay Vorsteg

For the latest answers to your Frequently Asked Questions, please click here (updated Wednesday, April 15, 2020)

Over the past week, we have heard from so many of you, and I am both surprised and buoyed by the repeated theme that so many are sharing. At a time when we, in the American Youth Foundation, are concerned for the well-being of all of you: our students, campers, staff, and alumni, YOU are writing to express concerns for the health of our organization. These expressions of care and concern are perhaps the most flattering form of balance I have witnessed in recent times. Thank you.

I want to reassure all in our larger community that we are doing relatively well, not unscathed, but standing tall. Because of the generosity of so many of you and those who have gone before us, we are fortunate to have endowment funds to keep our work, our mission, up and running.

We regret having to cancel many of our spring programs and our largest scholarship-raising event, the Donald Danforth, Jr. Golf Tournament. What we don’t regret is the opportunity before us to increase our online presence while simultaneously planning for the exciting program seasons ahead.

And while you’re at home, we are reaching out to help you stay connected with us. We heard the call for spaces to build community, reconnect with balance, and put to use the tools learned at Miniwanca and Merrowvista. You are invited to join our virtual hub, AYF Founder Friends, located on the Slack platform, where we’re forming dedicated channels for alumni and friends to post messages and join live conversations. On our website, you can find new blog entries, the first written by AYF parent Gretchen Clayton, sharing her story from home with her campers.

The AYF has weathered many a challenge in her 95 years. I have complete faith that we will weather the extremes of this pandemic. Will it be easy? No. Will we need to flex, let go and support each other in new ways? Yes. Nothing less than our best will be called for.

For now, take comfort as I do, that we are blessed to be a part of a legacy organization. The good and generous actions of those “upriver” keep us afloat today. When the waters calm, may we look to do all we can for those “downriver.” For now, worry not about the AYF, but please do us an important favor, take good smart care of yourself, and those around you.

Ever Grateful,
Anna Kay

Anna Kay Vorsteg
AYF President

Posted on March 14, 2020

Please know our thoughts are with you all as we navigate the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 health crisis and all it is stirring up in our home communities. You are very much on our minds and we imagine soon the reverse will be true, you will be thinking about this coming program season.

We want you to know that we, in the AYF, are monitoring events closely and working hard to determine the best path forward for all of our programs. In the face of so much uncertainty, our goal is to address as we can, concerns you may carry about program offerings and operations at Miniwanca and Merrowvista this spring and summer.

We remain steady in our commitment to offer only safe, mission supporting programs. And while we do not yet know all of the ways the current health crisis will require us to adapt our practices and planning, we pledge to keep you informed of any changes.

As of this week, we have made the following policy shifts in an effort to provide immediate support to our families in uncertain times:

• The final payment date for 2020 tuition has been extended to May 1st
• If your child is unable to attend for any reason and you share this with us on or before May 1st you will receive a full refund or can opt to roll payments and registrations forward towards a 2021 program offering.

We want to assure you that until May 1st you will receive a full refund of all tuition and fees paid if, for any reason, your child cannot attend a camp or conference program. With travel and so many other restrictive factors in play, please rest assured that AYF will keep no payments for any cancellations related to the impact of COVID-19.

We are reaching out to Community and School Program partners scheduled to be at one of our campuses this spring. If you are wondering about the status of a program scheduled this spring, please reach out to our offices and we look forward to connecting with you.

It is not lost on us that schools are sending students home, most extracurricular activities have been canceled, workplace demands are shifting, and restrictions are being introduced into our daily lives. Everyone is anxious and rightfully so. These are indeed trying times AND these are the very times when the best within each of us is called to rise. Now is when the skills and strengths campers have developed and discovered at AYF programs are vitally important, and now is when we invite all to seek opportunities to take positive action in the interest of others.

With this in mind, it is our hope to roll out a virtual program of sorts; sharing tools, readings, activities that will allow both parents and campers to connect with each other in positive, purposeful ways that enable them to support each other while also exploring ways they can use their capacities to strengthen our struggling communities. We often say in the AYF that “It’s a mark of leadership to adjust” and so adjust we will. We hope each of you will accept our invitation to bring the mission of AYF to life in a new way at a necessary time. This is our dare.

Thank you for being part of our AYF community. We look forward to having you in the AYF family for years to come. And we look forward to rising with you in the challenging months ahead.

Aspire Nimbly!

Anna Kay

Anna Kay Vorsteg
AYF President

Posted on March 5, 2020

As news of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) becomes available, the American Youth Foundation (AYF) is proactively planning for any impact to our programs. We are concerned with the health and well-being of all of the participants and staff in our communities and are monitoring the developing situation closely.

At this time, there are no travel advisories regarding COVID-19 in Michigan or New Hampshire that would impact our programs. As such, we plan to conduct all programs unless travel is restricted or we are otherwise advised by local, state, or federal authorities. We will continue to evaluate new information as it becomes available, and we are prepared to adjust if necessary. We will keep our participants, families, and staff informed if any changes need to happen in terms of our program offerings.

We encourage you to find more information through these trusted sources:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• The World Health Organization
• U.S. State Department Travel Information

As a preventative measure against disease transmission, all of our programs stress the importance of hygiene and safety. We will add extra attention to the implementation of these recommendations from the CDC :

• Frequent handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol-based sanitizer
• Using the crook of your arm to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

We will continue to enforce our community health protocols for the safety of all. If a participant or staff arrives at our sites exhibiting signs and symptoms of flu-like illness (fever, cough, sore throat, and shortness of breath), they will not be admitted to the program. Anyone with reason to believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 will need to be cleared by a medical provider before entering the sites. We will follow local medical advice for participants and staff that the person may have had contact with.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding AYF’s preparation and response to this public health event. We will continue to communicate with updates as they are available.

Updated March 5, 2020 3pm CST

The post AYF Statement on the Coronavirus appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

Surely you are aware of the many Executive Orders being issued by Governors at this time. I write to make sure you are equally aware of my Executive Invitation to Shelter in Place.  The orders being given by elected officials are serious, critically necessary and need our full commitment. The invitation I extend is also serious, and if accepted, can be preventative and life-giving. I hope you will join with the AYF in the weeks to come, as we actively work to build and provide shelter for one another.

There is an Irish proverb that we often reference when building our communities at Miniwanca and Merrowvista: It is in the shelter of each other that the people live. Perhaps like never before, we need to come together as a community to provide each other shelter as the incredible storm in the form of coronavirus hovers over us. If we were on trail and a thunderstorm was passing over, we would all assume the terribly uncomfortable, but proven, stance of lightning position. We would spread out, not touch each other, squat down hugging our knees and find a way, despite our distance, discomfort, and fear, to emotionally hold each other up. By up, I mean up in spirit. In times like these, conversations, songs, and play can provide us real protection. These things can’t stop lightning, but they are a proven defense against fear, loneliness and the time-drag of hard waiting places – they are our shelter. And when challenging things do happen, we can and will be right there for one another, as we seek to heal and draw meaning from the unimaginable.

In the weeks and likely months ahead, we will all form new routines. I hope you will be deliberate about your movements and take up this invitation to join us in sheltering in place online. Through our new Best Self Every Day virtual program, our staff is rallying to provide daily activities that will grow the best within you. Dare to start your days with Go-Getters or Morning Stretch, explore the Founder Friends community, or attend an online Evening Reflection. Dare to learn a new skill by attending a virtual Interest Group. Dare to sing and dance and laugh without apology during an online Assembly. And when ready, adventure daringly in exchanges with others from across this country, some of whom you do not yet know. Let us gather, and share in good books, good movies and meaningful conversations.

The rising bell has rung! Rise, grab these challenging days one by one and draw from each their gifts. This time will pass, and when we look back upon it, may we see how it shaped us for the better. So my friends, get off that couch, out of that bed, and hurry towards your best. Lace on some close-toed shoes and join us in the opportunities presented below. Recognize that it is time to shelter. And understand, shelter is an action verb!

Health and healing to you and yours,

Anna Kay

Anna Kay Vorsteg
AYF President

The post An Invitation to Shelter in Place appeared first on American Youth Foundation.