Will you make a year-end gift to the AYF today and empower thousands of young people across the country?

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This year, our goal is to receive financial gifts from 200 individuals. And, if you help us reach our goal, we will unlock an additional $25,000 Giving Tuesday gift from a generous donor!

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The cycling program was paused after the pandemic, giving AYF leaders the opportunity to reflect, research, and imagine what a renewed biking experience could look like for today’s youth.

In summer 2026, cycling will return to AYF with a fresh vision. AYF President Liz Marshall said the cycling landscape has changed in recent years, and rebuilding the program has allowed the AYF to approach it in new way, balancing tradition with innovation.

“The biking program still holds transformative promise, but we needed to rebuild it to meet safety standards and offer a powerful invitation for youth to discover their best,” Marshall said. “The new cycling program will provide an opportunity for personal growth grounded in our AYF core values and program outcomes.”

Daring New Adventures

Next summer, the AYF will launch a pilot season with cycling options at both sites. The AYF carefully considered the program offerings at Miniwanca and Merrowvista and developed pilot programs that best suited each site’s unique camper population.

“We will assess these pilot programs with the goal of adding more bike options at both sites in future summers,” said Marshall.

At Miniwanca, 2026 Explorers will enjoy a trip that includes both cycling and backpacking. At Merrowvista, the Trailblazer and Explorer programs will have biking components, and a new version of Voyageur will include sea kayaking, backpacking, and a cycling experience.

The new iteration of cycling prioritizes the central aspects of the AYF camp experience: building community and personal growth and development, not miles traveled.

A Culture of Safety

Since 2019, the AYF has listened, reflected, and studied the data and stories from the past. Those insights helped shape the new cycling offerings.

As with all Four Trails programs, a culture of safety will be the foundation. This means extra resources and staff, thorough training for trip leaders, pre-trip evaluations for campers, updated gear and new route standards.

The AYF has partnered with cycling and outdoor adventure experts to design trips with routes that avoid busy roads and take advantage of the expanding network of rail trails, dirt roads, and scenic rural routes.

The AYF philosophy of challenge by choice means campers will have options. Those who opt-into programs with cycling will be thoroughly prepared for the challenges that lie ahead and closely supervised on their trips. Campers who prefer not to bike will be able to challenge themselves in other ways through expanded in-camp programs and other Four Trails experiences.

Marshall said these new programs are about much more than just bringing bikes back to camp.

“We’re not reviving a trip,” she said. “We’re building a journey that empowers young people to move through the world with intention, fueled by their own energy. The return of cycling is about moving forward with purpose, care, and confidence.”

The post Shifting Gears: AYF relaunches summer cycling programs appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

Please know the trust our families place in Miniwanca and Merrowvista is sacred.

Right now, campers are thriving as they climb the dunes, hike to the Ledge, splash in Lake Michigan and Dan Hole Pond, and form deep friendships, all under the watchful care of a highly trained, deeply committed team. If you’d like to learn more about the AYF’s emergency preparedness plans, you can visit our website.

For those interested in supporting Texas communities impacted by the flooding, the American Camp Association has compiled the following list of resources:

• Kerr County Flood Relief Fund
• Texas Community Recovery
• ACA Disaster Assistance Scholarship Fund

If you’re feeling the weight of this moment, know you’re not alone.  I invite you to reach out, call a camp friend, share a memory, or light a fire—literal or metaphorical. Remember, the strength of our camp lies in the connections we’ve built within these special places and communities. Let those sparks bring you through the dark moments as we grieve this immense loss together.

The post Supporting our Texas summer camp community appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

The summer season kicks off with National Leadership Conference, which welcomes third- and fourth-year participants back to Miniwanca on Friday, June 13. The first- and second-year classes arrive Saturday, June 14.

This is the 100th National Leadership Conference (known previously as Older Boys and Older Girls camps, as well as International Leadership Conference), and the NLC co-directors are excited for this important milestone.

“The American Youth Foundation has adapted for 100 years to meet the needs of youth today, while also staying true to its core values,” said NLC Co-Director Michael Harter. “That’s why NLC and the camp programs are thriving a century on.”

Miniwanca and Merrowvista welcome the first summer campers on Sunday, June 29. At Miniwanca, Boys Camp Director Tiwi Freeman and Girls Camp Director Bethany Wise are thrilled to see campers back on the dunes.

“It’s always exciting to see our sites come alive with campers again,” said Wise. “I’m looking forward to everything from the Night’s Doings and Quad Cup to Evening Reflections and sunsets on Lake Michigan.”

Freeman echoed that sentiment. “The centennial is such an exciting time for the entire AYF, and we’re definitely planning to incorporate some centennial excitement into our programming this summer.”

At Merrowvista, new faces on the fulltime team will join veteran camp leaders Matt Loper and Kris Light as campers return to the valley. “I could not be more excited to lead the camp team as we head into our centennial summer and another 100 years of helping children discover their best selves,” said new Camp Director Madelyn Cook. “We can’t wait!”

Both Miniwanca and Merrowvista recently welcomed dozens of volunteers to prep the sites for participants. These intrepid individuals cleaned cabins, made torches, chopped firewood, and completed countless other tasks necessary to safely open camp.

“We’re so grateful to all our volunteers for their hard work,” said Vice President of Advancement Sandra George. “Their dedication and effort have prepared us to welcome hundreds of kids and teens to Miniwanca and Merrowvista to celebrate 100 years of our AYF community!”

The post The countdown to summer 2025 begins appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

More than 90 people took to the greens of Algonquin Golf Club, and their generosity raised more than $102,000 in scholarship funds for American Youth Foundation camp and leadership programs.

The Donald Danforth Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament is the AYF’s largest fundraiser. It began 24 years ago in memory of Donald Danforth Jr., who served as AYF Board Chair from 1974 to 2001.

“Each year, whatever else may be going on, the players in our tournament show up to support the youth in our programs,” said Sandra George, Vice President of Advancement.

Nearly 20 volunteers supported AYF staff during the tournament, helping with tasks like set up, registration, selling raffle tickets, and overseeing competitions like straightest drive and closest to the pin.

“This tournament can’t happen without the hard work and enthusiasm of our volunteer community,” George said.

Nestlé Purina Petcare continued its longstanding partnership with the AYF, returning once again as the tournament’s presenting sponsor. “We’re so grateful to Nestlé Purina for their continued partnership,” George said. “Both our organizations share a common founder, William H. Danforth, and this connection has lasted nearly a century. We’re proud to see it continue into the next 100 years.”

The golfers returned to the clubhouse for an evening of drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and more fundraising through fund-a-needs, auction items, and raffles.

President Liz Marshall and Board Chair DD Danforth Burlin both welcomed and thanked the golfers for their continued support, and National Leadership Conference participant Emma Roberts made the biggest impact during the post-game program. She shared how her time at NLC helped her connect with a strong, caring community and inspired her to lead.

“Emma’s speech was a powerful testimony to the transformative nature of our programs,” George said. “We’re so grateful that she was able to join us and share her story with our supporters.”

If you are interested in sponsoring, participating in, or volunteering for the 2026 Donald Danforth Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament, please email advancement@ayf.com for more information.

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At first glance, it may not be obvious how coordinating a high-energy skit or Night’s Doings correlates to an office environment. However, plenty of former seasonal Merrowvista and Miniwanca staff can attest that their summer camp jobs helped them flourish in their professional careers.

According to the American Camp Association, summer camp roles not only foster leadership skills and networking, but they also strengthen a person’s ability to solve problems creatively and communicate in a variety of situations.

The spontaneous nature of camp pushes staff members to think creatively and make sound judgments quickly, said Shane Hinde, National Leadership Conference volunteer and Miniwanca summer camp staff member.

“When you’re in a cabin with six 8-year-olds, you never know what each moment is going to bring,” he added with a chuckle.

Hinde has worked at Miniwanca for five years and has volunteered with NLC for 15 years. He said he learned traditional leadership skills through the NLC, but working at camp was an entirely new experience.

“When I stepped into the role as a cabin leader during my first summer, quite frankly, it was one of the most challenging jobs I’ve ever had,” he said. “The amount of people skills I developed to build relationships quickly with both campers and staff, develop positive dynamics, and engage with a wide range of different personalities has really carried its way through all of my professional endeavors.”

Hinde is now a small business consultant, helping companies in their startup stage. Before that, he ran a rock-climbing gym while working on his master’s degree. He then ran Phoenix Coffee in Cleveland, Ohio, for about eight years.

“The ability to problem-solve and the creativity and the people skills I gained as a seasonal staff member made me successful learning small businesses,” Hinde said.

Director of Merrowvista Amy Simmons said the while the summer camp programs are designed for the growth of participants, seasonal staff in their late teens and early 20s gain real-world value from their time at camp, too.

“Our seasonal staff have a tremendous responsibility for the wellbeing and safety of the campers in their care,” Simmons said. “They also learn skills like time management, adapting quickly in changing environments, and how to work with people who may have different perspectives and experiences than theirs.”

Other ACA research indicates staff find the work meaningful because they can see the impact they’re making in campers’ lives. AYF Information Technology Manager Romuald Dugue saw just how powerful that was when he first joined the AYF as a Merrowvista seasonal staff member in 2021.

“You get to see this transition in campers from where they are when they first initially arrive to coming alive,” Dugue said.

Hinde also noted that working at camp taught him how to really listen to others.

“I look at the work we do every summer at camp, and it’s about creating community, an ecosystem inclusive of campers, staff, perspectives, and skills,” he said. “And really, a business is the same, it’s organizing capacities and skills around completing a task or presenting you the service.”

The post Working at Summer Camp: More than Just a Job appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

You are invited to join in conversation with others from the AYF’s adult community — Spark, Summer Seminars for Women, Living Your Purpose, reunion program attendees, and first-time participants, as well. We will be hosting two Saturday morning sessions to guide your exploration of this unique tool. The first session on Jan. 25 is focused on your Year in Review and the next session on Feb. 22 will focus on your Year Ahead.

To participate fully in these virtual events, it is helpful to come prepared to share and listen in small breakout group conversations. Visit any of the links below to download and print out a copy of the booklet that will guide the activities. You can select different versions of the booklet and they are all free for your use.

Explore the YearCompass

Download Full Pages

Download Half Pages

The online sessions are free and open to all, so feel free to share this invitation with friends who might enjoy connecting with us.

The final 90-minute gathering will take place on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. ET/9 a.m. CT. Registration or participation in Part 1 are not required – just click the Zoom link below to join this enriching conversation!

Join on Zoom

Even if you can’t join the conversation online, we invite you to explore the YearCompass materials as you enter this unique new year. We hope to see you soon at one of our virtual sessions!

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This is only possible thanks to the outstanding support of our AYF community that helped us meet our donor goals and unlocked $15,000 in additional gifts.

This amazing gift means thousands of kids and teens from across the country will unleash their best and use that inner spark to ignite change in their communities.

From the bottom of our Founder hearts, thank you. We are truly grateful for our amazing AYF community and its investment in youth.

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The Donald Danforth Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament is the AYF’s largest fundraiser. It began 23 years ago in memory of Donald Danforth Jr., who served as AYF Board Chair from 1974 to 2001.

With 107 golfers this year, Vice President of Advancement Sandra George said this is the largest tournament since the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were so excited to see so many familiar faces, as well as so many new supporters joining us for the first time,” she said.

Around a dozen volunteers supported AYF staff during the tournament, helping with tasks like set up, registration, selling raffle tickets, and overseeing competitions like straightest drive and closest to the pin.

“This tournament can’t happen without the hard work and enthusiasm of our volunteer community,” George said. “Everyone who volunteered at the tournament had done so previously. Their dedication to this event year after year ensures its continued success.”

Nestlé Purina Petcare returned as this year’s presenting sponsor. “We’re so grateful to Nestlé Purina for their continued support as a key community partner,” George said. “Both our organizations share a common founder, William H. Danforth, and this connection has lasted nearly a century. We’re proud to see it continue into the next 100 years.”

After a gorgeous if muddy day on the links, the golfers returned to the clubhouse for an evening of drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and more fundraising through fund-a-needs, auction items, and raffles.

President Liz Marshall and Board Chair DD Danforth Burlin both welcomed and thanked the golfers for their continued support, but it was 11-year-old Jayin Patel who stole the show during the post-game program. He shared his experience as a first-time Miniwanca camper last summer, noting that he found a place where he felt kids could be their true selves and be appreciated for it.

“Jayin perfectly epitomized why we all support this organization and its mission,” said George. “After just two weeks at Miniwanca, he knew he wanted to come back in 2024 and has already been profoundly affected by the work we do. This tournament ensures even more kids get the chance to experience the magic of Miniwanca and Merrowvista and the transformative power of our programs.”

If you are interested in sponsoring, participating in, or volunteering for the 2025 Donald Danforth Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament, please email advancement@ayf.com for more information.

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St. Louis

June and July: St. Louis-area volunteers are needed to welcome camper families and assist with loading and unloading Miniwanca buses at Jackson Park Elementary School in University City on the following dates:

• Saturday, June 22 at 7 p.m.
• Sunday, July 7 at 5:15 a.m.
• Sunday, July 21 at 5:15 a.m.

Bus chaperones are also needed for the departing bus to Miniwanca on July 7 and the returning bus to St. Louis on Aug. 9. Travel for the opposite leg of the trip will be provided. Email Development Coordinator Michael Robinson at mrobinson@ayf.com to sign up.

Sign Up

Merrowvista

May 17 to 19: Merrowvista hosts its annual spring Volunteer Weekend. This family-oriented weekend is free to attend and includes meals and accommodations. Volunteer Weekend will include age-appropriate projects and activities like:

• cleaning and preparing cabins
• organizing archives
• cleaning out and preparing gardens and raised beds
• putting out the dock in Dan Hole Pond

Register online

Miniwanca

There are a number of short-term and long-term volunteer opportunities available at Miniwanca this summer.

Short-term options include assisting with registration on Opening Days (June 30, July 7, July 21, and July 28), helping during Transition Weekend (July 19-21), and assisting with Avail Service Projects.

Long-term volunteers available for a week or more are needed to work in the camp offices, to support seasonal staff, to assist with our Four Trails programs, and more.

Meals and housing are included for multi-day projects. Learn more about all available volunteer options online.

Apply Now

If volunteering is not an option this year, please consider making a financial gift to the AYF. Thank you for supporting our mission and the youth we serve!

The post Calling all volunteers – we need you! appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

Shane Hinde, Mary Leach, Julie Meadows, and Meg Nystrom serve as AYF Cleveland RAN Ambassadors. They believe this group will be a fantastic opportunity to join hands with other AYF enthusiasts in the Cleveland area and make a tangible difference in the community while enjoying the beauty of local natural spaces.

The first Cleveland RAN meetup is a beach cleanup at Edgewater Beach Park this Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m.

The Cleveland RAN is partnering with the Cleveland Metroparks and the Alliance for the Great Lakes Adopt-a-Beach program to make the meetup as impactful as possible.

Please note: To ensure all safety and organizational guidelines are met, all participants must register with the Alliance of the Great Lakes.

If you’d like to join, please fill out the above form and RSVP below. You can also learn more in the Cleveland RAN’s Facebook Group or email ayfcle@ayf.com.

The post AYF launches Cleveland Regional Action Network appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

Please RSVP below. These events take place at private homes, and the AYF will email the exact address to guests closer to the event date.

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“These Meet the President events give me the opportunity to personally connect with our supporters across the country, some of whom haven’t been back to Miniwanca or Merrowvista in years,” she said.

Marshall said she looks forward to sharing more about how the transformative youth development programs in Michigan and New Hampshire have grown and what exciting plans lay ahead for the AYF’s centennial in 2025. It also gives her the chance to hear how the AYF has guided so many throughout their adult lives.

“I’m struck by the passion of our alums who were so moved by the power of their AYF experiences that even decades later, they can recall the people and programs that had a lasting effect on their lives,” she said. “Meeting this diverse group – some with a long history at Miniwanca and Merrowvista, others with a single impactful encounter – is inspiring. I love hearing the stories of how our camps and conferences have shaped their values, given direction to their choices, and enriched their lives.”

In early 2024, Marshall had the chance to gather with supporters in Cincinnati, Ohio and New York City and said she was thrilled to hear how eager people are to celebrate and plan for the AYF’s next 100 years.

“It’s an honor for me to meet such wonderful, supportive people who want to invest in this work and pay it forward to a whole new generation of AYF campers as we prepare to enter AYF’s next century,” she said.

The next cities Marshall will visit are:

• St. Petersburg, Florida: Thursday, April 14 from 3 to 5 p.m.

• Lexington, Massachusetts: Sunday, April. 28 from 3 to 5 p.m.

• Oak Park, Illinois: Sunday, May 19 from 3 to 5 p.m.

• Chicago, Illinois: Tuesday, May 21 from 6 to 8 p.m.

• Los Angeles, California: September 2024 (more information to come)

• San Francisco, California: September 2024 (more information to come)

• Bloomfield, Michigan: Fall 2024 (more information to come)

Denver, Colorado: Fall 2024 (more information to come)

• Washington, D.C.: Fall 2024 (more information to come)

To join, please RSVP below. These events take place at private homes, and the AYF will email the exact address to guests closer to the event date.

The post Meet new AYF President Liz Marshall in a city near you appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

AYF Director of Adult Programs Holley Young is pleased to introduce the 2024 Coordinating Team and thanks two departing members, Teddy Pins and Meredith Sanders. “We appreciate Meredith and Teddy’s tireless work as they helped lay the groundwork for very first Spark in 2022,” she said.

Registration for Spark 2024 opens March 15. Meet this year’s Coordinating Team:

Michael Robinson

Michael Robinson first encountered the mission of the AYF as an NLC participant from 2008 to 2011. His sister and cousin attended the International Leadership Conference in the 1990s. As a member of the class Deeply Rooted, NLC had a profound impact on Robinson’s life, and he carried many lessons from that time into his adult life. He learned that it’s okay to walk into a space and be himself and different from others, as well as how to create an inner safe space.

Though his career took him through retail and banking, Robinson never forgot the AYF and returned in a full-time capacity as Development Coordinator on the Advancement team in 2023. Michael primarily works with donor and alumni information, including collection and processing of fundraising data, correspondence, reporting, supporting the St. Louis office, and running the buses to Miniwanca in the summer. He returned to AYF because he wants to make an impact and give back to the place that gave him so much.

Michael’s favorite part of the job is working with volunteers and making new connections with the community at large. His role on the Miniwanca Spark team is truly a perfect match! In his non-working life, Michael enjoys time with family and friends, researching family history, going to the movies, and trying new restaurants.

Beth Wilson

Beth has been involved in the AYF community since 1989, missing only two years out of 30 to start a family. She was a member of the NLC class To Seek Again and Again. Since then, she has served in many volunteer and leadership roles within NLC, including a member of the central staff, and has mentored two amazing classes, Collective Work and Responsibility and Unite Together for Good.

Beth has been a member of the Spark team at Miniwanca since its inception in 2022 and has watched it nearly double in size in just two years! Beth has also worked on Miniwanca summer camp seasonal staff, has participated in each Miniwanca volunteer weekend, and has volunteered for the Michigan Middle School Leadership Initiative. She is also a regular volunteer at the Donald Danforth Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament and at many St. Louis-area AYF alumni gatherings.

Beth currently serves as an NLC Co-Director and also focuses on NLC scholarships, particularly the I Dare You Scholarship. Beth also owns her own hair salon, The Basement Hair Salon in Richmond Heights, Missouri. She and her husband live in St. Louis and have two children, a freshman in college and a high school senior, as well as Mooch, their beloved family dog.

Shawn Herron 

Shawn first connected with the American Youth Foundation more than 30 years ago as a participant in the 1991 National Leadership Conference class To Encircle with Creative Energy. He returned to Miniwanca a few years ago to participate in the Living the Mission adult retreat.  Since then, he has served on the NLC staff, most recently as one of the mentors for the 2026 class Forged by the Fire Within.

Growing up on a farm in northwest Missouri, he went to college at University of Missouri and Iowa State. Shawn moved to Maryland 23 years ago and lives in Annapolis with his husband, Phuoc. They love spending time with family and friends and traveling as much as possible. In his civilian job, he leads a portfolio of research and development projects to modernize air traffic management and air traffic systems. Shawn also serves as a colonel in the Army Reserve and leads an organization that is part of the 75th Innovation Command focused on Army transformation and modernization.

Shawn also served as a member of the inaugural Spark team in 2022. He is excited to rejoin and looks forward to being with everyone for the third Spark adult retreat!

The post Meet the Spark 2024 Coordinating Team appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

This year, Volunteer Weekend takes place April 26 to 28 at Miniwanca and May 17 to 19 at Merrowvista.

Current and former camp families, seasonal staff, adult program alumni, and those new to camp are all welcome. These are family-oriented weekends, and age-appropriate projects and activities will be available. Attendees younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Participants will gather Friday evening and share a meal while they connect with old friends and make new ones.

Saturday will focus on service to the sites. Volunteers will clean, rake, dig, paint, repair, and replace to help prepare these beautiful spaces for the hundreds of participants who will visit in 2023.

The rest of the weekend will be filled with games, socializing, free time, Community Fire, and a reflection on service.

Volunteer Weekends is free and include housing and food, including dinner on Friday evening, three meals on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. The American Youth Foundation asks that you consider making a donation to help cover the costs of this weekend.

Learn more and register online.

Miniwanca Volunteer Weekend

Merrowvista Volunteer Weekend

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As the AYF announced in October 2023, former president Anna Kay Vorsteg announced that she would pass the torch to Marshall, who most recently served as vice president beginning in 2021.

AYF values run deep in Marshall. She grew up on the dunes of Miniwanca as a young camper and seasonal staffer, eventually leading Girls Camp as Director before transitioning to Director of Advancement and then Vice President. She’s also a camper parent; both her daughters attended Miniwanca Girls Camp when they were younger.

Marshall said the AYF has shaped her passion for inclusive leadership. 

“I’m honored to lead an organization that empowers thousands of kids each year through life-changing outdoor experiences at Miniwanca and Merrowvista,” she said. “This isn’t just a job change; it’s a commitment to nurturing future leaders and creating a more welcoming, inclusive world. As AYF strides into its next century, I’m eager to uphold its legacy and take on the challenge of guiding us toward a brighter future.”

Board Chair DD Danforth Burlin said in October that Marshall has the full support of the AYF Board as she transitions into her new role.

“Liz brings seasoned professional experience from inside and outside the AYF, a deep appreciation for the power of our programs in the lives of our participants, and a firsthand understanding of the context we are now operating in,” she said. “As Board Chair, I am thrilled that Liz is grabbing the torch. As someone who has known and worked with Liz for years, I know that the organization will be in great hands.”

In preparation for the AYF’s centennial, Marshall is embarking on a nationwide tour, visiting several cities in early 2024 to meet with Founder Friends and hear their thoughts on the future of the organization.

The AYF will also gather online for a virtual townhall to hear more from Liz and other AYF leadership. More information and dates will be announced soon via the AYF email list.

The post The AYF welcomes President Liz Marshall appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

As the AYF announced in October, Anna Kay has decided the end of 2023 is the right moment to pass the torch of leadership. The Board of Directors has selected current Vice President, Liz Marshall to assume the presidency beginning January 1, 2024.

“The AYF grew with me through the decades as I worked hard to shape and evolve it as a values-driven organization, offering youth and adults empowering programs that inspired their best,” Anna Kay wrote in a recent letter. “I am deeply grateful to have served the mission so long and am thankful for all this loving, learning community has gifted my family and me.”

Board Chair DD Danforth Burlin said this is a graceful transition to a new chapter after a lifetime of professional service to the AYF. “Throughout the years, Anna Kay has brought strong leadership focused on youth empowerment, a commitment to holding our organization to the highest standards, a robust and joy-filled laugh with thoughtfulness to everything she does, and a steady hand at the tiller,” Danforth Burlin wrote in October. “Anna Kay has been the AYF’s greatest advocate.”

Liz said Anna Kay has been a transformative leader, adapting the work of the AYF to best support today’s youth while adhering to the organization’s original vision of best self and balanced living.

“From her earliest days as a cabin leader through the many leadership roles she filled, her vision has been a true north star for the AYF and for me as a mentor,” Liz said. “Her genuine love for this work and commitment to expanding our reach has been an inspiration. Her steady guidance has prepared me to step into the role with incredible enthusiasm and excitement.”

This transition is the culmination of a carefully crafted succession plan developed by the Board of Directors and Anna Kay. Liz has a lifetime of experience with the AYF, from her earliest days as a camper to 14 years as Girls Camp Director of Miniwanca and then Director of Advancement for the organization. She became Vice President in 2021.

“Liz has the full support of the Board as we begin this new chapter of leadership at the American Youth Foundation. We have seen Liz shine in her role and are confident that she is ready to carry the organization into the future,” Danforth Burlin said. “Liz is a dynamic thinker, a respected leader, and a deep believer in the Four-Fold way of life. As Board Chair, I am thrilled that Liz is grabbing the torch.”

Liz said she is honored to take on the mantle of leadership and thrilled to guide the AYF into its next century.

“I am ready to carry the torch of leadership for this organization that has shaped me and so many others,” she said. “It’s such an honor to work on behalf of the kids we serve and make an even greater impact in our vibrant, positive program communities. Now more than ever, we must heed the call of our timeless mission to live at our best and to make our world a better place. I can’t wait for the journey into the AYF’s next era.”

As for Anna Kay, she is confident that whatever comes next in her life, the AYF will continue to be part of it. “I have every intention of maintaining a connection to this community and the values we share, and pledge to do all I can to fuel this organization I love, as it enters an exciting and necessary next chapter.”

The post Aloha to outgoing President Anna Kay Vorsteg appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

For 20 years the American Youth Foundation has had the amazing good fortune to have had Anna Kay Vorsteg serve as its president. It is a bittersweet moment when we realize it is time to say “aloha.”

Prior to her role as president of the AYF, Anna Kay dedicated her career to empowering youth to discover their best while working in different roles at the AYF. Throughout the years she has brought strong leadership focused on youth empowerment, a commitment to holding our organization to the highest standards, a robust and joy-filled laugh with thoughtfulness to everything she does, and a steady hand at the tiller. Anna Kay has been the AYF’s greatest advocate.

One of Anna Kay’s greatest gifts is her impeccable timing. She knows when to lead and when to let others take the helm. A few years ago, the Board of Directors, in partnership with Anna Kay, invested in strengthening the organization by planning her succession. With that plan in place and the momentum of the organization, Anna Kay realized the time is now. The torch of leadership could be passed, and the Board trusted her sense of timing. It is time for a new runner to grab the torch and go.

As of January 1, 2024, Liz Marshall will be the President of the American Youth Foundation.  A graduate of Yale University, Liz also holds a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. While her career began as Program Director at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and as an educator at the Dana Hall School, Liz is an AYF lifer. She began as a camper and later served for 14 years as Girls’ Camp Director at Miniwanca.

Recognizing Liz Marshall’s leadership capabilities and her passion for the AYF mission, Anna Kay and the Board asked Liz to take on a senior role as head of the Advancement team, and most recently as vice president of the organization. Liz brings seasoned professional experience from inside and outside the AYF, a deep appreciation for the power of our programs in the lives of our participants, and a firsthand understanding of the context we are now operating in.

Liz has the full support of the Board as we begin this new chapter of leadership at the American Youth Foundation. We have seen Liz shine in her role and are confident that she is ready to carry the organization into the future. Liz is a dynamic thinker, a respected leader, and a deep believer in the Four-Fold way of life. As Board Chair, I am thrilled that Liz is grabbing the torch. As someone who has known and worked with Liz for years, I know that the organization will be in great hands.

“Aloha” Anna Kay as you have run the most magnificent race, and “aloha” Liz as you begin your leg in our long tradition of excellent leadership. As my great-grandfather William H. Danforth said, “Onward!”

All my best,
DD Danforth Burlin, Board Chair

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