We’re thrilled to welcome two outstanding individuals to the Miniwanca community.

Sandra George – Girls Camp Director
Sandra brings more than two decades of wide-ranging experience directing teams in complex community organizations, most recently shaping strategy as the AYF Vice President of Advancement.

A lifelong Miniwanca alum, she has been a camper, a leader, a seasonal staff member, and is a current camper parent. Colleagues know her as versatile and thoughtful with a remarkable gift for bringing people together and a joyful commitment to the traditions that make this community shine.

In this role, Sandra will continue her work as Vice President and member of the AYF Leadership Team, ensuring the Girls Camp community has a strong and experienced voice guiding its future

Landon Schumacker – Four Trails Program Manager
Landon’s path to this role winds through more than a decade of Miniwanca involvement and outdoor leadership. He has served as a Trip Leader, Program Coordinator, and Community and School Program Facilitator. He was also a camper and NLC participant.

Beyond AYF, he has led backcountry expeditions from the Mississippi River to the Appalachian Trail, instructed outdoor courses in Joshua Tree National Park, and most recently, taught music in Michigan schools.

Known as a skilled educator and mentor, Landon is eager to shape the next chapter of Four Trails and help campers grow in confidence, resilience, and a love for the outdoors.

Sandra and Landon join a dedicated year-round team that works throughout the year to ensure Miniwanca remains a place of belonging, growth, and discovery. With this group assembled, preparations for summer 2026 are well underway as we look forward to another memorable season.

The post Meet the new Miniwanca Girls Camp Director, Four Trails Manager appeared first on American Youth Foundation.

The mood shifts as the sun sets. Campers’ voices fade with the twilight as stars blanket the night sky. They reflect on what they’ve accomplished that day, both as individuals and as a community, and where the water may take them tomorrow.

It’s more than just an idyllic summer camp memory in the making. This moment is the result of countless hours developing programs designed to help campers discover and embrace their authentic selves and become more independent, confident leaders at camp and in their home communities.

American Youth Foundation programs go so much deeper than outdoor fun. The dedicated program teams work year-round to create outdoor adventures that place kids in their growth zone – that sweet spot between their comfort zone and their danger zone – to develop their personal best.

On its surface, a flash mob is a spontaneous, wacky group dance that sparks joy and ramps up the volume a few decibels in the Eating Lodge. But, Vice President Liz Marshall explained, there is intentional developmental work at play.

“Teaching people to move in a common rhythm to a song brings people out of their comfort zone, expands their physical exercise, encourages them to be vulnerable in front of others, and helps them to regulate their emotions,” she said. “It takes them through the stages of group development. You don’t know the moves at the start of camp. Staff and fellow campers teach it to you step by step until by the end of camp, everyone knows the dance and is excited to take it home and share it with other people.”

In short, it’s a metaphor in action that happens through the program.

The AYF regularly hears from participants and alumni that their program experiences are among the most important in their lives. But how are these transformational effects measured and improved? That’s what Director of Special Projects Sandra George’s role is all about.

George joined the AYF in early 2023 and began sifting through family survey data to see how AYF programs are meeting the social and emotional needs of youth today, then aligning those outcomes with larger education and public health models.

“The AYF recognizes we have always been doing this work of ‘fun with a purpose’,” said George. “The learning that happens in program communities is social and emotional learning. Fine-tuning our curriculum allows us to tap into greater intentional learning outcomes.”

Social and emotional learning, she explained, is honing what are traditionally classified as soft skills: identifying and self-regulating one’s emotions, social awareness, and relationship skills.

“In the last decade, well-respected education foundations have conducted extensive research about how young people thrive when they develop their emotional, social, and cognitive identities,” she said. “You can see threads of four-fold balanced living in these skills, as well as our new organizational values.”

George spent extensive time revising and updating the AYF summer camp survey and evaluation process to better evaluate metrics like participant growth and satisfaction.

“Summer 2023 set some promising baselines,” she said. “We will continue to repeat the evaluation process in the next few years to share clear data about the short-term and long-term program impacts.”

It seems a lot to ask of a simple interest group, but early results show these activities build identity, community, and resiliency.  In 2023:

• 90% of campers found it easy to “know what their strengths are” after their camp experience.
• 94% of campers learned by trying new activities, not just listening.
• 97% of National Leadership Conference participants said new ideas and lessons learned from NLC activities can be applied in their home and school communities.

“The goal is not to become experts in the skills. The goal is to try new things they aren’t necessarily good at and figure out how to work through challenges and discover new interests,” George said. “Learning new skills and building social connections and community with people of different backgrounds ultimately leads to greater self-understanding and transformational growth.”

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When did you attend camp for the first time?

“I was 13 years old when I first attended Miniwanca. As a middle school “tweenager,” I was eager to find a new adventure and travel farther than the Girl Scout and church camps I had previously attended near my hometown of St. Louis. I vividly remember my first moments at Miniwanca – the kindest, most welcoming staff who genuinely communicated their excitement through their smiles and one-on-one attention.

“Now over 30 years later, I can still recall walking with my leader along the wooded trail from 50-Bay to Downtown Miniwanca for the first time as she shared the history of the AYF property and why the organization was established. From that first introduction, I understood that I was an important and valued part of a much larger community.”

Why did you return to camp year after year?

“I returned to Miniwanca as a camper and NLC participant because I wanted to spend my time surrounded by other people who were joy-filled and excited about being part of a positive community. I returned to summer staff as a college student because I wanted to stay connected with the community and ensure the good work continued.

“In later years, I kept showing up at Miniwanca every summer with my young family because I wanted to purposefully spend my time and energy on behalf of others, contributing to a space where everyone feels welcome and valued.”

Why did you decide to join the AYF full-time?

“This opportunity emerged soon after I paused my career as a therapist and behavioral healthcare administrator. I have witnessed the powerful, life-saving impact that integrated, high-quality treatment and recovery supports have on an individual, their family, and the larger community. I also know the critical importance of supporting upstream prevention efforts to promote healthy youth development. I am thrilled to support the AYF as an organization that intentionally provides space and opportunity to enhance the social, emotional, and physical well-being of youth.”

What do you do as Director of Special Projects?

“With a title like Special Projects, I have the opportunity to contribute across the organization. I will be onsite at Miniwanca this summer, assisting our Camp Directors with program and our Community Care Teams with supporting the mental, social, and emotional health of campers and staff. Recently, I have been able to attend many of our Miniwanca open houses in various cities, which has been a wonderful way to meet new campers and their families, as well as connect with alumni and other AYF supporters.

“I am coming to the AYF at a very exciting time in the organization as we approach our centennial in 2025. My experience with organizational management and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams will be used to implement our AYF goals and objectives. I am excited to also work closely with the Advancement Team to identify and develop new partnerships across the country to advance our mission.”

What are you most looking forward to this summer?

“I am looking forward to living in optimistic and hopeful community! At Miniwanca, every moment is intentionally filled with purpose. I am excited for the sunsets over Lake Michigan while campers share their thoughts and perspectives in Evening Reflection. I am also really excited about the talents of our Food Program staff. I gladly welcome others to take on the task of meal planning and food preparation for me this summer!”

Outside of work, what are some of your favorite activities to do enjoy or take part in?

“I spend much of my time on the sidelines and in the audience, supporting my children with their extracurricular activities: soccer, swimming, track, tennis, orchestra, and theater. I enjoy traveling with my family and adventuring to new places. This past year, we were able to visit Hawaii, California, and Mexico!”

What is one of your fondest Miniwanca memories?

“My favorite moments at Miniwanca are when we spend time writing a letter addressed to ourselves. Across camp, as each person finds their own space to sit and reflect. The only sounds we hear are the birds and squirrels, wind and waves. We are alone with our thoughts and feelings, yet fully embraced with the physical beauty of Miniwanca and surrounded by others just a few feet away.

“This special time gives us opportunity to reflect on our most recent camp experiences and then envision how we will integrate what we have learned into our days back home. And then one winter day, the letter shows up in our mailboxes, and we are instantly reminded of our time at Miniwanca!”

What’s one of the best pieces of advice you ever received?

“Assume the best.”

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