For three days, these Founder Friends reconnected on the Farmhouse porch, along the cool waters of Dan Hole Pond, and atop the grassy expanse of the A-field, sharing their favorite memories of Merrowvista days gone by.

Vice President of Communications and Impact Kris Light said it was inspiring to see so many people return to camp. “It’s been several decades since some people were at Merrowvista,” he said. “It’s so special to have so many generations with such strong connections to camp rekindling their spark over the weekend.”

The weekend was filled with exploration, fun, and reminiscing, starting with an Italian dinner al fresco at Dan Hole Pond Friday night. Saturday was filled with interest groups like arts and crafts, archery, sailing and boating, swimming, hikes to The Ledge, and more. AYF Archivist Jan Strube brought her extensive AYF knowledge to The Bahn, setting up an in-depth display of 100 years in the Ossipee Mountains.

The day ended with a spirited Four Fold Relay, featuring classic elements like tent building, thawing and donning a frozen t-shirt, and a mad scramble to find a flag buried in the volleyball sand. After a delicious surf and turf meal, everyone trekked to the Fire Circle for singing and reflection from participants through the decades.

AYF President and CEO Liz Marshall shared her own Merrowvista experience and said she was moved by the obvious pride and love of the New Hampshire camp.

“I am standing in a circle of people of all ages who said yes to coming home to Merrowvista,” said Marshall. “And you have come home to a place where you will always belong. You are the people who have created this home: for yourselves, for the campers, for those who came before us, and for those are still going to come.”

Former President Anna Kay Vorsteg joined Sunday morning for moments of reverence and reflection during Something Sacred. After, Marshall, Light, Board Chair DD Danforth Burlin, and the Merrowvista team shared the vision for the next 100 years of the American Youth Foundation.

“As we celebrate our organization’s storied past, we’re so excited for what’s to come,” Marshall said. “We’re proud to carry the Founders’ legacy forward into the next 100 years of empowering youth of all ages.”

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The three-day event kicked off a slew of centennial celebrations taking place over the next three months, giving Founder Friends across the generations a chance to commemorate the American Youth Foundation’s 100th year.

Vice President of Advancement Sandra George was thrilled to see so many people from across the country – and around the world – return to celebrate a place that had such an impact on their lives.

“We had people in their 80s connecting with kids who just participated in summer camp this year,” George said. “It was magical to see so many generations bonding over shared experiences in this timeless place.”

Almost every former and current Miniwanca program was represented: Older and Younger Girls Camp, Older and Younger Boys Camp, National Leadership Conference, International Leadership Conference, Young Adult Conference, Four Trails, adult programs like Summer Seminars for Women, and even Cedar Lake, a now-closed camp the AYF once operated in California.

“For some people, this was their first time returning to Miniwanca in 50 years,” George said. “While the trees may be taller and the buildings a bit different, the Miniwanca magic remains the same.”

The weekend was filled with sunshine and fun as attendees rediscovered all Miniwanca had to offer. Some participants enjoyed camp activities like high ropes, arts and crafts, and beach time on Lake Michigan. Others took a deep dive into Miniwanca’s past, exploring the archives with AYF Archivists Jan Strube and Karen Reimer.

And of course, there was music. From the lilting Kodaya rounds popular since camp’s early days to the foot-stomping joy of Boys Camp favorite “The Buzzard Song,” everyone was thoroughly entertained during Saturday night’s Variety Show.

Sunday morning was filled with moments of reflection and reverence during Something Sacred, and President and CEO Liz Marshall shared the vision for the next 100 years of the American Youth Foundation.

The weekend concluded with a ceremonial groundbreaking of the new Assembly building, a full circle moment as the AYF begins its second century with a new facility that honors the organization’s history and meets the needs of tomorrow’s youth.

“As we celebrate our organization’s storied past, we’re so excited for what’s to come,” Marshall said. “One hundred years ago, the Founders sat on these dunes and imagined what the AYF could be. We’re proud to carry that legacy forward into the next 100 years of empowering youth of all ages.”

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The AYF will host homecoming weekends at Miniwanca Aug. 22 to 24 and at Merrowvista Sept. 12 to 14. Participants can choose to stay onsite in a cabin or dormitory-style housing or find lodging offsite and join each day’s festivities.

Register for Miniwanca Homecoming

Register for Merrowvista Homecoming

“We are so excited to welcome back former campers and their families to our beautiful sites for a weekend of excitement, joy, and camp fun,” said Vice President of Advancement Sandra George.

Homecoming welcomes anyone with connections to Miniwanca or Merrowvista, as well as those who want to learn more about camp. Attendees will gather for three days of fun camp activities, delicious meals, and powerful community moments. They’ll also have the chance to reflect on the AYF’s history and learn what’s next for the storied organization.

“We are growing in so many new ways, and we look to our community to help us build on that momentum as we prepare the next generations to discover and unleash their best for another 100 years,” said AYF President and CEO Liz Marshall.

Miniwanca will also host the next Girls Camp Reunion from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1. The reunion, which takes place every five years, welcomes generations of Miniwanca Girls Camp alums back to the dunes for a long weekend of friendship and connection. While the homecoming weekend is open to anyone, reunion participants must be 18 or older and former Girls Camp participants or staff.

Register for Girls Camp Reunion

“This is one of our most anticipated alumni events,” said Director of Adult Programs Holley Young. “Girls Camp Reunion reunites so many women from across the decades who are connected through their shared camp experiences.”

The centennial festivities wrap in St. Louis this fall when the AYF hosts a BBQ Birthday Party on Oct. 18 in Tower Grove Park, presented by Nestlé Purina PetCare. Tickets are $10 each, and everyone is welcome to join for tasty St. Louis barbecue, AYF-themed games, and birthday cake.

Also in St. Louis on Oct. 18, the AYF hosts the Checkerboard Gala, a fundraiser and awards dinner at the Trolley Room in Forest Park. Guests will don cocktail or creative checkerboard attire as we wrap a year of festivity and connection. Tickets are limited and will be available later this spring.

Register for the St. Louis BBQ Birthday Party

Learn more about the Checkerboard Gala

“We’re so excited to gather so many Founder Friends as we honor our past and celebrate our future,” Marshall said.

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