{"id":37933,"date":"2025-08-29T11:57:37","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T16:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/?p=37933"},"modified":"2025-08-29T13:23:44","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T18:23:44","slug":"hundreds-celebrate-centennial-at-miniwanca-homecoming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/hundreds-celebrate-centennial-at-miniwanca-homecoming\/","title":{"rendered":"Hundreds celebrate centennial at Miniwanca Homecoming"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nearly 200 people returned to the sand dunes and lakeshores of Miniwanca last weekend for a joyful homecoming.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 100th year.<\/p>\n

Vice President of Advancement Sandra George was thrilled to see so many people from across the country \u2013 and around the world \u2013 return to celebrate a place that had such an impact on their lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had people in their 80s connecting with kids who just participated in summer camp this year,\u201d George said. \u201cIt was magical to see so many generations bonding over shared experiences in this timeless place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor some people, this was their first time returning to Miniwanca in 50 years,\u201d George said. \u201cWhile the trees may be taller and the buildings a bit different, the Miniwanca magic remains the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2019s past, exploring the archives<\/a> with AYF Archivists Jan Strube and Karen Reimer.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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 \u201cThe Buzzard Song,\u201d everyone was thoroughly entertained during Saturday night\u2019s Variety Show.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The weekend concluded with a ceremonial groundbreaking of the new Assembly building<\/a>, a full circle moment as the AYF begins its second century with a new facility that honors the organization\u2019s history and meets the needs of tomorrow\u2019s youth.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we celebrate our organization\u2019s storied past, we\u2019re so excited for what\u2019s to come,\u201d Marshall said. \u201cOne hundred years ago, the Founders sat on these dunes and imagined what the AYF could be. We\u2019re proud to carry that legacy forward into the next 100 years of empowering youth of all ages.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nearly 200 people returned to the sand dunes and lakeshores of Miniwanca last weekend for a joyful homecoming. 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\u2019s 100th year. Vice President of Advancement Sandra George was thrilled to … <\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":37936,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[251,74,67,58],"tags":[252,315,59],"class_list":["post-37933","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ayf-centennial","category-boys-camp","category-girls-camp","category-miniwanca","tag-centennial","tag-homecoming","tag-miniwanca"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHundreds celebrate centennial at Miniwanca Homecoming - American Youth Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/hundreds-celebrate-centennial-at-miniwanca-homecoming\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hundreds celebrate centennial at Miniwanca Homecoming - American Youth Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Nearly 200 people returned to the sand dunes and lakeshores of Miniwanca last weekend for a joyful homecoming. 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\u2019s 100th year. Vice President of Advancement Sandra George was thrilled to ... 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