American Youth Foundation: Camp Miniwanca

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Choice Camps Recommendation of American Youth Foundation: Camp Miniwanca

Located in Shelby, Michigan on 360 acres of pristine woods and more than a mile of Lake Michigan shoreline, Camp Miniwanca draws campers into a life that is rustic, uncomplicated, and filled with excitement. You will often find campers reflecting on their day while watching a sunset on the site’s white sand beaches. With a history dating back to 1924, Miniwanca has a long tradition of bringing young people together to have fun and to “learn how to live successfully.”

Camp Miniwanca teaches the timeless American Youth Foundation philosophies of “balanced living” and “best self.” Guided by these principles, campers create a community where respect, responsibility, trust, and kindness are the foundation. For campers looking for a fun summer camp experience in a warm and welcoming environment, Camp Miniwanca is a place where children can enjoy the outdoors and develop friendships that will last a lifetime.

Program Description

Camp Miniwanca creates a fun and safe environment where campers will learn new skills and make new friends. Campers 8-17 will find a progression of age appropriate adventures and opportunities waiting for them. Boys and girls are divided into two distinct camps that live in different parts of the site but share the same activity areas. The youngest campers (grades 4-6) get to customize their schedule from a variety of in-camp activities. As campers grow older (grades 7-8), campers get to choose from on-site activities in addition to off-camp hikes and canoe trips.

Senior campers (grades 9-11) can take leadership and service roles within the community in addition to normal camp activities. For campers in grades 9-12, Miniwanca also offers the Four Trails Wilderness Adventure Trips program where campers embark on off-site hiking, biking, kayaking, and canoeing expeditions.

Staff Overview

The Miniwanca staff strives to adhere to the motto “my own self, at my very best, all the time.” The camp boasts a high staff return rate with many members coming back for 3-5 years.

The senior staff is comprised of professionals who work with children year-round in the American Youth Foundation’s community and school programs, or as teachers, counselors, and coaches in their hometowns.

Counselors who live and work with campers have completed a minimum of one year of college and participate in an extensive 2-3 week training program. Trip leaders are a minimum of 21 years of age, have wilderness first responder certifications, and have completed over three weeks of staff training.

Setting & Accommodations

Campers live in open-air wooden cabins with no electricity or modern amenities. Bathroom and shower facilities are located just a few steps from each bunk. These facilities have electricity, hot water, and private dressing stalls.

Each cabin eats meals together and has cabin time throughout the day.

Safety Standards

Miniwanca maintains fully equipped health center staffed 24 hours a day by a nurse practitioner. In the event of a more serious illness or injury, the nearest hospital is just 12 miles away.

Camp Miniwanca is accredited by the American Camp Association and meets more than 300 safety standards set forth by the organization.

American Youth Foundation: Camp Miniwanca Session Dates

Session Name	Dates	Ages	Tuition
Session A - 1 Week	6/20/13-6/26/13	8-17	$750
Session A - 2 Weeks	6/27/13-7/8/13	8-17	$1,650
Session A - 3 Weeks	6/20/13-7/8/13	8-17	$2,150
Session B - 1 Week	7/11/13-7/17/13	8-17	$775
Session B - 2 Weeks	7/18/13-7/30/13	8-17	$1,700
Session B - 3 Weeks	7/11/13-7/30/13	8-17	$2,200