INVINCIBLE SUMMER by Catherine Klene
“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.”
The American Youth Foundation grew in new and unexpected ways this year, adjusting its sails to adapt to the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic. For the first time in its nearly 100-year history, the AYF made the heartwrenching decision to cancel in-person summer programs at both Miniwanca and Merrowvista. Summer is usually the culmination of months of planning for an intentionally offline, in-person camp experience. Now, the AYF programming team had to pivot.
“Invincible Summer was born out of the idea that what we do is important and just because the world has changed and we couldn’t do it how we normally would doesn’t mean we can’t do it,” Patterson explained.
“We live to program,” said Merrowvista Camp Director Chris Wellens. “We live to connect as a community, and even though we are used to connecting in the summertime at camps, both in Michigan and New Hampshire, since that was not feasible this summer, we knew we had to find a way to continue our traditions and our legacy that took place at camp in a different way.”
More than 200 participants joined AYF staff from July 6 to 31 for free virtual programming. Wellens said Invincible Summer was not intended to replace the in-person experience, but to supplement the work of best self that campers do each summer.
When COVID-19 first hit the United States in the spring, the AYF quickly began to offer online versions of camp fixtures like Evening Reflections, Interest Groups, and Night’s Doings, seeing how campers responded to this new digital format and engaging alumni in virtual gatherings open to the entire community.
“We know there is something special that can only happen at Merrowvista and Miniwanca, and we weren’t trying to find a replacement for that,” he said. “We were trying to find the areas that we can replicate in this virtual setting and look for opportunities we don’t have when meeting in camp and in person. We were really surprised to find so many activities and programs that we could run.”
Youth weren’t the only ones logging onto Zoom and Instagram Live during the first tumultuous months of the pandemic. Julie Austin of Naperville, Illinois and her two children, Franklin, 13, and Evie, 10, were early adopters of the virtual programming. “Evie and I did Morning Stretch every day. It was a wonderful mix of Social and Physical, and even a little Mental and Religious,” Austin said. “We were at the heart of a global pandemic, so being able to connect with the staff members and the other participants and talk about what we value… It was very grounding to be connected to something so special to us.” Miniwanca Girls Camp Director Hannah Patterson said staff were determined to continue the mission of the AYF despite the miles. As they conferred via email and Zoom, the programming team took inspiration from a line in The Stranger by Albert Camus: Sam Bell builds a fairy house at home during Invincible Summer
Bell photos courtesy of Katie Bell 12
