After establishing AYF in November of 1924, the Founders set out to find ideal campsites which would be designed and built in remote areas. These would be the setting to carry out their four-fold development program…”a camp that was different”. Fascinating stories surround the discovery of both properties and are documented in the History folder under the camp name.
The construction began in the spring after the builders faced a long harsh winter. By opening day in the summer of 1925, they had both a Middle West Camp (Miniwanca) on the sand dunes of western Michigan, and a New England Camp, (Merrowvista) on Dan Hole Pond in the Ossipee Mountains! Remarkably, local farmers and carpenters built the roads, tent floors, dining halls and meeting spaces before campers arrived. These early structures were surrounded with the natural beauty of each setting. Many are still enjoyed by participants today.