Chef Seth

Hospitality & Food Management students from the Muskegon Area Career Tech Center visited us today for a whirlwind tour of Miniwanca, discovering how a summer on our Food Program team becomes both a job - and a launchpad for their future. 🚀

Along with Chef Seth, our Food Program Director, Laura, Food Program Manager and Miabella, a returning Food Program teammate and Muskegon CTC/ProStart alumni herself, the group walked into the heart of camp, exploring staff dorms and our primary production kitchen; discovering how we have created a hands-on learning space where young culinarians can practice real skills, lead with confidence, and help fuel an unforgettable camp experience. From menu planning to service flow, the students caught a glimpse of how the next generation of food service leaders can grow right here, submersed in the magic of Miniwanca and the American Youth Foundation. 🍳✨

They also learned about our summer camp programs, the National Leadership Conference, and what it means to be part of a community built on challenge, purpose, and growth. 🌱🌳

We loved welcoming these future food professionals today. The door is open, spatulas poised, and summer is calling! 🧑‍🍳☀️

ProStart students know that learning from great chefs makes all the difference.

At the 2026 Michigan ProStart Invitational, Chef Seth Johnson served as a judge for the Culinary and Pasta competitions. 👨‍🍳

This summer, culinary students have the opportunity to work alongside him as part of the Miniwanca Food Program team.

You won’t just be cooking meals. You’ll be learning skills:

• scratch cooking for large groups
• kitchen leadership and team coordination
• menu ex*****on at scale
• problem solving in a fast-paced kitchen
• and so much more!

It’s a summer kitchen that doubles as a real-world culinary classroom.

With the guidance of Chef Seth and a little ✨Miniwanca magic✨, you'll gain real-world experience, discover your ‘best self’, and go on to forge your path with confidence!

Learn more about spending your summer cooking with purpose:
https://tinyurl.com/FP-2026Jobs
https://ayf.com/programs/miniwanca/

We have only 3 spots left!

Learn about the American Youth Foundation:
https://ayf.com/
Learn about the National Leadership Conference:
https://ayf.com/programs/national-leadership-conference/

A 👩‍🍳Culinary Job With 🔥Campfire Perks!

APPLY NOW to Join the Miniwanca Food Program Team - Where Fun Is Baked Into The Job 😉🍰🍽️🛶☀️

Miniwanca Food Program A summer job at Miniwanca isn’t only a job – it’s an epic and unforgettable life experience!  SUMMARY: Acquire valuable skills and real-world experience under the guidance of a skilled chef with 20+ years of experience in Culinary Arts and Food Management, utilizing the camp k...

Games & snacks for the last night of Spark 2025, Saturday evening. Fresh baked pretzels, cheese dip, 3 mustards, bacon wrapped chicken lollipops, fried pepperoni, and big pickles. A little later, ice cream was also served.

Guests enjoyed a buffet dinner by candlelight this evening! Smoked baby back ribs, smoked whole chicken, smoked BBQ baked beans, dill potato salad, cheesy jalapeno corn, roasted cauliflower steaks, and a loaded salad bar 🍽️

I wasn't fast enough getting photos of tonight's pre-dinner charcuterie and mocktails before guests dug in! They enjoyed six artisan cheeses, 3 types of salami, kalamati olives, fried pepperoni, fried bologna, crackers, and 3 types of mustard.

Today's lunch at Miniwanca is chicken lettuce cups and sushi (crab & shrimp tempura) 🍣🥢

Guests enjoyed chilaquiles and fried eggs with cilantro-lime crema for breakfast at Miniwanca this morning. It was a fantastic and delicious start to the day!