Armenian Youth Federation

Camp Haiastan and the AYF share a common mission of strengthening Armenian identity and building lasting connections among youth. They maintain a symbiotic relationship: Camp Haiastan brings youth together from across the country and introduces them to the broader Armenian community, while the AYF provides opportunities for those youth to remain engaged as they grow into leaders within their communities, as well as supporting camp’s operations and continued success.

Camp Haiastan began as the first Armenian summer camp in the United States, a vision set into motion decades earlier, in the 1930s and 1940s, when the Tzeghagrons — the ARF youth and forerunners of the AYF — called for a an AYF camp where Armenian youth could gather, build community, and strengthen their identity.

That call quickly transformed into action when the ARF, supported and funded by our family of organizations and fueled by a shared understanding that youth needed a place of their own, secured the Camp’s property as a permanent home for Armenian youth — turning this vision for future generations into reality. Beginning with undeveloped land, volunteers and AYF members worked over the years to build the camp from the ground up, laying the foundation through dedication and labor. Camp Haiastan officially opened its doors in 1951, creating a vibrant center of our community where heritage is lived, friendships form across regions, and leadership begins to take shape at an early age.

From its earliest days, the camp was designed to create an environment where Armenian-Americans could actively resist assimilation, develop independence, build leadership skills, learn about Armenian culture and traditions, build lifelong friendships, and experience the Armenian community in a fun and supportive setting.