The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) encourages youth leadership development on Mackinac Island. The council is composed of young people and adult mentors and was created to teach the community's youth about the importance of philanthropy. The YAC demonstrates youth involvement in four areas:

• Assessing youth needs,
• Raising a portion of their required expenditures,
• Reviewing grant applications for awards from the Youth Fund,
• Developing systems for involving other young people in volunteerism and philanthropy.

YAC holds a spring brunch to raise funds for the Youth Fund. Throughout the winter the council participates in delivering meals for Ste. Anne Catholic Church's Meals on Snowmobiles and the annual St. Patrick's Day dinner. Grants from the Youth Fund may be used for charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes. Many of the grants focus on youth and youth development.

Youth at Heritage Day