Adventure for Youth
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Adventure For Youth (AFY) is a six-day camp for youth ages 14 to 18 at Brigham Young University. AFY is based on fostering "faith-building and life-changing learning", based on the principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[1] The camp is designed to help youth enjoy nature, participate in a variety of recreational activities, and grow personally and spiritually as they join in faith-building experiences with those who share similar beliefs.
History of AFY[]
AFY started more than a decade ago[when?] at BYU-Idaho's Outdoor Learning Center. Youth participated in activities on the high and low ropes courses and then spiritual discussions with their groups and counselors. Due to the increase in the number of students at BYU–Idaho, the Community Connections Department (the department that facilitates AFY) resources were reassigned to other areas on campus, so AFY was closed at BYU-I in 2017. Leadership from that program went on to found their own nonprofit[2] that runs a similar program, Outdoors For Youth,[3] or OFY in Newdale, Idaho. Rather than letting the program come to an end, BYU Division of Continuing Education reached out to the BYU-Idaho team and asked about picking it up and moving it to a different location. BYU-I agreed, and since 2018 both teams have been working together to make AFY better than ever and transition from the Idaho mountains to the red rocks of Moab, Utah.[citation needed]
Location[]
Located in Moab, AFY is set in red rock formations that are used for the outdoor adventures that take place throughout the week.
AFY activities[]
AFY is a program that focuses on teaching "For the Strength of Youth" principles through experiential learning. The week is full of activities including river rafting down the Colorado River, hiking, climbing, and rappelling through Bull Canyon, and mountain biking on the Magnificent 7 trail system. Along with daily physical activities youth will engage in faith building group discussions, scripture study, and devotionals.[citation needed]
Purpose of AFY[]
The purpose of Adventure For Youth (AFY) is to encourage youth to "draw closer to the Savior by acting on true principles, participating in adventure activities, and seeking an excellent balance in all things".[citation needed] As youth go throughout the week, they're organized into companies, or groups of peers. These peers are their support system for the week. Each company is also assigned counselors who are in a similar stage of life and are there to support and be examples for the youth.[citation needed] In addition to providing a camp where teens can make friends and participate in a variety of outdoor activities, AFY is a place that encourages gospel discussions and spiritual growth.[citation needed]
References[]
- ^ "Gospel Principles". churchofjesuschrist.org.
- ^ https://www.outdoorsforyouth.org/when-did-ofy-start
- ^ https://www.outdoorsforyouth.org/what-is-ofy
- Brigham Young University
- Summer camps in Idaho
- Summer camps in Utah