Especially for Youth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Especially For Youth (often abbreviated as EFY) is a week long youth-oriented seminar focused on fellowship and teaching the principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It is the largest LDS-oriented summer camp, attracting over 50 thousand attendees every year at locations around the world.[1][2]
Contents |
[edit] Structure
Attendance is open to all youth aged 14 to 18. Sessions, which are primarily held in the United States, follow a common curriculum created by the LDS Church. Sessions take place during the summer months in order to coincide with the summer break practiced by many schools. The program is led by Latter-day Saint young adults who serve as counselors for the youth during the sessions. Many of the speakers, but not all, are selected from the LDS Church's [[Church Educational System|Institute and Seminary programs. All North American sessions are organized and managed out of the EFY headquarters in Provo, Utah, with sessions elsewhere organized by local organizing committees and area authority.
EFY states that its mission is to help participants "come unto Christ".[2]
[edit] History of EFY
The program was created by Ronald C. Hills, in 1976. when 172 youth and 15 counselors met for the first session of the summer program. Jeffrey R. Holland, now of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was one of the banquet speakers at the founding session. The next year, attendance had risen to 863 youth. The current director is Gregory Tanner. As of 2005, the total number of participants who have attended EFY over the years is 409,484.[3] John Bytheway wrote his Masters Thesis at BYU on the early years of EFY[4] and Michael Hicks composed The EFY Medley in 1999, which has become one of the main songs sung at every session of EFY.[5][6]
[edit] Global expansion
In more recent years, the EFY program has expanded to more parts of the world. In 2006, EFY expanded outside of the United States and Canada for the first time, with sessions in England, Germany, Mexico and Scandinavia.[7][8] Further expansion followed in 2009, with EFY sessions for the first time in Spain, Italy, France and Guatemala. In 2010, EFY sessions will be held for the first time in Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Tahiti,[9] El Salvador, Honduras and in countries within South America.
[edit] Locations of EFY
Sessions of the Especially for Youth program have been held in the following nations.
There are also a number of nations that haven't hosted a session of the Especially for Youth program, but have been invited to participate in sessions in other nations. These nations include:
Ireland: Officially participate within sessions held in the United Kingdom. (As of 2009)
Austria and 
Switzerland: Officially participate within sessions held in Germany.
Sessions of the Especially for Youth program are been planned to be held in the following nations within the next few years.
[edit] EFY themes
In 1982, EFY introduced its first annual theme. Since then, a theme and a scripture have set the tone for each EFY Session.
- 1982: The Time Has Come
- 1983: Ascending Together
- 1984: Discovering New Horizons
- 1985: Let Your Light Shine
- 1986: Lovin' Life
- 1987: Sailin' Home
- 1988: Win the Race
- 1989: Forever, My Friend
- 1990: Learning For Myself
- 1991: Walk With Me
- 1992: Of One Heart
- 1993: Sharing the Light
- 1994: Serving With Strength
- 1995: Return With Honor
- 1996: Living the Legacy
- 1997: Treasure the Truth
- 1998: Joy in the Journey
- 1999: A Season for Courage
- 2000: Forward With Faith
- 2001: Remember the Promise
- 2002: We Believe
- 2003: Look and Live
- 2004: Stand in the Light
- 2005: A More Excellent Way
- 2006: The Greatest Gift
- 2007: Power In Purity
- 2008: Steady and Sure
- 2009: Be Thou An Example
- 2010: Courage to Stand Strong
[edit] EFY schedule
Everyday of the sessions time is given in Devotionals, Gospel Study, Session Director Morningsides, Journal Time and Personal Scripture Study. There is little if any changes between each of the nations who hold sessions of EFY, with only slight changes in the schedule of the Overnight and Stay-at-Home program.[20][21]
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning |
Counselor/Coordinators Preparations |
Classes |
Classes |
Young Men/Young Women Activity |
For the Strength of Youth Activity |
Checkout |
| Afternoon |
Registration |
Classes |
Classes |
Variety Show |
Service Activity |
|
| Evening |
Session Director Devotional |
Dance Etiquette and Instruction |
Banner and Cheer Preparations |
Testimony Tips |
Picture/Address Exchange |
[edit] References
- ^ Hunsaker, Brent (11 June 2009). "Flu symptoms raise concerns at BYU summer camps". KTVX (ABC 4 News). http://www.abc4.com/content/news/slc/story/Flu-symptoms-raise-concerns-at-BYU-summer-camps/JL12ej0IYkayOnFO7K9iIw.cspx. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
- ^ a b "What is EFY?". Especially for Youth. Division of Continuing Education, Brigham Young University (BYU). http://ce.byu.edu/yp/efy/whatIsEFY.cfm. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
- ^ 2005 Participant Journal, pp. 72 - 73[clarification needed]
- ^ Bytheway, John (2003). A History of "Especially For Youth" — 1976-1986. (Master of Arts thesis). Digital Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
- ^ Salisbury, Karianne (4 January 2008). "EFY Medley: The man behind its creation". MormonTimes (Deseret News). http://www.mormontimes.com/arts_entertainment/news/?id=2029. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
- ^ "EFY Medley: As Sisters In Zion & We'll Bring the World His Truth". michaelrhicks.com. Michael R. Hicks. http://www.michaelrhicks.com/sisters.html. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
- ^ 2006 Participant Journal, pp. iv - v[clarification needed]
- ^ "EFY: 30 and Beyond". News and Events (News from the Church), lds.org (LDS Church). 4 May 2006. http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=7cecc8fe9c88d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=f5282e0f40dad010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
- ^ a b EFY Tahiti 2010 Training Notice (French)
- ^ a b c d See the Official Websites list
- ^ EFY Finland (Finnish) Retrieved on December 11, 2009.
- ^ EFY France (French) Retrieved on December 11, 2009.
- ^ EFY Guatemala (Spanish) Retrieved on December 11, 2009.
- ^ EFY Germany (German) Retrieved on December 11, 2009.
- ^ EFY Italy (Italian) Retrieved on December 11, 2009.
- ^ EFY Spain (Spanish) Retrieved on December 11, 2009 (Site currently inactive)
- ^ EFY Spain 2009 Registration Closing Date Official LDS Spain Website (Spanish) Retrieved on December 11, 2009
- ^ EFY Cape Verde (Portuguese) Retrieved on January 29, 2010.
- ^ EFY Portugal (Portuguese) Retrieved on January 29, 2010.
- ^ Overnight Agenda, Especially for Youth. Retrieved October 16, 2009[dead link]
- ^ Stay-at-Home Agenda, Especially for Youth. Retrieved October 16, 2009[dead link]
[edit] External links
|
|||||||||||
