Local youths enjoy FSY camp in Billings

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers many opportunities for youths from all over to get to know each other. FSY is one of them. FSY stands for For the Strength of Youth, and kids aged 14-18 are allowed to go.

Along with FSY, there is a camp called HXP, Humanitarian Experience. It is a camp where a person travels to a foreign country and does things ranging from building schools to teaching English. Incoming Lovell senior Hugh Carpenter is in Cambodia right now through the program.

FSY camps are held all around the United States and in different countries, but the Lovell Wyoming Stake usually attends the camp held at the MSU-Billings campus. This year wasn’t the assigned year the stake attends, but multiple kids from the stake still went.

The camp is a great opportunity for youths to learn more about themselves, other youths and, of course, what they believe in. 

The camp lasts five days and is fully packed with uplifting activities. At the camp attendees have a roommate in the dorms. The roommate could be someone the attendee chooses or someone selected at random as a way to meet new people. As a girl, attendees get to meet 8-12 girls of the same age group who become part of a particular company. The company also includes 8-12 boys.

“I was hesitant going into FSY,because it’s always interesting meeting the people you’re going to spend the next week with,” incoming Lovell senior Halen Strom said. “After the first day I knew it was going to be a good week.”

Strom shared that his company was built on a good sense of humor but was aware as to when to stop and feel the spirit.

“Connecting with my group was easy, and we felt the spirit often. It was a great week, and I will remember it for a long time,” he said.

Each company is assigned a male and female counselor. The counselors normally range in age from about 19 to 23, but there is no age limit. The counselors help campers throughout the week and are like a big brother and sister. Most youths grow close to them and love to stay in contact with them.

“It’s so fun meeting your counselors and getting to know their interests. I loved my counselors,” incoming Lovell senior Atlee Sanders said. “My counselors helped me grow by asking questions that helped me reflect on my life. They also shared great testimonies that helped grow my testimony.”

Throughout the week attendees get to do things like go to classes, have dances, play games, meet new people during flex time, participate in or watch a variety show, participate in or watch the music program and much more.

Wilson Hendershot, incoming Lovell junior, shared about his experience in the variety show.

“The variety show was an awesome experience where participants can share their talents,” he said. “It can be about anything, and performing in it was like a dream come true.”

Hendershot tried out last year but didn’t make it, and this year he and Jay Mayes were able to perform together.

 “I was able to share my new song ‘Wingman,’ which I’m hoping to record and release sometime this summer,” Hendershot said, adding that he and Mayes got the opportunity to perform again at the end of camp because they were such a hit.

“It was an amazing experience, and we were thrilled for the opportunity this year,” he said.

Lovell incoming freshman Isaac Sanders shared about his opportunity to be in the music program.

“The music program was easily the highlight of my week,” he said. “I love music and don’t usually have a hard time performing on stage.”

Sanders continued that he has never been in a choir before, so thinking about performing, specifically a solo, was making him sick to his stomach, and he noted, “I would say I don’t get stage fright, but I could barely keep down an apple.” He then shared that when he bore his testimony he was overcome with the spirit and almost wasn’t able to speak but was grateful for the opportunity to share. 

“The music program meant so much to me. It was an opportunity to grow in spirit and confidence,” Sanders noted.