By JOANNE BUTTERFIEL
Students at BYU often find themselves far away from the comforts of home and the loving support of family close by. But those things can also be found here at school.
Family Home Evening groups are organized each semester by wards to help students adjust to their surroundings and find support and friendship among fellow students. And these Family Home Evening groups have been known to find several interesting ways to spend their Monday evenings.
Family Home Evening activities range from ice skating trips, to playing board games, to taking radio and video treasure hunts.
Jennifer Schumann, a junior from American Falls, Idaho, majoring in human development, was a Family Home Evening coordinator last year and said she enjoyed brainstorming for creative ideas.
“One of the most successful FHE’s took us on a scavenger hunt up and down campus to search for everything ranging from the number of cement squares in the checkerboard quad, to a brochure from the Museum of Art,” Schumann said.
Not all of the activities have to take place on Monday nights, Schumann said.
“One of my favorites was a temple excursion to the Bountiful Temple open house last winter, in the middle of a huge snow storm.”
When asked what advice could be given to other Family Home Evening groups, Schumann said, “FHE goes better when people bring their own fun ideas to the group and help plan activities.”
Many groups, regardless of the weather, head outdoors for Family Home Evening activities.
Kristine Lifferth, a junior from Centerville, Utah, majoring in social science composite, said, “Our group likes things such as going to play baseball and other outdoor activities like snow football.”
Family Home Evenings generally include refreshments and many people said this was the best part about these weekly activities.
Lifferth said, “Making food is good because we are always hungry.”
Sometimes it is hard to find transportation to and from activities. Yet, there are ways to overcome this. Angela Drais, a freshman from Ely, Nevada, majoring in business management, took a seven-hour bus excursion to Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her Family Home Evening group.
“We took the bus to see ‘Legacy’ and do the Temple Square thing. We really got to know each other. This was the first weekend we were at school and it was a real bonding experience.”
Schumann said, “As long as people come with an open mind and wanting to have a great time, you can have fun doing almost anything as a family.”
P.S. Some people have even found their eternal mates through friendships created among “family” members.
