LAKELAND — “We want them [youth] to come asking questions,” said Mike Standifer, the Conference Council on Ministries’ (CCOM) director of Youth Ministry. With that goal in mind, rising fourth- through 12th-graders will have the opportunity to discover the “whys” of the Christian faith at the CY? (see why?) Summer Camp 99 program.

“We’ve spent a lot of time telling them what to do, now we want to answer the question, ‘why bother?’ ” Standifer said.

The curriculum for this year’s summer camp program focuses on helping children and youth understand why the basic story of salvation makes a difference to them and what their responsibility is within that story, said Carol Sue Hutchinson, director of the CCOM’s Discipleship Ministry office.

Each day of the week-long camps will deal with a different “CY:” see why you’re here, you’re different, God cares, God forgives and it matters.

The curriculum was developed by two Florida Conference youth pastors and a pastor’s wife who works with children’s ministries, according to Hutchinson.

This year’s camp also offers new features, including age-appropriate musicians and puppet shows for the children’s camps. Last year’s new Senior High Group Week will also continue.

Despite the new ideas, some things don’t change, Standifer says. “The message doesn’t change. How we present it changes,” he said.