[1] Founded in 1933, the AYF became a global Armenian organization and stands on five pillars that guide its activities: Educational, Hai Tahd, Social, Athletic and Cultural.

After the decision was made, an invitation was sent to representatives of interested youth groups on the East Coast to join a conference on Sunday, July 16, 1933, in the old Hairenik Hall in Boston, MA.

Forty youths from the Massachusetts Armenian communities of Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Lawrence, Lynn, Watertown, Whitinsville, and Worcester were present at the conference.

It was due to the inspirational teachings of charismatic General Garegin Nzhdeh that AYF attracted thousands of members and supporters during that one year.

It was decided then that the organization was to be named the ARF Tseghagrons (or "young pledgers"), which was concerned with stopping assimilation and instilling the youth with Armenian pride.

But the main goal remained to work against Kemalist Turkey and the Soviet Union for the establishment of a free, independent, and united Armenia.

The members of the Central Executive were Hamparsoum Gelanian, John Der Hovanessian, Hagop Hagopian, Arthur Giragosian and K. Merton Bozoian.

Soon after the first Convention, the Armenian Youth Federation expanded north of the border, forming its first Canadian chapter in St. Catharines, Ontario, in 1934.

Chapters were organizing programs such as the drum and bugle corps, theater troupes and charity service work like Boston's "Siamanto Santa".

Other aspects of the athletic program included boxing, wrestling, baseball, soccer, and basketball, for which numerous inter-chapter tournaments were organized.

[citation needed] Chapters sent letters, issues of Hairenik Weekly, local news, packages, and presents to members in uniform.

During the 1950s the "Blue Book" educational series focused primarily on Armenian History, but also covered geography, culture and customs, the arts, and other subjects.

The Junior movement soon spread throughout the country and soon rivaled the Senior organization with its own "Blue Book" program, Olympics, conferences, essay and literature contests, and more.

Starting off slowly, and with separate boys and girls sessions, the camp grew gradually throughout the 1950s, becoming co-ed in 1957 and breaking the 50-camper mark the same year.

By this time, some of the smaller and more geographically isolated communities began to see the beginning of the end as Armenians relocated to other, larger metropolitan areas.

The YMCA Camp Big Pines site happened to be available and very much suitable to the needs of the Armenian Youth Federation, because it was close to the Los Angeles area, and easily assessable to the San Joaquin Valley.

In earlier years, five regional structures (New England, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-West, California, and Canada) had been created to address the problems brought on by the organization's vast expanse.

Later, the Canadian branch dropped the AYF name altogether and became the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Youth Organization of Canada (A.R.F.Y.O.C.).

During the early 1980s, the AYF had largely become a political organization that coordinated events such as hunger strikes and demonstrations to protest against the denial of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 by the Turkish Government and the rest of the world.

The Armenian Youth Federation's calendar is constantly active with social, educational, and athletic events for both junior and senior members.

It takes place annually during Labor Day Weekend, rotating between host chapters in the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and Mid-West regions.

It takes place Memorial Day Weekend and hosts juniors from the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and Mid-West regions with senior members serving as counselors.

During the first week of the program, Youth Corps participants spend time traveling throughout Armenia, visiting historic sites and enjoying the excitement of Yerevan.

From its inception, Youth Corps has been empowering young Diasporans to take a hands-on approach in the nation-building process of Armenia.

The summer camps continue the program's long tradition of giving young Armenians from the United States a chance to make a direct impact in the homeland and on the lives of Armenia's most impoverished children and families.

The camps accept hundreds of children every summer and provide a safe and fun environment for them to build new friendships and acquire new skills.

In addition to volunteering with kids, Youth Corps participants travel throughout Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Javakhk, experiencing historic, exciting and off the beaten path adventures.