Trek Kickoff Youth Packet

“In His strength I can do all things” Alma 26:12

President Gordon B. Hinckley stated, “It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future.  It is good to look upon the virtues of those who have gone before, to gain strength for whatever lies ahead.” 

The focus of this Trek will be finding strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ to “do all things” that may be required during the Trek experience and throughout life.  Ultimately, we hope the youth will develop a deeper appreciation of and relationship with the Savior as they experience some of the challenges that faced the handcart pioneers. 

In order for the youth to feel the faith of those early pioneers, the Trek families will be experiencing, as far as reasonable, the experience of the Handcart Pioneers.  Certain activities will be structured in such a way as to give the youth a literal taste of their experiences.  Other events will allow the youth to ponder and feel the trials that will help them to understand what it means to rely on the strength found in faith, sacrifice and obedience. 

The youth are encouraged to study the history of the early saints in general.  Become familiar with their expulsion from Nauvoo, the exodus west toward Winter Quarters and finally to the Great Salt Lake Valley.  They will want to study in particular the handcart treks.  Many of the regularly scheduled youth night activities conducted over the months leading up to the Trek will be centered on learning and studying about families and individuals who were in the original handcart companies.   

Personal Commitment

The Trek experience offers to all participants an incredible opportunity to strengthen their testimony in the Savior and in the restoration of the Gospel.  The Trek experience varies with each individual and is enhanced by personal preparation and commitment, but it is virtually always a positive and unforgettable experience.

“Personal Commitment” refers to an individual pledge made by each participant to commit fully to the experience by being willing to prepare, dedicated to working hard, willing to sacrifice what is needed, to have faith in the leadership of the Stake and to strive to be obedient.  If you commit to these basic principles you will find strength to overcome the personal challenges and individual concerns that you might have about participating.

To the youth: this is a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to put aside the business of your lives and focus in a unique way on the lives of those who paid a heavy price for their faith.  It is an opportunity to join with them in a small way by manifesting your desire to keep moving toward Zion regardless of the difficulties.  It is an opportunity to become personally acquainted with their sorrow, their grief and their joy.  It is an opportunity to become personally acquainted with their faith in Christ.  It is an opportunity to become personally acquainted with Him. 

Questions and Answers

Where and when will the Trek take place?

The trek site is located at Deseret Land and Livestock, a church owned property about 10 miles west of Evanston Wyoming.  Participants will arrive at the Stake Center on the morning of Wednesday, June 29, 2011 (time TBA) and will be available for pick-up at Deseret Land and Livestock on Saturday, July 2, 2011. 

What are the transportation plans?

Delivery of the participants to Deseret Land and Livestock on June 29^th will be coordinated by the Stake and Ward Leaders.  Pick-up of the participants on July 2^nd will be coordinated by individual families of the Trek participants.

What is the terrain like?

The Trek will take place on private land owned by Deseret Land and Livestock.  This is a church-owned cattle ranch.  Elevation of the property is approximately 7500 feet.  It is considered high-country desert and offers little vegetation outside of sagebrush and various range grasses.  The property can be described as wide valleys and rolling hills.  We will pull the handcarts through the rangeland that is used for feeding the herds of cattle that roam the property.  There will be little to none established handcart trails. 

How far will participants pull the handcarts?

The participants will pull the handcarts approximately 26 miles over the four days.  Some days may entail more pulling that others.  To put this into perspective, the handcart pioneers walked over a thousand miles, averaging 21 miles a day.

How will the participants be organized?

Participants will be organized into families of 8-10 youth with a “Ma and Pa” to lead them.  The Ma’s and Pa’s will be married couples who have been specifically selected and trained for this experience.  Each family will comprise of youth from all over the Stake. This will be a wonderful opportunity to get to know other youth that live in the area.  Efforts will be made to balance the families as much as possible.

Will the participants get enough to eat and drink?

Most of the meals will be simple, but it will always be adequate and no one will go to bed hungry.  All participants will have water available to them at all times and will be strongly and repeatedly urged to drink plenty of it.  Water breaks will occur frequently throughout each day.  Special dietary accommodations will be allowed as indicated by a doctor on the participant’s medical form.  However, participants will not be allowed to carry extra “treats” from home with them.

Will participants be able to keep warm?

Everyone should bring a rain poncho, a warm coat (not necessarily pioneer style), warm sleepwear, a warm sleeping bag, and an old blanket (preferably wool).  Should the weather turn wet, adjustments will be made and shelters established.  The property we are trekking on is known to get frost at night and to be hot in the afternoon during the months of June and July so come prepared for the extremes.

Will medical help be available?

A doctor, registered nurse and several EMTs will be available at all times.  Transportation will be provided as directed by the medical staff should the need arise.  Medical staff and adult leaders along the trail will be equipped with radios so that medical needs can be addressed promptly.  Communication with local hospitals and  Emergency airlift by helicopter is also available.  The most common injuries sustained in Trek activities are sprained ankles, blisters, dehydration, and heat exhaustion.  We will be vigilant to ensure safety for all.  Ma’s and Pa’s will be trained in First Aid procedures.

Will youth with disabilities be able to participate?

We will make every effort to accommodate all youth, but each participant must receive medical clearance in order to attend.  Decisions about who will be accommodated and how they will be accommodated will be made by the medical committee along with the Stake Presidency.

Will toilet facilities be available?

Portable toilets will be mounted on trailers and will be available along the trail and at all times in camp.

Will boys and girls be separated for sleeping?

Yes. We will be sleeping under the stars but there will be gender specific sleeping arrangements made.  Girls will also have a private, separated area to accommodate personal needs.

In what kinds of activities will the participants engage?

In addition to pulling the handcarts along the trail, there will be singing, dancing, pioneer games, cooking, cleaning, firesides, testimony meetings and other spiritual activities.

How will participants need to dress?

They will need to follow the dress standards set forth in this packet at all times during the Trek.

How much will the Trek cost?

Each participant is asked to pay a $20 fee.  The proper way of paying this fee is like any other youth camp activity.  Please submit your fee payment on the tithing donation slip space marked “other”.  This fee is due the Sunday, April 10, 2011.  Participants are also required to furnish their own clothing and personal gear.  We recommend using older, durable equipment so as to minimize the overall cost of the Trek per individual.

How can the participants prepare

• Attend their youth night actvities.
• Participate in the fitness program.
• Complete the Trek Preparation Activities set forth in the Kick-off Fireside.
• Start collecting items on the pack list now.
•  Start breaking in the shoes they’ll wear at least three months before going.
• Turn in the Registration forms by April 10, 2011. (Forms will be distributed in February by the Ward YM/YW leadership.
• Turn in the Medical Physical Forms by April 10, 2011. (Forms will be distributed in February by the Ward YM/YW Leadership)

Ward Youth Night Activities Related to Trek

In an effort to help our youth prepare mentally, spiritually and physically for the Trek the Stake Presidency has outlined 9 specific youth night activities that will be conducted during the regularly scheduled mutual nights.  Some of these activities will happened on a Young Men’s Quorum or Young Women’s class level, some will happen as a combined activity and some will be conducted as a Stake.  The Bishops and YM/YW Presidencies in each ward have received training and instruction on how to lead these activities.  With the exception of a few activities, the Wards will decide when certain activities will work for their needs.   If the youth of the Stake will participate fully in these activities, they will come to the Trek well prepared to benefit from the experience.  These activities are as follows:

•          Hiking
•         Church History Museum – Missionary led tour that focuses on handcart pioneers.
•          Family Research Night with Stake Family Research Coordinators
•          Visit to “This is the Place Monument” and Ensign Peak
•          Temple Visits
•          Fitness Nights – Exercise and strength training activities
•          Square Dance Night
•          Sewing Dresses/bonnets/bloomers (YW specific)
•          “Bucket” night – create cushion for 5 gallon bucket lid to be taken on trek.

Personal Physical Preparation

Pioneer treks require physical stamina. Physical preparation cannot be completed in a short period of time. The following are some general guidelines that you might consider:

•  Walk 3-5 times per week. 
•   Work up to sustaining 4 miles completed in one hour (including hills).  The longer you can sustain this pace the more comfortable you will be on the trail.
•   Drink water and eat wholesome foods that contribute to health.

In an effort to help our youth start preparing physically for the activity, we will be holding a friendly competition between the Wards.  Each Sunday the youth will have an opportunity to report in their YM/YW meetings the total number of minutes they exercised in that week.  Preferably the youth will exercise in a way that would help them walk up hills, pull heavy things and go over long distances.  However, we know that many youth are involved in school sports and that having an additional exercise program may not be possible.  So those youth that are involved in school sporting or dancing teams may report the total minutes exercised through those activities.  It is important that they only report actual minutes exercised, not time sitting on the bench/sideline waiting.  Each Ward building will have a Trek map that will show the progress of the youth.  For every 5 minutes of exercise as a group (averaged) they will be awarded 1 mile on the map.  The map covers the approximate 1000 mile path of the pioneers so to complete the same trail over the next 30 weeks, each youth needs to average at least two hours of exercise per week.  The Ward that finishes the map will receive recognition for their accomplishment.  So put a plan in place now that will get you prepared to Trek!!!!!