Mark the Date

Just a heads up, be sure to mark your calendars for July 15th which will be our trek wrap up fireside.  You won't want to miss the fun of our pioneer slide show, speakers to remind you of our journey and seeing members of your family at one last trek event.

We hope everyone will be there!

Congratulations, you did it!!

Welcome Home All!!

We're glad you made it back in one piece and hope you grew closer to Heavenly Father through this youth conference.  It wasn't easy, it wasn't always very clean, but thankfully the food was pretty good.   Sometimes it was funny and sometimes there were tears, but you made it and that's something amazing.  Great job, we're proud of you all.

We missed you and hope you had a fabulous experience on trek.

Also, for all those who made trek possible whether you were in the thick of the action or behind the scenes, thank you so much for all of your work. 

Thanks for the families who prayed for trekkers and for leaders who encouraged youth to take a chance on trek.  Thanks for parents who purchased and packed needed items and for Ma's and Pa's who took time out of their busy lives to parent other people's children along the trails.  Thanks for those who planned and prepared activities and for those that smiled and helped a good attitude shine even when things were tough.  Thanks for those who cooked...we loooove those who cooked.  Thanks for youth who jumped in when help was needed and who cheered each other on day after day, mile after mile. 

What a miraculous thing to see an entire stake come together person by person to weave an amazing event that will long be remembered with smiles (and maybe a tear or two, but hopefully the happy kind).

Without your efforts, trek would not have been the experience that it was.  We love you all and we're grateful for all that you did to make it possible.

Wyoming here we come...

Tomorrow is the day!

A couple of reminders just so you don't forget.

*Tonight (Wednesday, the 27th) is the equipment weigh in at the stake center at 5:30 pm.  Bring your fully packed bucket as well as your sleeping stuff to check in.

*Tomorrow (Thursday, the 28th) meet bright and early, dressed in your pioneer clothes at the stake center at 5:00 am.  Be sure to eat a good breakfast before you come and bring your sack lunch with you.  The only meal provided this day will be dinner so bring your lunch or you'll be hungry.

*Parents and leaders, if you need to contact someone who is on trek for any reason you can call President Nielson.  He will be able to get in contact with trekkers and relay any essential information.

(President Nielson's # is 801-455-7616)

We look forward to trekking with you!

It's time to trek!!!

In  few short days...

THIS WILL BE YOU!

In a few short days we'll be...

WALKING OUR PATHWAY WITH HEAVEN IN VIEW!

Children coming to the promised land

Children, youth and adults alike shared the painful and treasured moments that littered the pathway to Zion. 

Here's a tragically beautiful true story from pioneer times about a young girl crossing the plains.

In less than 10 days we will be walking these trails

Are you ready to get your trek on?

Extra! Extra! Get your 2012 trek documents here!

As we round the final bend on our way toward youth conference you might realize there is a thing or two you haven't quite got lined up for trek yet.  We thought we would put together an all access list of important documents so you can easily find what you need before the big day.

* List of trek families

* Bus Assignments

* On the trail rotation schedule

* Meal rotation schedule
* Trek agenda

* Trek registration form

* Equipment and clothing list (includes Ma and Pa packing list)
*Tick prevention info
* Ma and Pa check off list

If you still feel like you are missing information that you need, feel free to email us (click the staff tab above for email addresses) and we will try to help you find it. 

Happy trekking!

Great deal on last minute trek stuff

Here's some great last minute advice on where to find great deals on trek stuff from another trek goer.

"I thought I would share the love for those of you who have procrastinated getting your own stuff together as much as me.

There is a generic gold bond at Dollar tree in Magna.   I have not tried it myself (; but the ingredients are the same and it smells just as geriatric (no offense).

There are really heavy duty pie tins there also that would work great for mess kits as well as two packs of silverware (we had to help a few of our youth get these kinds of things so I have shopped around a little).

Flashlights for a buck w/crap batteries but you can swap those out.  Also, lighters w/the long handle.
At Walmart in the Laundry aisle (hangers clothes pins etc aisle, not detergent) there are lingerie bags that work great for these mess kits and they are 97 cents each.

If you have not picked up or borrowed roasting sticks they have them at Winco for $1.8-something, right as you walk in the front doors.  Just past the chips but before the on sale refrigerator/freezer section.  The box is on the floor.  There are 4 in a pack and they are wood so you don't have to worry about losing them or returning them.

Harmons had the idea of using zip ties to put on your belongings and then attaching the duct tape to the zip tie so you don't leave that sticky disaster that the tape leaves all over your or others equipment.    I bought some of those ball and chain key ring things that have your personal information written down back in the tire/oil change section at Walmart for 97c for 2  for my tents so the zip ties don't puncture the fabric.

Girls button down long sleeve shirts are $5 at Suzies Deals in Magna as well as scrub bottoms for $8 to make into bloomers.  The DI is not any cheaper for the shirts.  Just FYI.

Anyway, just a few ideas for anyone who is looking for any of this and not knowing where to start."

(Thanks April Hendrickson for the great ideas.)

Holy Cow

Children on the trail to Zion loved their animals, just like we do.  These youngsters of yesteryear walked side by side with horses, oxen, cows, dogs not to mention the wild animals they constantly came in contact with.

One young girl, 13-year-old Margaret McNeil was particularly fond of her milk cow.  She wrote:

"Our cow was  Jersey and had a long tail.  When it was necessary to cross a river, I would wind the end of the cow's tail around my hand and swim across with her...Had it not been for her milk we would have starved...Every morning I would rise early and get breakfast for the family and milk my cow so that I could hurry and drive her on ahead of the company.  Then I would let her eat in all the grassy places until the company had passed on ahead, when i would hurry and catch up with them...It was important to see that she was well fed."

Not only did thousands of saint make the rugged journey to the Salt Lake Valley, thousands of their faithful animals plodded the paths as well.  Together, they made a wonderful team. 

Summer's here and trek is in sight!

Happy Summering to all the youth!

We are just a few weeks from trek and it is time for another stake get together.

This Sunday, June 10th at 6:00 pm at the stake center (Sunday dress please) we will be meeting to get our final preparations and information in order so that everyone is ready to get their trek on!

Anyone linked to trek in any way is encouraged to attend.  This includes youth, parents, YW/YM leaders, bishoprics, trek committee members, ma's and pa's and anyone else who has an interest in this youth conference. 

We hope this "demo" activity will kick your trek excitement into high gear and get everyone fully charged for the pioneer adventure in less than three weeks.

Please be there if you can.

Now It's Getting Personal

I think everyone who has ever been on a trek has a story to share.  In fact, they probably have many stories, some of them funny, some of them difficult, some of them inspiring.

Here is a piece of my trek story.

Four years ago I was serving in the young women when the stake held a meeting for leaders to announce that we would be doing a trek for youth conference.  I attended the meeting and listened intently, taking notes to pass on to other leaders and my girls.  I wanted to be sure I had everything I needed to encourage my girls to take part in this activity.  I knew it could change their lives.

Then those leading the meeting asked for volunteers to attend trek as ma's and pa's or in other capacities.  I sort of froze. 

You see, when I was 16 I participated in a pioneer trek.  This was way back when treks were new so no one really had much experience with them.  This was also one of those go without eating much treks.  We were given a can of beef broth for breakfast that day and then we had to drink water out of that can for the rest of the day (beef broth tainted water does NOT taste very refreshing in case you were wondering).  For lunch we had an apple and a piece of beef jerky.  I don't regret going on this trek; I learned a lot and my testimony definitely grew.  However, it was not an experience I was anxious to repeat (especially now that I am getting old and tired and lazy). 

The stake leaders passed around a sign up sheet and when it got to me I held it for a moment and then quietly passed it along. I didn't put my name down.

When I got home that night I got down on my knees for a chat with my Father in Heaven.  I told Him that I didn't want to go.  I told Him that trek is not my favorite thing in the world and that I would work hard to get my girls excited for it, but that I would rather not be there myself.  However, then I told Him that I trusted Him and if He wanted me to go, I would go.

Well, He obviously has a sense of humor because a few days later my husband and I got a call from the stake and we were asked to be a Ma and Pa for the trek.  My husband was THRILLED!  He could hardly wait.  Me, not so much.  But we both said yes and we started planning and preparing for youth conference.  And I started praying...some more.  I prayed that I would have a change of heart and that we would be able to help the kids in our assigned family feel the spirit and have a good experience (and maybe some fun too).

Fast forward two months into the summer and find us planted in nowheresville Wyoming with a family that wasn't really our family, but that really felt like it was for a few days.  There you will see us struggling and working as we push and pull and drag and force our handcart over rocks and rivers and through sand and mud.  There you will see me and my little group of daughters straining to maneuver our handcart up the steepest part of the trail for the "women's pull."  There you will see my husband giving blessings to our newly acquired teenage children and see me sneaking off behind the tent to chat with someone who is sad or homesick.  There you will witness our sons glued to the pulling bar as they joke and tell stories with their "father."  You will see tears in our eyes as we quietly walk through Martin's Cove and feel its tender spirit while we reverently talk about what happened there.  You will see water fights and fabulous food (no starving on this trek) and lack of fashion and oh so much Gold Bond (Don't forget your Gold Bond!!).  You will find us reading scriptures and sharing testimonies and laughing and playing pranks and feeling the sweet, deep spirit of the pioneers that settles over the trails they traveled and the places they passed.



(Our Trek Family 2008)

I will ever be grateful to a Heavenly Father who didn't give me what I wanted, but instead gave me what was best for me. 

And because of this experience I can tell you, very personally, that trek will change your life.  Trek will humble you and strengthen you and push you to your limits.  But more importantly, trek will bring you closer to your Father in Heaven and will lead you toward His vision of what your life can be.

Whether you are thrilled to walk these pioneer paths or you are apprehensive and maybe a little bit scared to plunge into this adventure I am telling you to go.  But don't do it for me (like you even know me), do it for you and for your relationship with Heavenly Father.  Pray for strength, pray for peace, but go...and expect your life to be changed for the better.   

Endings and Beginnings

Congratulations, kids, you made it through another year of school.  Hooray!

For those of you graduating tomorrow, great work.  Life is full of chances to set and achieve goals and completing your high school diploma is a great place to start.  We wish you the best as you head off into new adventures now that your high school days are history.

But, with every ending there comes a new beginning (good heavens, how cheesy can we get...I'm sure that is printed on a Hallmark card somewhere).

Sooooo, good news...

Only four weeks until trek! 

Can you believe it?

We'd better put out a couple of important reminders for you. 

Make sure that you are working to get all your things together so you aren't scrambling at the last minute to find something you need.  Click on the "gear" tab at the top of this page for a list of what to pack.  If you haven't put your pioneer clothing together yet GET ON IT!  If you need help click on our "staff" tab and contact Wendy Stoddard or click this link for some tutorials on making your own pioneer garb.

Also, last chance..BREAK IN YOUR SHOES IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT YET!  Seriously, you do NOT want blisters and you WILL get them if your shoes aren't well worn in before we leave.

We hope you all enjoy your end of school excitement and that you are looking forward to handcart excitement to come.  Have a great summer (and we hope you see some trek in your near future)!

A Heritage of Faith

Memorial weekend offers each of us the opportunity to look back and remember those who came before us.

Our roots may stretch over oceans or may sink deeply into local soil. 

No matter where we came from we are blessed by those who blazed the trail for us and helped us become what we are today as individuals and as a people.  Our ancestors, our leaders, our prophets all waded through heartache and pain and set standards that we can follow.  Their dedication and righteous example light our way as we journey on today.

But the story does not end there.  As we walk through our own lives we are creating paths that others can follow as well.  We are the creators of trails and testimonies that can strengthen those who follow behind in years to come.

We too can choose to leave a "Heritage of Faith."

Rescue Riders (angels on horseback)

Time and time again, pioneers were asked to rely on one another for strength and support as they crossed the plains.  The trials they faced forced the saints to pull together as a family and learn to love and help each other.  The unity they learned thanks to these experiences helped them as they settled into the Salt Lake Valley and began to work together to build a new life.

One of the  most miraculous helps that took place during these treks was the heroic efforts of rescue riders who put themselves in harms way, after safely making their on journey, to return to the trail and help those who were struggling so they could make it to safety.

These guardians in chaps and hats were nothing short of  Heaven sent and will ever be remembered by those whose lives they touched. 

Take a peek as this beautiful video to really get a feel for these angels on horseback who came to the rescue.

Pioneer Mothers, Meet Mary Fielding Smith

There are many incredible stories of pioneer mothers who crossed the plains.  Many women carried young children on their hip while pulling handcarts, many women lost husbands and had to brave the journey alone.  All were courageous and all were heroes in the lives of their little ones.

One incredible mother story from the plains is the story of Mary Fielding Smith.  Mary was the wife of Hyrum Smith, Joesph's big brother, at the time that Hyrum and Joseph were martyred.  Mary was left to care for her family which included her own children as well as Hyrum's children from his first marriage. 

As Latter-Day Saints began crossing the plains to settle in the Salt Lake Valley, Mary knew this was where she needed to take her family.  Having no money, no oxen, no provisions and no husband, she still somehow managed to secure her family a place in a wagon train set to cross to the west.  Her son, Joseph F. Smith (later to become the 6th president of the LDS church) was only nine when her family left Winter Quarters to start the long journey to Zion. 

Mary procured a wagon and was assigned to a company where the company captain immediately labeled her a burden on the group.  He told her she was foolish to think she and her family could make this journey and told her she would weigh down the company the entire trip.

Mary, ever faithful and fairly stubborn as well, blatantly told the captain that not only would she not require his help throughout the crossing, but she would also beat him to the valley.  She boldly gathered her supplies and helped her little ones prepare for the trek. 

Mary tenderly cared for her children and was a constant example of faith and strength to her family and many others throughout the journey.

Not far from the Salt Lake Valley, the Smith family cows wandered off.  Mary sent her step son, John, to find the cows.  She and her family waited while he searched and she lead them in fervent prayer for his success in the search.  The company captain smugly lead the remainder of the wagon train past the Smith family, again reminding Mary of the burden he had told her she would be. 

Soon after they passed the Smiths, the wagon company was caught in a sudden rainstorm which spooked the animals scattering the terrified cows across the mountain top.  The company was forced to stop to gather the lost animals.

While the group was searching for their cows, John returned with the Smith family cows and Mary lead her family right past the rest of the company and entered the valley before the humbled captain.

Mary's strength and unshakable faith throughout her trials were an inspiration to her family during their journey.  Our moms do much the same for us today.  We may not often be required to search for lost cows, but the prayers and testimony and devotion of our mothers build and support us and helps us become the people our mothers know we can be.

Happy mother day to all the moms out there.  We are eternally grateful for you and our gift in our lives.

(More about Mary Fielding Smith here)

Nevermind

OK, so change of plans.

The stake film festival has been moved to the fall so no rush to get your trek videos created and submitted for that.

Sorry, but we still hope you will do something creative to participate in the film festival when it comes around.

Pioneer Square Dance

To get you all excited about our square dance activity this week we thought we'd share a little peek at what pioneer square dancing can be.

Remember, the stake youth square dance activity is for all youth (even deacons and beehives) as well as youth leaders and anyone involved with trek (Ma's and Pa's and committee members too).

The fun will begin at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, May 9th at the stake center.  Come in your favorite pioneer garb (but still come even if you don't have pioneer clothes).  Be ready to kick up your heels and sample some tasty treats as well. 

(For those attending trek, your packing bucket fr trek will be given to you at this activity as well so be sure to come and pick it up!)

**Also, anyone who has pioneer clothing they are not planning to use and are willing to donate to youth who may need it, please bring it to the square dance as well.

Thanks for Sharing

I told you if you made a video or created a song we would put it up here.

These guys did it...and now they are FAMOUS!

(Love it, thanks for sharing!)

(Also...join the trek choir, Sundays 4:30 at the stake center.)

P.S. We dare you to make a trek related video for the stake film festival coming up May 25th at 7:00 pm.  Entries must be between 30 seconds and 1 minute long and are due to President McDaniel by May 18th.  Be creative and come up with something unique (how about Trek Hunger Games...maybe a 10 year old called up to attend and a 15 year old runs up yelling that she volunteers to take her place or contestants eliminated for bringing ipods or wearing bad shoes or forgetting their Gold Bond).   If you have questions or concerns please email President McDaniel at prezmcd@gmail.com. 

If you do choose to make a video, please let us share it here as well.  Thanks.

Real Life, Modern DayTrek Experiences

Handcart treks have been going on for years, but the experiences of each group are unique.  No matter how different the journey, each group, each person who attends trek comes away having learned something important and having grown into something more than they were before.

While the trail we will travel has been walked many times by many travelers, our experience will be personal to us and will expand our understanding and testimonies if we allow it to do so.

Watch this inspiring video put together by another stake from their trek.

OR 

Read about a couple other trek experiences at the links below.  Be ready to experience your own miracles as we trek together.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705376022/Lessons-my-handcart-taught-me-baggage-experience-perspective.html?pg=2

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705386019/Summer-memories-Trekking-through-Wyoming.html

Trek Family Bonding Activity Ideas

Now that our trek families have been announced each family will have the chance to get to know each other and spend some time together before trek.  We hope that every trek participant will pray daily for his or her trek family and will do everything possible to help the group become a happy family.

Below are some "bonding" activites that are pioneercentric and might be fun for families to indulge in. 

* Tie a quilt to donate to someone in need of extra love (and a cudly blanket)

* Build your own edible handcarts out of grahm crackers and marshmallows.

* Come up with a family cheer that you can all shout together (complete with actions if you like) when things get tough or things get fabulous while on trek.

*Make homemade applesauce, homemade jam or can some fruit together as a family.  Deliver some to leaders, loved ones or children nearby.

* Get a bale of hay or straw.  Cut the twine around it and let it fall into a heap.  Hide several coins or trinkets in the hay.  Divide your group into teams and take turns one at a time racing to the hay to find one of the hidden objects.  The losing group has to clean up the mess (and everyone should get a treat afterward...maybe peach cobler that you can make in a dutch oven before hand as a family).

*Carve bars of soap into handcarts, wagons, horses, oxen or other pioneer images using a pocket knife.

*Make candles together.  One way to do this is to get a carboard cream container for each family member (you know, the size of school lunch milk boxes).  Fill the cointainer with crushed ice then insert your wick into the center (you can buy lengths of wick at most craft stores).  Pour melted parafan wax into the container and set it in the fridge to harden (it takes about 20 minutes).  You can even add a drop or two of food coloring or perfume to spice things up.  These candles turn out looking pretty cool or you can make candles another way.

*Allow each family member to make their own stick horse (a cardboard head on a wooden dowel with yarn for hair) and have a rodeo.

*Create a scavenger hunt that looks for items the pioneers might have had with them (a spoonful of flour, a piece of fabric, a bit of wood, straw, a holey sock, etc).  Have your family dress in pioneer garb and split into teams to fill the list. 

* Challenge another trek family to some friendly pioneer competitions like a tug of war, a stick pull, marbles, hop scotch or a three legged race.

* Have a family taffy pull (be prepared for sore hands, that stuff is HOT!)

*Arrange to visit a local farm and milk a cow.  Then head home and have a barbeque (eat hamburgers).

If none of these ideas tickle your fancy, take a look at this previous post with some other ideas to consider.  Good luck; we know you'll be a great family.

Break in your shoes at the 5K

We've already talked a little bit about the importance of a great pair of shoes while on trek, but just as important as having sturdy shoes is making sure they are well broken in and comfortable.

Lucky for you, the stake is doing a 5K walk/run this Saturday.  All youth are invited to attend, but if you are signed up for trek (which I really hope you are) then you have the chance to get those shoes good and comfy by wearing them to this activity.

The 5K is on Saturday, April 21 from 9am-12pm at the building on 6400 West 3500 South.  Eat a hearty breakfast at home and then meet at the pavilion for fun activities including the 5K as well as other competitions and exciting events. 

For those attending trek you will be introduced to your trek family at this activity so there is added incentive to attend. 

We look forward to seeing you there ... and to help you get your shoes all ready for trek.


Good shoes for trek:







NOT good shoes for trek: