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Mormon Pioneer Trek Ideas: The Ultimate Planning Guide

Updated on August 15, 2023 | Published on May 7, 2017

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Are you or your kids going on a Mormon Pioneer Trek? This post will help you find the best places for pioneer trek clothes and tips and tricks for preparing and walking the trek. 

A few years ago my family and I had the opportunity to go on a Pioneer Trek  with our church.

It was an amazing experience.

You may be wondering why someone would ever want to do such a thing; dress up in pioneer clothes, hike for miles a day in scorching hot weather, all while pulling handcarts filled with belongings.

We do it to experience a little bit of what the early members of our church experienced, years ago, as they fled persecution and crossed the plains to travel to somewhere that they could settle in peace. They traveled for months on end, through the bitter winter, many losing family members along the way.

We do it to walk where they walked and to gain a greater appreciation for the sacrifices that they made. It was an amazing experience and something I will not soon forget.

This Summer our church is doing another trek for the youth ages 12-18. My husband and I were asked if we would be a Ma and Pa which means we will be assigned a group of 6-8 youth to trek with. We are so excited to have this experience again.

If you are in the midst of planning for a youth Pioneer Trek, here are some ideas to help make it a memorable and rewarding trip for all.

Pioneer Trek Clothing

Going on trek takes a lot of preparation. In order to have the full experience we try to make it feel as real possible. One thing we do is wear clothing that the pioneers wore all those years ago. For women, that means, long dresses or skirts, aprons, bloomers, and bonnets. The men usually wear some kind of loose fitting pants, a button up shirt, vest, suspenders and some kind of cowboy type hat. It was really fun, but kind of stressful to find the clothing for my family to wear. Here are a few tips:

Girl/Women Pioneer Trek Clothing

A lot of people made their items. I am not that great with the sewing machine, but here a few easy patterns for making pioneer skirts and accessories:

• This one uses a bed sheet to make a skirt :
• Here is a link for a tutorial for a pioneer skirt that someone with even the most limited sewing abilities could tackle:
• Here is a link for tutorials for a couple of different styles of pioneer dresses
• Here is a tutorial on how to make a bonnet
• Katie did an awesome tutorial on how to make an apron .
• Another awesome website is White Elegance . They have locations in Utah, but I ordered my items online. I ordered aprons, bloomers and bonnets. They also sell skirts, dresses, and men pioneer clothing as well. Their items are reasonably priced and of great quality.
• There are a lot of mosquitos, and ticks, and is important to make sure that you are fully covered up to prevent bites. A lot of women wore bloomers. Here is an easy tutorial for making bloomers out of scrub pants.
• I ended up purchasing some for my girls and me, but we did not love the fit. We ended up wearing leggings ( VIV Collection is great) underneath our dresses and skirts, which we found was a great alternative. We will probably do the same thing this time.  

Pioneer Clothing for Men/Boys

• I made my husband a son a few shirts using button down collared shirts from our local thrift store. Here is the pattern that I used
• For my husband and son we bought some nylon hiking pants .

Deseret Book  has some great trek clothing items. My husband and I both purchased a trek shirt from there, and it was by far our favorite shirt that we had. There are a couple of different options. Here is the one that I purchased, and here is the one my husband bought. I also purchased a skirt and   apron there as well.

My husband and I will be able to use our same clothes this time around, but my girls have both had growth spurts and need new clothing. I discovered that Etsy has a ton of available options. 

I found a shop called Anne Sew and So with some great deals. The items were shipped quickly, and are of great quality. The skirts are the least expensive that I have found. We also purchased bonnets from this Etsy shop, and they were of great quality as well.

Pioneer Trek Shoes

It is so important to have a good pair of shoes for trek, as you will be walking 8-10 miles a day.

Hiking shoes can be heavy, so unless they are very well worked in, I recommend a good pair of tennis shoes to wear.  If your feet are hurting, you will be miserable. Here are a few tips to help prevent blisters:

• Purchase merino wool socks because they are warm, cushioning, and retain warmth when wet.
• Another tip, which may sound weird, is to wear knee high pantyhose underneath your socks, men included! The extra layer will help to prevent blisters. I bought a ten pack from Walmart , and each of my family members wore them daily. It helped a ton!
• Make sure you have Moleskin in your first aid kit. The first sign that you are getting a blisters is the feeling of a hotspot on your foot. Applying moleskin to the hot spot will in most cases, prevent the blister from developing further.

In addition to your shoes for hiking you will want to bring some type of water shoes. One of the things we participated in on trek was a water crossing over the Sweet Water River, which was the same river that the pioneers crossed over when they crossed the plains.

Some people just brought an old pair of tennis shoes, some brought water shoes and some walked across barefoot. You will definitely want to have a different option than to cross in the shoes you will be hiking in.

It was really cold, and pretty deep, but such a humbling experience when we crossed. When the pioneers crossed they crossed in the dead of winter. We were able to change into different shoes to cross the river, and then change right back into our hiking shoes once we were done crossing. 

When the pioneers crossed, they crossed in the same shoes that the walked in. There are many stories of great sacrifices made by others as they worked together to cross the river. You can watch one account here.

NECK COOLERS

It gets very hot during the days, and neck coolers are, in my opinion a must. I picked up some for my family from Deseret Book for a few dollars. You can also purchase them from Amazon , or at several different sporting goods stores.   Here is a tutorial to make your own, if you want to go that route: 

In order for the neck coolers to work, they need to be soaked in cold water. A tip that someone told us, was to bring an empty gallon ice cream container. Fill it with cold water at the beginning of the day, and place your neck coolers in there. It is easy to carry on the handcart, accessible when you need it, and you can place the neck coolers back in there when they need to be soaked again. Neck coolers provide great relief for those long hot days!  

5 GALLON BUCKET

Each person is allowed to bring one 5 gallon bucket to carry all of their belongings in (not including sleeping bags, pillows, etc.). I purchased ours from Walmart , though Amazon has many great options as well . 

These buckets will also serve as your seat (and sometimes pillow) when you stop for breaks along the trail. Because of this, I highly recommend making some kind of cushion for the lid of the bucket.

Here is a great tutorial .  It is also a good idea to have your name written on the outside. Some people like to paint and decorate their buckets as well.

Pioneer Trek Snacks

Each trek is different. On the one we went on two years ago, we were required to bring all snacks for our family.

What I did was have a ziplock bag for each family member for each day that we would be trekking. On the bag I wrote their name and the day. At the beginning of the day I gave each person their bag of snacks and they knew they had to make it last for that day. Here are some ideas of snacks to bring, if you are required to bring your own.

• Fruit leather
• Dried fruit

Whatever you decide to bring, make sure that it is perishable, and it won’t melt.

It is imperative that you drink plenty of water while trekking. It is very easy to get dehydrated, and is very, very dangerous to not stay hydrated. There are plenty of stops along the way to use the bathroom, so don’t let that be a reason to not drink water.

On each wagon, we had a 5-gallon water jug where people could fill their water bottle back up when they needed to.

FIRST AID KIT

You will want to have some kind of first aid kit. I packed ours in a gallon size ziplock bag. Here are some important items to include:

• Alcohol swabs
• Desitin (works wonders to prevent chafing)
• Hand sanitizer

We had an eight-hour bus ride to reach Martin’s Cove. It was very helpful to have some games and activities planned to help pass the time (no electronics were allowed). Here are some links to some ideas for activities to do on the bus:

100 Would you rather questions for kids

20+ Car Games and Activities {For Long Car Trips}

FINDING SOMEONE TO WALK FOR

Something that will help the trek to be more meaningful and personal, is finding an ancestor to walk for. This can be an ancestor that crossed the plains, it can be an ancestor who was the first one to bring the gospel to your family, or it can be someone who has had a meaningful impact on your life.

Here is an excellent source for locating ancestors who were a part of the handcart companies:

Here is another wonderful resource which has additional pioneer stories and scriptures to read before trek. Reading these will help you prepare to have the most meaningful pioneer trek experience possible.

OTHER PIONEER TREK TIPS

• Bring a tarp to put under your tent. It rained a ton when we were there, and those who had tarps under their tents, had a dry tent.
• Bring some type of heavy duty work gloves . Pulling the handcarts all day, can be rough on your hands. Gloves are very helpful in preventing blisters, and making it easier to pull the hand carts over rougher terrain.
• Stick deodorant will melt, so bring aerosol deodorant.
• Bring sunglasses to wear. It gets very windy there, and there is a ton of sand. Sunglasses help to prevent getting sand in your eyes.

• Bring a journal ! You will have many sacred wonderful experiences while on trek. Each night, take the time to jot down things that happened during the day. You will love having your journal to look back on, and even if you think you will remember every detail, you probably won’t!
• Prepare physically before you go! I cannot emphasize this enough. Before trek go on lengthy hikes and runs to prepare for the long days of walking on trek. If you are physically prepared, you will enjoy the experience so much more.

Going on trek is an experience that I think everyone should have once in their life. Walking where the pioneers walked and experiencing just a taste of what they experienced will strengthen your testimony of the gospel and give you greater strength and courage to face the trials that you face in this day. Pulling the handcarts will give you courage and determination as you pull your own personal handcarts. Even though we did not face the challenges that the pioneers did, we face our own each and every day.

Elder M. Russell Ballard said,

“Brothers and sister, join us and begin now to prepare for a spiritual journey….by walking in the footsteps of our beloved pioneers in every land. We must be sure that the legacy of faith received from them is never lost. Let their heroic lives touch our hearts, and especially the hearts of our youth, so the fire of true testimony and unwavering love for the Lord and His Church will blaze brightly within each one of us as it did in our faithful pioneers” (“Faith in Every Footstep” Ensign Nov. 1996).

I hope this helps! I would be happy to answer any additional questions that you may have, to help you have a wonderful trek experience!

More Articles You May Enjoy:

• The Best Pioneer Day Recipe Ideas
• 30+ Combined Youth Activities for Latter-Day Saints
• 30+ Fun Relief Society Activity Ideas

Reader Interactions

January 25, 2023 at 3:05 pm

This was so very helpful. Thank you providing so many details for those of us who are getting ready to go on trek who have never gone but we’re really humbled for this experience. Can I ask you to share ideas for Ma and Pa. What to do that helps bond with the kids. Games or spiritual thoughts, etc? I’m so nervous but I really want to be prepared so anything to put my mind at ease the better. Thank you

Brooke says

January 16, 2022 at 4:04 pm

Not sure if this’ll work since this post was published quite a few years ago, but I actually have quite a few questions! I’ll try to keep this short(ish) though…

1. It might seem obvious, but I’m unsure who is responsible for bringing tents? And also approximately how many tents are usually brought? Do the youth bring their own? the Ma’s & Pa’s for their family? Does the stake provide them? Ward young women and young men leaders? Any information on that would be helpful!

2. If the sleeping bags/bedding is kept in a plastic bag, is it still carried on the handcarts? Or do support vehicles or something meet the handcarts at the campsites every night with tents & bedding & such? It seems to me that in most cases one must fit all one’s belongings in the single 5 gallon bucket, but what about all the extra stuff? (bedding, first aid kits, tents, tarps, shelters, etc.)

3. A lot simpler of a question, but approximately how many miles did you trek each day? And in total? Just wondering, obviously there could be a big difference in this variable between stakes of course.

Thank you in advance if you see this and/or take the time to answer any of my questions!

January 25, 2022 at 10:36 pm

Hello! 1. For tents, this may vary depending on the ward/stake. I believe our ward always provided tents for everyone, though they were usually borrowed from members of the ward. 2. When I went to Martin’s Cove, our tent sites did not change at all, so the bedding stayed in the tents. If you will be going from tent site to tent site, I imagine there will be a support vehicle to bring them, but I’m not totally sure! 3. At Martin’s Cove, there are a few different routes. It definitely varies depending on the ward/stake 🙂

Craig Moore says

October 27, 2019 at 4:34 pm

Thanks, we will be Trek Masters in 2020 it was great to read you suggestions. Any ideas on a fireside before trek?

Heather says

October 23, 2017 at 4:45 am

Wow! ❤ I was raised LDS and left the Faith (I have another Spiritual Path and Practice). That said–reading this not only gave me great practical ideas to apply in my day-to-day life, it reminded me of the incredible faith, strength, resourcefulness, and fortitude of my pioneer ancestors, and how grateful I am to have come from such amazing people. (Watching “17 Miracles” on BYU TV does that, too–and reduces me to tears each time…even the 4th or 5th, or however many it’s been now…?). Reading this post reminds me again of the creativity, resourcefulness, talent, kindness, generosity of resource, talent, heart, and Spirit, faithfulness, strength, and GOODNESS of so much of Mormon culture, and so many Mormon people. I feel grateful and privileged to have been raised in such a culture, with such people, and in a Faith that taught me to relate to God as a Living Person–Who Loves me (beyond what I can even really imagine or understand!)–and with Whom I can have an intimate, loving, personal relationship; to discern the voice of Holy Spirit, to listen for and to that Voice, and to act on the Guidance I receive; to be humble, and always looking to improve myself and be a better person; to forgive and reconcile; to value family above all Eartly things; to respect the religions/Faith of others; to value and seek knowledge, Truth, and beauty (and all that is virtuous, lovely, of good-report, and praiseworthy!); to seek freedom and liberty; to work hard; to be honest, decent, and a person of integrity; to be compassionate, generous, kind, and willing to sacrifice; to take care of my community–friends, neighbors, and strangers alike (each being “a Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”) and above all to (strive my very best!) to love and serve God with all my heart, might, mind, and strength, and to love and serve my neighbors–all other living entities–as (or better than!) myself. Being raised LDS really drove home to me the importance of–and how to–do my best to emulate, and strive to live as a disciple of, Lord Jesus. Thank you for your wonderful, helpful post here! And thank you for reminding me of the good, strong, faithful people from whom I am descended, and the good, strong, faithful people, and culture, and Teachings with whom/which I had the great privilege and blessing of being raised. Thank you! May God bless you, and your family! May God bless all who read this! May God bless us all! Peace. ?

November 8, 2017 at 10:58 pm

Heather: Thank you for your very thoughtful and kind comment. I’m so glad that you were able to enjoy this post and that even though you aren’t part of the LDS faith anymore, that you still respect and appreciate the heritage that you come from. God bless you as well – I can tell you have a wonderful spirit 🙂

Rachel says

June 2, 2017 at 10:59 am

Were you super hot with leggings on? I definitely don’t want ticks, but I’m worried about being too hot with all of the layers.

Thanks for all of the helpful information!

Babzanne Barker says

May 8, 2017 at 9:32 pm

This was such a fantastic post, Diana! You gave so many great and helpful ideas and I loved the pictures! You could make this into a booklet and sell it at Deseret Book. Wonderful!

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Let’s Trek! Pioneer Trek Activities You’ll Love

Looking for great Pioneer Trek activities? We have participated in many Pioneer Treks as Trail Bosses, Ma & Pa, and family members. Here are some helpful ideas to make your Pioneer Trek a fun and uplifting event.

Morning Round-Up

Begin each morning on the trail by gathering everyone together. (This will take place after breakfast, family devotionals, and loading trailers. ) Start with a roll call, draw lots for pull position, family handcart song, announcements, and a company hug.  All of this will take less than 15 minutes.   It’s a great way to start the day!

The trail boss will call out the family colors or names and each family will respond with a cheer.

Dra w Lots for Pull Position

Our favorite way to do this is by putting a handful of Legos in the Trail Boss Ma’s apron pocket.  There is a Lego for each family. The Trail Boss calls a youth up to pick from the pocket. She stacks the Legos as they are pulled and that is the order for the day.  The order can be drawn again after lunch.

Family Handcart Song

Ask every family to make up a verse to “The Handcart Song”. They can do this as they’re trekking or before Trek. The Stake leaders share their song on the first day before the first pull. Three or four families share their songs each morning at Morning Round-Up.  Here’s the song and an example.  Handcart Song Music

STAKE LEADERS HANDCART SONG

Stake Support:

The stake support is here for you.

We’ll haul some gear and water too.

And, Dan, he has a job that’s neat

He keeps the toilet smelling sweet.

Food Committee:

The food committee keeps the rules.

We wash our hands and clean our tools

Because we know it won’t go well

With diarrhea on the trail.

Trail Bosses:

The trail bosses will lead the way

We’ll lead a song and shout hooray

But we may go a mile too far

 Because we don’t know where we are.

For some must push and some must pull,

As we go marching up the hill;

So merrily on our way we go

Until we reach the Valley-o.

Printable Stake Leaders Handcart Song

Announcements

Share the agenda and any announcements for the day.

Company Hug

A morning “company hug” is a great pioneer trek activity to promote unity. Our treks have been four day events, so we needed four company hugs. Here are some ideas.

• First Day/Practice Hug: Everyone forms a big circle, trying to stand side-by-side as close as they can, with arms around shoulders. Then everyone moves one step forward to add an extra squeeze.
• Sit Hug: Everyone forms a big circle. Everyone turns so their stomachs are close to the back of the person in front of them.  Tighten the circle so everyone is close together. Then, on the count of three, sit down.  Everyone should be sitting on each other, so no one should fall!
• Magnet Hug: Once again, everyone forms a big circle. The Trail Boss yells for everyone with a birthday in January to run to the center of the circle and make a big group hug. Then he yells “February!” and the February birthdays run to the center and join in the hug.  He continues with all the months as everyone gets sucked into the magnet hug.
• Cinnamon Roll Hug: Save this one for your last morning. Everyone holds hands, making a big circle. The trail boss lets go of one hand and begins to walk to the center, pulling everyone behind him.  The group then goes round and round, forming a tight cinnamon roll. I wish I had a video of our trek kids doing this.  They loved it! Here’s an example from YouTube.  https://youtu.be/inD620ss3Uc

Trail of Hope

In Nauvoo, during pageant weeks, actors stand along the trail to the river and tell their stories to the visitors as they walk the Trail of Hope.  We recreated this powerful experience on our Pioneer Trek. It’s one of our favorite pioneer trek activities.  We held our Trail of Hope on our first night, after dinner and a variety show. We staggered the families to begin the trail every five minutes. They needed to be spaced enough to listen to a story, then move to the next one before the following family arrived. We asked 12 adult leaders and youth to learn the parts. (Most don’t need to be memorized, but the actors should know the stories very well.)  We gave each actor a lantern.  They stood alone on the trail and told their story to each family as they passed.  Here is our script:  Trail of Hope Script

Variety Show

On the first night, after camp has been set-up and everyone has eaten dinner, it’s good to gather and have some fun.  It’s important for the kids to know that even though trek is going to be physically hard, it’s also going to be tons of fun.  You want them to know this from the start.  Our variety show consisted of several youth sharing their talents, plus a skit from our Pa’s, a song from our Ma’s, and some entertainment from our Trail Boss.  This can be really fun.  Tap into the talent in your group and make it happen! I’ll attach copies of our Ma and Pa numbers to get you thinking. You’re welcome to use our scripts if they suit your needs. We asked a quartet of young women to end the night by singing “Happy Trails”.  It was great!

Ma’s Variety Show Song

Pa Skit Script

Pioneer Rendezvous

On Friday afternoon, we always gather for games and competition at our Pioneer Rendezvous.  The favorite events are axe throwing, stilts, tug-of-war, and hoop throwing/catching.  There are many stations with pioneer games.  It’s easy to find other pioneer games and activities through a quick internet search.

Team Building/Get-To-Know You Activities

Here are a few ideas to help build unity within families.

• Make up nicknames for family members.
• Have a family yell or cheer.
• Assign jobs (Load/unload cart, place rocks under wheels when stopped, set-up/take-down shelter, fill water jugs, retrieve bedding from trailer, etc.)
• Seven Questions on the Trail: Choose one person at a time. The family gets to ask them 7 questions about themselves.
• The BIG Question: Ask a big question and everyone has to answer it. (What super power would you have? Do you have a phobia? Share an embarrassing moment.  Who’s your hero?)
• Whomp! Memory Game: Sit in a circle. Person in the middle has a pair of socks in their hand. They run to someone. That person ahs to yell out the name of another person before he gets whomped with the socks.

Games on the Trail

• You Don’t Say: Game played in two teams- right side of cart vs. left side of cart. Here are the rules:  You Don’t Say
• Encore: Call out a category. Each team takes turns singing the first few lines of a song until one team can’t think of a song.  Examples: Songs from Mary Poppins or Songs with the word “Night”.
• Ghost Speller: Take turns saying a letter to form a word. When opponent thinks it isn’t a word, they challenge previous player.  Point goes to person with a true word or the challenger if no true word.
• Line Up: Challenge another family or two on the trail. Caller yells category and the teams try to line up in order before the other teams.  Category ideas: Age, length of hair, shoe size, # of visits to Disneyland, highest bowling score, alphabetically by middle name, height of favorite Star Wars character, alphabetically by first name of favorite Harry Potter character…More detailed rules: Line Up

Games for Down Time

• Human Knot: Stand in circle. Put right hands in and grab a hand. Then put left hand in and grab a hand. Try to untangle the knot.
• Lucky Stiff: Need lots of people. Everyone takes off their shoes. One person stands in the middle of the circle. Everyone else sits on the ground in a circle with their feet pressed tightly against the person standing in the middle. The person in the center crosses their arms over their chest, stands stiff and falls. The circle passes the person around.  Super fun!
• Ten Fingers: Everyone holds out 10 fingers. Go around the circle and say something you’ve never done. Anyone in the circle who has done it has to put down a finger.  Last player with finger wins.
• Norwegian Dodge Ball    * Instructions: Norwegian Dodgeball
• Back Massage: Sit on buckets or stand in a circle. Rub the back of the person in front of you.
• Run Sheepy Run
• Kick the Can
• Steal the Bacon
• Four Men on a Log   *Instructions: Four Men on a Couch
• Ape, Girl, Man: Just like Rock, Paper, Scissors: Ape gets Girl, Girl gets Man, Man gets Ape

Family Devotional Ideas

We believe that the experiences the youth have with their pioneer families are the most powerful of a Pioneer Trek.  We encourage you to have morning and evening devotionals in your small family groups.  These discussions will likely be the most important part of your your trek.

• Pioneer Stories, both historic and modern
• Great stories from Ma & Pa’s life or other people in the group
• Talent show (on the spot, silly talents) or Untalented Show
• Book of Mormon/Joseph Smith/Restoration of Priesthood on Earth- Talk about how the pioneers, who were new members of the church, must have felt about finding the restored gospel. Sing “The Spirit of God” and talk about how exciting it would be to find out that God was speaking to His children again through prophets.
• How to gain a testimony and feel the Spirit
• Ask youth to share testimony, scriptures, pray, or lead devotional
• Theme: “You Can Do Hard Things”- “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”
• Appreciation Game (Really great on Testimony Night): Sit in circle. Explain rules at beginning. The speaker says, “I love and appreciate _____ because_____.”  The person being complimented must look at the speaker and may only say, “Thank you.” Then it is that person’s turn to compliment someone else.
• It’s always great to sing together and kneel in prayer.
• Use the adult leaders in your family to help with devotionals.

Note: Shorter spiritual thoughts more often usually work better than long ones less often.  Try to make devotional more of a discussion than a lecture.

Plan with a purpose

A pioneer trek fosters appreciation for our pioneer heritage, but it also helps youth overcome challenges, observe healthy family relationships, and strengthen their faith.  Make sure your Ma’s and Pa’s know how critical their role is in providing this unique experience for the youth.   Here is a list of responsibilities to keep in mind.

Ma and Pa Responsibilities

• Love the youth in your family
• Lead and direct by example
• Provide a model of a healthy family relationship
• Ensure that the trek experience is completed safely
• Assemble necessary family equipment
• Prepare and lead family devotionals and activities
• Foster an environment for spiritual experiences
• Know and share pioneer stories to discuss as inspired
• Encourage use of journals
• Prepare physically and spiritually
• Create unity through games, cheers, music, etc.

Free Pioneer Printables + 7 Simple Ways to Make Pioneer Stories Powerful

Use these free pioneer printable tags to help your kids celebrate Pioneer Day or to add some fun to treats on trek. These printable tags are also great lesson handouts for Pioneer Day. And keep reading to see the 7 simple ways to make pioneer stories powerful. 

Can you relate:

Pioneer day is coming up and you’ve decided to teach a lesson on pioneers. You pull out your best family stories on pioneers. And you print some of the most heartfelt pioneer stories from general conference…just in case you have time left over in your lesson.

But as soon as you start telling your inspiring pioneer stories, the kids in your class start putting their heads down. They start doodling, pulling out their phones, and you start to see that dazed look in their eyes.

You know you’re losing them, but what’s a girl to do?

More importantly, what’s a teacher to do?

When I was a teenager, I felt like adults used pioneer stories to manipulate me into feeling sad, or in an attempt to make me feel grateful for how blessed I am.

I spent some of my teenage years living in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. That’s prime pioneer territory. In fact, we had real wagon wheel tracks from the early Mormon pioneers within our ward boundaries.

So you can imagine how many pioneer stories I heard as a teenager. As soon as someone said they had an “inspiring” pioneer story, I inwardly groaned and started watching the clock.

I was so tired of hearing the same-old, totally depressing pioneer stories about how everyone died. Tragic stories told over and over again.

What was the point except to make me feel sad and guilty because my life is so good?

Or so it seemed to my immature teenage self.

As an adult, I feel bad for my teenage angst and pessimism.

And now I recognize that these stories really are inspiring! The pioneers were wonderful, hard-working, strong, generous, faithful people. I want to be like them.

So how do we help the youth relate to the pioneers in a way that’s meaningful to them today?

As I’ve taught lessons on pioneers and helped plan trek, I’ve seen 7 effective and simple ways that help the youth stay engaged in pioneer stories.

How to help the youth relate to the early pioneers:

1. make sure the point of your pioneer story is clear. what point are you trying to get across.

Have a point to your story. What’s the lesson you hope the kids take away?

Don’t be vague. It’s okay to clearly state, “This story teaches us that God is with us during hard times. We are never alone.”

Some of the timeless lessons we learn from the pioneers:

• We can do hard things.
• Happiness is a choice.
• It’s possible to believe even when people around us don’t believe.
• When we rely on Heavenly Father, He gives us strength.
• No one does it alone in this life.

Help the youth connect the dots from your pioneer story to their needs and desires today.

2. Shorten the story.

Nothing brings out a snooze-fest like a story that goes on and on about corn preparation or the terribleness of a winter storm.

See if you can take out any over-descriptive sentences or paragraphs. In this case, less is definitely more.

3. Help the youth understand how this story is relatable to them.

The pioneers lived a long time ago. Our world is so different today. In fact, it seems so different that you could talk to the youth about an alien invasion with more interest than the pioneers.

So make sure that you make your pioneer story very relatable to their current life situation.

Again, don’t be vague here. Ask them “How can this story help you right now?  What are the lessons from this story that can help you with your challenges?”

4. Have the youth tell their OWN stories.

We all enjoy telling stories from our family history. So let the youth share their own pioneer stories! Or let them find stories that they find interesting and inspirational and let them share those.

Not only with their peers pay more attention, but it helps them stay engaged with the lesson.

5. Show pictures.

Do you have pictures of the pioneers you are talking about? How about a picture of what their cabin may have looked like back then?

Visuals are super helpful to help kids relate to and understand the context of the story. And it keeps them paying attention because they have something to look at.

6. Can you make the story memorable? 

There is an awesome pioneer story about a mother in the Martin handcart company who felt she couldn’t go on. Her daughter prayed with faith and asked the Lord for help. After her prayer, she found a pie on the road. She took the pie back to her mother and they continued on their journey.

This is a very compelling story, but you could make it even more memorable by giving all the youth a pie after the story. (<–Our stake told this story and hid pies along the trail for the youth during trek this year. Very memorable and super fun!)

Is there a way that you can make your pioneer story or lesson memorable?

(Pssst… you can download free pioneer printable treat tags below. That’s a fun and easy way to make your story memorable!)

7. End on a positive note.

If you told a story about how the parents and most of the kids died during their journey to the Great Salt Lake, help the youth see that this is not the end of the story.

Show them the joy that came after the suffering. This gives them hope that there is joy waiting for them too.

Free Pioneer Printable Treat Tags

And of course, treats are always a good thing with kids or youth. 🙂

It’s no secret that sometimes food is the only way to get kids to go to an activity.

And that’s okay. Whatever works, am I right?

These fun, free, and cheery treat topper printables are another way to make your Pioneer Day or trek memorable and fun.

Use these free pioneer treat toppers to help you reinforce the positive messages the pioneers have taught us.

And these treat toppers are perfect for Pioneer Day lessons, trek, or for neighbors.

You can download four free Pioneer Day/trek treat toppers that come in 2 different sizes!

Such a fun, easy, & simple way to end a lesson or a long day on the trail. 🙂

And if you are looking for more Pioneer Day printables, check out this Pioneer Day Printable Kit here!

Use these free pioneer printables to help your kids celebrate Pioneer Day or to add some fun to treats on trek.

I hope you can use all the Pioneer Day printables as you celebrate and teach the amazing legacy of the pioneers.

Thanks for sharing goodness!

You make the world a better place, and it’s an honor to create printables for you.

Help your kids have FUN & enjoy church again!

Get your free latter-day saint i spy games.

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How to Survive Your Trek Experience

Pioneer treks are a common summer activity for Church members around the world, allowing them to experience, if even partially, the challenges the earliest pioneers faced in searching for religious freedom in the 1800s. Opportunities abound to learn how suffering and sacrifice brings one close to the Savior. Walking in the pioneers’ footsteps, participants can feel empathy for those who heeded the call to gather to Zion.

“It’s important to remember the pioneers and what they did, because without them, we wouldn’t have the Church like it is today,” says 15-year-old Jenna Rasmussen, who embarked on a pioneer trek with her stake in June 2012. “Being able to see the struggles that they went through and sacrifices that they made for the Church shows you that we shouldn’t take it for granted. That was a big part of the lesson for me: you have to appreciate what we have.”

Rasmussen encourages every youth to participate in a trek, if possible.

“Go into it knowing that it’s going to be hard, but go into it knowing that it’s not about you. It’s about the kids who are on the trek,” she says. “It’s about how big of a difference you can make for them, and how real of an experience they can have—and most importantly, how much their testimony can grow in the time that you’re with them.”

Youth in Mongolia reenact a pioneer trek.

For many youth who would rather be at the movies or playing video games, leaving behind modern amenities may not exactly sound like fun. And when blisters and sore feet start setting in, attitudes can get even worse. When that happens, the charge to “do your duty with a heart full of song” becomes even greater for leaders (and any not afflicted with attitude-itis).

“You’ve got to get into it!” says James Baird. “You want to have a super optimistic attitude. Kids are going to complain.” He was called after his mission to be a “pa,” who, along with a “ma,” was the leader of a “family” typically comprising around 10 youths. One trek activity may consist of 20 such groups.

“You have to figure out how to be in a place where you can inspire them to keep going and to appreciate what they’re doing,” says Baird, who grew a beard and taught outdoor crafts to his trek family.

A positive approach may even need to involve embracing square dancing.

“We encourage them to learn how to do it [square dancing], as this was an important activity for the pioneers to rejuvenate them after long days on the trail,” says Elder Lorin Moench, the director of the Mormon Handcart Historic Sites of Wyoming, which encompasses about 100 miles of historic trails and locations and is the destination of about 25,000 trekkers each summer. He encourages trek participants to bring portable instruments such as harmonicas and violins to play at their campsites and along the trail.

Phillip Millett’s attitude proved to be the most important thing he brought with him on trek. At age 19, he was older than what was usual, but because he had had so much fun at trek four years earlier, he contacted the stake president, trek leaders, and the stake Young Men president in order to be able to join.

Eleven miles into the first 13 of the trek’s initial day, rain began to drizzle. After arriving at their camp that night, lightning prompted the families to seek shelter. Then sleet fell, with the temperature dropping 30 degrees in half an hour and biting air penetrating hundreds of teenagers.

With some of the trekkers beginning to contract hypothermia, the stake president ordered them off the mountain. Ward members drove to the location to quickly shuttle the youths to safety.

But Millett rose to the occasion, staying behind and loading other trekkers’ items into the vehicles. His effort proved to be crucial in helping some 200-plus people make it that night to a Heber barn owned by a ma and pa.

After the trek, a powerful testimony meeting was held in a stake youth sacrament meeting. When the stake Young Women president asked the self-described “tough guy” to share his feelings during the meeting, Millett soon found himself crying.

“I can count the number of times I have cried,” Millett says. “I could say I knew the Church was true, that I had a spiritual confirmation of that, and I could tell my peer group because of what I experienced over that weekend.”

The next week, Millett met with the stake president and began working on his mission papers.

As youth embark on modern-day treks and, in some cases, walk in the same places where the early Saints walked more than a hundred years before, their testimonies can be strengthened by learning more about the pioneers whose lives they are reenacting.

Youth can also gain a greater appreciation for the trials and faith of the pioneers by watching pioneer films such as the upcoming  Trek: The Movie   film , Ephraim's Rescue , and  17 Miracles at Mutual activities leading up to the trek. Keeping in mind the cause for which the early Saints were pushing forward can change the trek from a meander to a march.

That’s why it’s optimal for youths to find their own pioneer ancestry, Moench says. “If youth are unable to find an ancestor, they are encouraged to find the name of a pioneer and learn about their life and their experience with the handcart companies before walking in their behalf.”

Baird prepared extensively to lead the youth in trek by studying and pondering the scriptures and reading ample amounts of pioneer stories, considering how to share the experiences of his ancestors with his trek family along the trail and seeking counsel from the Spirit to understand how to direct his youth.

“I had the opportunity to work with some kids who needed some extra help or extra attention, so I was really excited to make a difference—to help them grow and change,” he says.

Physical Fitness

Pioneer treks range in mileage, but be ready to walk. A lot. A common suggestion is to take lengthy hikes and even runs to get in shape, so you can better enjoy the experience. Some days of marching can last as long as 13 miles, all while pulling handcarts over rough terrain.

“We had kids—we laughed, but it was true—walking like ducks,” says Gretta Millett, who has participated as a leader in four different treks. “Mile after mile, you get chafed. When you are told what to do, you may think you’re too tough. But then you walk.”

One of the most physically difficult but also most impactful experiences for many trekkers is the “women’s pull,” Moench says. During that time, the men and boys are called away from the handcarts and taken by their leaders to the top of a hill, where they learn about their priesthood responsibilities toward the women in their lives. Meanwhile, the women are told about how any pioneer women lost their husbands along the way (or temporarily to the Mormon Battalion) and had to pull the handcarts to Zion by themselves.

Then the women pull the handcarts up the hill while the men stand silently along each side of the road.

“It is usually a very tender and emotional experience for all,” Moench says.

For Baird’s family, the physical burden was huge, but the inner strength and connection it provided was as well. Among the three girls in his group pulling their handcart (along with the ma), one had shin splints and another was 12 years old—two years younger than the typical minimum age for participating in a trek. Once the team reached the top of the hill they had to conquer, the girl with shin splints collapsed. Baird carried her to a resting place immediately.

“To this day, I am not quite sure how she even pulled that handcart up that hill,” Baird says. “I was amazed to see how they overcame that obstacle.”

Treks offer acquaintance with nature, hard work, and living outside—but without the right gear, it can sometimes be a frustrating experience.

“BRING CHAPSTICK!” Rasmussen emphasizes.

“I wish I would’ve brought more socks,” she adds. And the type of sock can make a difference, too. “I went and got hiking socks and didn’t get any blisters, so that made everything better.”

But one of the biggest supplies that can make a difference is your pioneer clothing.

Rasmussen says the change in wardrobe (and leaving behind makeup and traditional fashion standards) helped her get in character.

“A pocketful of beef jerky never hurts either,” Baird adds.

Retailers like Zions Mercantile at Deseret Book provide bonnets, skirts, blouses ,  shirts, aprons, bandanas, suspenders , and satchels —and that’s just the clothing (pictured below). You can also find trek completion certificates, wristbands, neck coolers, journals, and dinnerware to make sure you’re fully prepared to have an immersive pioneer experience.

A variety of pioneer clothing, journals, and mementos are available at Deseret Book.

But regardless of what supplies participants bring on trek, the things they carry away are sure to be greater.

“In removing [youth] from their normal, everyday lives, they have to be reliant on the Spirit and their physical abilities in other ways. They have to rely on members of their trek family,” says Gretta Millett. “To make a difference, they have to work together. Working together is a really wonderful tool for friendships, to gain an appreciation for different people—not particularly with people you may associate with regularly.”

“Kids will bear testimony who never have before. They have the opportunity to recognize the Spirit. Sometimes, there’s a first time for them to recognize how it works in our life,” she says. “That’s when the miracles come: when there’s growth and challenges.”

To learn about safety guidelines or general trek information, visit lds.org and handcarttreks.com.

Pioneer Trek: everything you need to know

Table of Contents

Every year around this time all the blog posts I have about Pioneer Trek start trending on my blog. I’m not surprised! Even though this historical reenactment is something that typically doesn’t happen until summer, it takes a lot of planning! Today I’ve decided to compile all my blog posts on the subject in one spot to make it easier for you to learn everything you need to know about going on a Pioneer Trek reenactment!

all the Pioneer Trek blog posts you need

I never had the opportunity to go on Pioneer Trek when I was growing up. However, going as an adult was incredible. If you ever have the chance to go as a Ma or Pa you should definitely go. Or, if your child is on the fence about attending, highly encourage them! It can be a bit overwhelming to prepare for your Trek experience though so I hope these tips and blog posts help you!

all the tips & ticks you need to know

Everything you need to know–from how to prepare physically to how to prepare spiritually–can be found in this blog post. I also share all about how to stay clean while after a long day of hiking, and how to always be prepared for a quick mending job on the trail.

how to save money on Pioneer Trek clothing

“Authentic” clothing is one of the most fun aspects of Trek, but it can also be expensive. In this post I’m sharing the ways I saved money on our outfits. I’m also talking about how I made a few pieces–even with my minimal sewing skills.

necessities to bring

5 gallon buckets.

It’s typical on for each person to bring a five gallon bucket on Trek reenactments. Not only is it your suitcase for the trip, but also your seat out in the wilderness. I’m sharing some tips on how to personalize your bucket and make it a more comfortable place to rest.

first aid kits

Not only do you have to be prepared for yourself while you’re on Trek, you also need to be prepared for your “family”. Just like in real life! In this post I’m sharing the simple items I took in our personal first aid kit. I’m also showing off the handy way I kept it all contained.

fun things to bring

Hand stamped handouts.

You will likely need to plan some devotionals for your family unit. Or maybe you just want to make something for you “kids” on Trek. In this post I’m sharing how to make simple and inexpensive metal stamped bracelets that are the perfect handout.

Pioneer journals

Having a spot to write down your thoughts and impressions while on Trek is such a great idea. An experience as unique as this one will definitely be one you want to remember. And it will be one you want your “family” to remember as well!

what is Pioneer Trek?

A Pioneer Trek is a reenactment of the journey made by early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It reenacts their travel from the Midwest to Utah in the mid-19th century. It’s a way for members of our church to honor the sacrifices of our pioneer ancestors. Trek typically takes place over the course of several days and participants dress in clothing reminiscent of the pioneers of the 1800s. Many Trek reenactments will incorporate handcarts. Handcarts were used by the original pioneers to carry their belongings across the plains.

During the trek, participants learn about real historical figures, or sometimes their own Pioneer ancestors. Part of the expereince is to simulate some of the trials they went through, such as difficult and steep paths or inclement weather. Devotional activities are also common, such as scripture study and singing hymns. These activities help us strengthen faith and gain a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices made by the early Pioneers.

Have you ever been on a Pioneer Trek reenactment?

Find more Pioneer Trek tips on Pinterest!

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Copyright © 2022 little dove blog., helping families find more joy..

Guidelines for LDS Pioneer Handcart Treks

by Larry Richman | Feb 24, 2017

Some stakes plan pioneer treks as part of youth conferences. In the process, youth learn that they can do hard things, but more importantly, they learn lessons about faith and the motivations of the Mormon pioneers.

If your ward or stake chooses to hold a handcart trek, be sure to review the Handcart Trek Reenactments: Guidelines for Leaders .  These guidelines are provided because handcart treks usually require significantly more planning and resources than other youth conferences. Additional planning information and links can be found on the Youth Activities page for Pioneer Treks  and on the page of  Trek Safety Guidelines and Videos .

The new video “ Pioneer Journeys—More Than a Trek ” includes youth explaining what they learned from their trek experience. You may find this video helpful in a family home evening or in a lesson about faith, endurance, or sacrifice.

• Pioneer Journeys–More Than a Trek on the Church History website
• Trek Safety Guidelines and Videos
• Handcart Trek Reenactments: Guidelines for Leaders (downloads PDF, updated January 2017)
• Journeying to Zion by Handcart: One Young Woman’s Experience
• Five Things You Might Not Know about the Handcart Rescue
• What to Expect When You Visit the Mormon Handcart Historic Sites

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Church website gives safety tips for pioneer trek and other activities

During the summer months, the number of Church activities increases for Scouting, youth conferences, ward parties, summer campouts, carnivals and other events.

To help Church members and leaders benefit from increased awareness and safety as they serve and participate in Church activities, the Church recently launched a new safety and health website at safety.lds.org.

“Safety is a shared responsibility between the Church, its leaders and activity organizers, participants and parents,” said Alan Rogers, a senior safety manager for the Church. “We want people to enjoy an activity but to be safe doing it. We have a slogan — ‘know risk,’ not ‘no risk!’ ”

The site organizes safety and health resources aimed specifically for Church members. There are fact sheets, resources and forms, links to activity policies and guidelines from the Church handbook, and training and video resources for various Church activities.

For example, the website is an important resource for members participating in pioneer trek reenactments, said Brother Rogers.

“Tracy’s Trek” videos offer a humorous but helpful look at trek safety.

Trek planners and participants can find links to trek reenactment resources and safety training. Three videos hosted by a young woman named Tracy document the stages of trek — Getting Ready, On the Trail, and Trials of the Trail. In each video Tracy and her friends introduce topics such as the importance of drinking enough water and avoiding and caring for blisters, all with a touch of humor.

Tracy and her friends help trek participants know the most important aspects of keeping safe and healthy. The website is not a comprehensive resource on safety, but does direct people where to find resources. “While we don’t cover every aspect of safety,” Brother Rogers said, “we point website visitors in the right direction as we highlight additional resources, while promoting and providing insights and training on the basic principles of safety. The site contains the same basic principles found in the Church’s Handbook 2, section 13, and in the First Presidency’s annual safety letter.’ ”

“We also have a fact sheets section that supplements many of the videos with a more detailed review of important issues. The information is presented from a Church perspective,” he said.

Leaders in the Church can play an important role in helping get the word out. Paul Rytting, director of the Risk Management Division for the Church, said, “We are grateful for ward and stake leaders who work so hard to remind activity leaders to be safe. We are especially grateful for all of the injuries prevented when members wear their seat belts, don’t text while driving and use two-deep leadership for all of their activities.”

In the Church’s Safety, Health, and Environmental Manual the purpose statement says, “The Church desires to protect the safety and health of its employees, volunteers, missionaries, and others who visit and use Church facilities and services. Preventing injuries and illnesses is a high priority at all times.”

With that purpose in mind, there are two main reasons for the creation of the new site. The first is to provide resources and information about activity safety. “We highlight and promote resources and materials that encourage safe behavior for participants during Church-sponsored activities,” said Brother Rogers.

The second reason for the website involves helping the general auxiliary presidencies to provide educational programs addressing safety and health risks. One of the most recent issues is related to communicable diseases in a childcare setting, such as a nursery. Mike Taylor, chief safety officer for the Church, has been heavily involved with this effort. Brother Taylor said, “The website also helps the Church promote safety and health issues.” There are several fact sheets that provide guidance on communicable diseases, service project safety, and other emerging issues.

A strong partnership for safety also exists between the Church and the Boy Scouts of America. Both websites share several links with each other. An additional link will soon be added to the Scouting section for the Scouting Handbook for Church Units in the United States.

The basic steps for planning a safe activity are:

Identify the purpose (Handbook 2, 13.1).

Adequate planning for the specific activity (Handbook 2, 13.2).

Leadership and supervision (Handbook 2, 13.6.2).

Discipline and standards (Handbook 2, 13.2.4).

Integrate safety into the planning process (Handbook 2, 13.6.20).

Follow the promptings of the Spirit (2 Nephi 32:5).

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Pioneer Journeys—More Than a Trek

Every year, Latter-day Saints throughout the world put on bonnets or wide-brimmed hats, tennis shoes, sunglasses, and work gloves. They leave their homes for a few days so they can pull loaded wooden carts up and down hills and maybe even through streams.

Bewildered onlookers might see this combination of past and present and ask a question: Why?

Actually, trekkers would do well to ask this same question. Why? Why are they going on a trek? Even more important, why did the early pioneers do what they did?

Why were early Latter-day Saints willing to walk more than a thousand miles, with either handcarts or oxcarts? When they faced trials, why did they keep going? Why did they help each other along the way? When the Willie and Martin handcart companies were stranded in severe snowstorms, why did strangers in the Salt Lake Valley leap to action to save them?

In this video, a few Latter-day Saints share answers to these questions. They speak from some experience, having studied the lives of early pioneers and having walked, for just a few days, in their footsteps.

And their answers reach beyond explaining “why.” Sitting in Martin’s Cove, at the top of Rocky Ridge, and beside the willows at Rock Creek Hollow, these modern-day pioneers share lessons they have learned from pioneers of the past. These lessons, like the pioneers themselves, can have an impact beyond the Wyoming plains. They can inspire us in our efforts to follow the Savior every day.

Possible uses for this video:

• Family home evening
• Meetings introducing stake and ward treks
• Lessons about faith, sacrifice, or the early Latter-day Saint pioneers
• Personal study and introspection
• Sharing with family and friends

Awesome Activities for LDS Church members

LDS.org’s Guide to planning an LDS Handcart Trek

The Church has come out with specific instructions for leaders planning handcart treks:

June 2009 Pioneer handcart treks for youth are a local option. Stake presidents and bishops decide whether handcart treks will be held in their area. The following guidelines are provided for stakes and wards that choose to hold a trek activity. Handcart treks require significant planning and supervision to achieve meaningful purposes with minimal risks. Stake presidents and bishops should share these guidelines with all leaders who will be involved in the trek. Leadership Stake presidencies and bishoprics are responsible for and approve all trek plans. They may delegate specific responsibilities for planning the trek activity to qualified leaders, who work under their direction. Planning Handcart treks require extensive preparation and may take up to a year of planning. All plans should follow Church policies as outlined in the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, pages 271–80, 321–28. For a trek activity to be successful, leaders must be well trained and prepared. Where possible, a training trek for leaders is recommended. Leaders should ensure that parents are informed about trek activities. As an alternative to holding handcart treks at Mormon Trail sites, leaders are encouraged to consider convenient sites on public or private land. When such sites are used, leaders should obtain the necessary approvals and ensure that the rights and property of others are respected. In addition, leaders should give careful attention to the following: Spiritual development. Church activities should strengthen testimonies and foster personal growth. Leaders should ensure that the trek provides participants with opportunities to apply gospel principles and feel support in living them. Physical preparation. Handcart treks require physical stamina; thus, each participant should be encouraged to eat healthy food, exercise regularly, and get sufficient rest before the trek. Doing these things will enhance the experience for each participant. Physical and mental challenges. Some adults and youth who participate in the trek may have physical or mental challenges such as diabetes, blindness, advanced pregnancy, Down syndrome, obesity, or depression. Leaders should make preparations to accommodate any special needs for food, medication, equipment, supervision, or safety for these individuals. Age recommendations. Youth under age 14 usually do not participate in trek activities. (See the guidelines for youth conferences in the Church Handbook of instructions, Book 2, page 188.) Adult leadership. For strenuous youth activities, there should usually be at least one adult for every ten youth. Adequate food and water . Dehydration can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and death. Each handcart should carry adequate water for the participants. Leaders should make sure that youth take frequent breaks to drink water, and that nutritious food is provided throughout the trek. Store, prepare, and serve food safely to prevent food-borne illness. Chickens, turkeys, or other live animals should not be killed during treks. Adequate clothing and shelter. Participants should avoid wearing wet clothing, which can cause body temperature to drop rapidly and can result in hypothermia. To prevent sunburn, participants should wear sunscreen, long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats or bonnets, and sunglasses. To prevent blisters, participants should wear appropriate shoes that fit and are broken in, and socks that wick moisture away from the body. They should bring extra clothing and camping gear that are appropriate for cold nights, wind, and rain. Appropriate sanitary facilities. For groups larger than 15 people, trailer-mounted portable toilets should be provided and maintained in a sanitary condition. For small groups, human waste may be buried six to eight inches deep, 200 feet from water sources, campsites, or trails (carry out used toilet paper). Camps should be set up at least 100 feet from any stream or open water. Wastewater should be disposed of at least 200 feet from water sources. Trek groups should carry out all trash and refuse and leave camping areas cleaner than they found them. Local camping and fire regulations. Leaders should know in advance any local camping and fire regulations for the areas where they will stay. They should also know how to contact law enforcement and emergency services. Travel costs and distance. Leaders should follow the guidelines for activities and travel as outlined in the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, pages 272, 279–80. Safety Leaders should take all necessary precautions to ensure that participants are safe throughout the trek activity. Leaders should focus on preventing illness or injury and also providing treatment if necessary. Safety precautions should include the following: All youth participating in the trek activity should complete a Parental or Guardian Permission and Medical Release form (33810). All participating adults should provide necessary information about medical conditions. Leaders should be aware of any participants with special needs. Licensed health care professionals should be present and available for the entire trek. At least one physician or other skilled health care professional should participate in each trek activity. In addition, one nurse or emergency medical technician (EMT) is recommended for every 50 to 100 participants. Sufficient first-aid supplies should be available to handle dehydration, heat stroke, sunburn, blisters, exhaustion, insect or snake bites, and severe allergies. There should be supplies available for intravenous rehydration. All adult leaders should be trained to monitor the hydration and general well-being of participants. Leaders should prepare a written emergency action plan in case of severe weather, lost youth, accidents, or other threats. Leaders should have a reliable and tested emergency communication system, such as a two-way radio and cellular phone. Participants should have continual access to emergency vehicles, such as sport utility vehicles with four-wheel drive and air conditioning. Leaders should be aware of the hazards associated with handcarts and ensure that they are well constructed and able to safely carry trek supplies. If handcarts are pulled on public roads or highways, ensure compliance with all local, city, or state ordinances governing their use and provide markings, such as reflective tape or slow-moving vehicle signs as required.

Source: http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,7995-1,00.html

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The time has come for me to be honest with myself,  that I just can't keep up with this site any more. I am working full time now and loving on my grandkids.  I will still be adding great quotes I find and things from General conference etc. Never fear, I am still here for you. If you need something please reach out to me, and I will See what I can do. You can reach me at [email protected]

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Easter is just days away! It comes so early this year I'm scrambling to get decor and activities together.  I...

Comments 20

Thank you I love them! Since Avery learned to read I have been wanting to put up little quotes and sayings on the bathroom mirror for him to see. These will be perfect!

Our beehives secretly decorate the rooms of new incoming beehives on their 12th birthday and those bees would be so cute for that! I’m sending all my friends here! 🙂

THANK YOU!!

Wow, I’m very happy about this!

Love the colors and the graphics of the printables! Thanks so much!

So excited!!

I love them all! Thanks so much for sharing them! I’m so excited!

Love, love, love this! I also do design work for my church. It’s such an honor to give back with the talent I’ve been blessed with.

PS – prayful isn’t a word but prayerful is 😉

These are beautiful. I so want to download the Stand in Holy Places, but when I click it, it doesn’t link to anything to download. What am I doing wrong? Please help!

With Alisha….please help. Stand in Holy Places will not download. You images are beautiful and I would love to use them for lessons.

cant download first one

I just downloaded the 9 “be’s” from President Hinkley, and I’m planning on sending them in a care package for a missionary, with a related item for each one. Thanks so much!

Yay! I’m so glad Krista! So happy they could be of use.

Thank you very much for the lovely printables. You have created some brilliant tags !

I’ve downloaded one of your handouts to share with folks on the street and on the road where I perform. They’re really cool and handy.

Thank you for the printables! The sunshine one is perfect for our relief society birthday dinner favors! I appreciate you sharing your talents!

Thank you for sharing your talents. The “Bee” page is being used as our RS theme this year to re-visit Pres. Hinkley’s “be”s from 20 years ago.

Thank you so much for sharing-my granddaughter just graduated and she loves those mini battery lights to hang up in her room . I found some bee lights and president hinkley’s bee quote is perfect to go with it 🙂

Making journals for the new year for my Jan Activity Day girls. They will choose and assemble the parts I am preparilg. These are great to put in the divider pockets and envelopes. What a great addition these will make as stickers too. Thank you for making them available

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DIY & Craft Blogger

Graphic Designer, Printable Maker, Party Thrower, Crafter, DIYER, Crossword Puzzler, Cake Stand Hoarder, Classics Reader, Bed Maker, Mother and Blogger.

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