Josh and Michelle

This summer Ben, Kyle and Noelle were able to participate in a pioneer handcart re-enactment called the Trek. All the youth from out stake went up to Chilloquin in buses. Each of the kids had to walk for either a pioneer ancestor or someone they researched. The youth were placed in families of about seven with a Ma and Pa over them for the trip. They worked together as a family to pull their handcart along the trail. They shared the stories of the pioneers they were walking for. These are some of the pictures. I am going to have Noelle and Ben write a little something about their experience. Kyle had to give a talk on his experiences and feelings of the Trek and so at the end I have copied it down.

Unloading off the bus

Getting ready to head out

Kyle with his Ma and Pa and rest of his family the Brewsters

The Girls

Ben's Ma and Pa the Stones and the rest of his Trek family

Along the trail they had signs telling about the early pioneers and some of their experiences

Each family was given a baby to care for and to help the youth remember the real stories there were journal entries read at night around the camp fire. Just as in the real pioneers voyage not all of the babies made it. It must have been so hard for them I can't even imagine loosing a child.

Noelle's Trek sisters

Taking a break

Setting up camp for the night

Ben watching the girls play the stick pull game. The objective is to pull

your opponent over and off balance

The kids were lucky and had a little more than 12 ounces of flour a day.

The Mormon Battalion

During the pioneers Trek orders were given for all the men to leave their families and fulfill their duty to the United States Government. During the Trek re-enactment for the youth they had a general ride up on horseback and read the order. All the males of the company were to leave their families behind to serve their country. I can't imagine how hard that would have been for the early pioneers. To have the hardship on the trail and now to leave their woman and children behind to carry the load alone would be unbearable.

The women that were left pushed forward with their families and remained strong. The girls on our youth hand cart Trek took part in what is called the "Woman's Pull" and demonstrated some of the same qualities that our early pioneer sisters had and pulled together.

Playing capture the flag

After crossing the stream with the wagons everyone jumped in to cool off.

After beings so hot, and walking the roads that were so dusty all day the water felt great!

In the evening everyone would gather around for songs and devotionals.

Jesse went to scout day camp this year and learned all kinds of new things. The boys learned to to sharpen and properly care for a knife. The boys did skits, walked on stilts, had relay races and had lots of fun all week long. Jesse was working on passing off some merit badges and I was really impressed with his knot tying skills. Before the scout master even showed the boys how to tie the knots Jesse saw a book on the table with the different knots. He read the directions and then tied the knots. The kids learned some first aid, practiced CPR. Each day one of the mom's took a turn taking the boys out to the day camp area and chaperoning for the day. I was lucky to be out there the day Jesse and the rest of the scouts practiced their target skills.