Dear Trek Brothers and Sisters:
Our day of departure is coming soon! We look forward with anticipation and excitement. All of our efforts, time, and resources are to build and strengthen the youth of the Henry's Fork Stake. The rising generation!
Isn't it interesting that we often notice our service to others or service in the Church, actually ends up blessing us just as much as the person for whom the service was done. I feel that way about Trek. Yes, we are doing this for our youth. But I testify, that you too as an Adult Trek Leader will be blessed with a spiritual experience and a strengthening testimony of the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. There is just something miraculous that occurs when we take youth out into nature and bear testimony. It truly is special.
Make sure to see the attached packing list. Please disburse to youth and/or parents of youth. Also please see the info about one final Zoom Q&A Meeting we schedule just in case anyone has final questions or was unable to attend any of the first four meetings.
- Please remind your youth (and you) to find a pioneer name to trek for. It could be a relative or a famous pioneer or a personal family ancestor.
- FYI: The stake has already purchased the following items for all youth and adult leaders: (1) Trek Journals for everyone; (2) Neck Coolers for everyone; (3) Mesh Bags for mesh kits (not the mesh kit); (4) Trek Trail Snacks provided by STAKE; (5) Trek First Aid Kits
- CELL PHONE Usage: We have received this question several times. We encourage all youth to leave their cell phones at home. This is NOT a mandate, but an encouragement or suggestion. We realize various situations and circumstances exist where a youth may need their phone. For your information, the cell phone coverage at Sellars Creek Ranch is sparse, limited, and not reliable. Additionally, please know the camp missionaries and the Sellars Creek Ranch Office have a phone available for emergencies. (Walkie Talkie Radios will be provided to each Bishop as well.)
- Adult Trek Leaders will have their cell phones available for picture taking and the stake will have a photographer and drone footage person. Yes, we do anticipate and understand Adult Trek Leaders will have cell phones. It's expected for work and family commitments back home. They also will most likely be taking family trek pictures. We also encourage Trek Adult Leaders to limit their cell phone usage and engage with the youth and with nature.
- Review previous newsletters for information and blog.
- Handcarts will carry the youth's buckets as they pull the handcart. This serves also as a chair to sit on.
- EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST: Wards will load equipment at a designated location on Tuesday. All equipment, buckets, tents, sleeping bags, gear, etc. Should be loaded the day/night before on Tuesday. Each ward equipment specialist is provided with a different color of duct tape to mark or designate on ALL bags and gear. That way if a piece of luggage or sleeping bag, etc is lost or misplaced, we can easily identify which ward it belongs to. Josh Anderson has ALREADY purchased the 9 different colors of duct tape.
- FYI: These weekly newsletters go out to all Ma & Pa Couples, trek food specialists, equipment specialists, medical specialists, all ward bishoprics, all high councilors, all ward young women presidencies and secretaries, stake presidency, stake young men presidency, stake young women presidency, ward clerks, and ward executive secretaries.
- Ward Trek Equipment Specialists and Ward Food Equipment Specialists should meet to coordinate that all of the appropriate and necessary equipment has been identified and found available to use for Trek.
- Equipment Specialists should work with Ma & Pa Couples to ensure they have the necessary tents and camping gear for them and their youth.
- If cooking or camping equipment is not available or insufficient at the ward camp trailer, then we encourage Ma & Pa's and Equipment Specialists to reach out to fellow ward members seeing if anyone has a tent or sleeping bag or whatever is lacking. As a last resort if no person in the ward has an item to loan or borrow, the BYU-Idaho ORC has many items available to rent at a reasonable price. The Trek should NOT be a financial hardship for any youth or Ma & Pa Couple.
- Song: We will sing this song on trek. Most of the youth are familiar with it. Here is a great song to download for your play list this week. Play it and play it again. Please also forward it onto the youth of your ward. Inviting them to download and listen frequently to the song.“I Can Do All Things” - featuring Jarica Jamison
MP3 | Instrumental | Sheet Music | Choir Sheet Music version - BISHOPRICS-- If you have not already done so, please provide Trek family youth names to each Ma & Pa, so they can plan sleeping arrangements for boys and girls and coordinate with their fellow Ma & Pa couples in tent sharing if needed.
- REQUEST NEEDED--Does anyone know of someone who has access to ax throwing equipment for a pioneer game??? Please contact Shane Wasden (wasdens@gmail.com) or call 208-705-3365
- Itinerary Summary:
ITINERARY
Summary:
Wednesday – 5:00 PM Travel departure from Stake Center and set up camp around 7:00 PM after Sellars Creek Orientation from missionaries.
Thursday – Light day of trekking (about 3.5 miles) followed by stake camp games, stake dinner, stake devotional, and a stake dance.
Friday – Heavier day of trekking (about 6 miles) followed by ward dinner and ward testimony meeting
Saturday – Wake-up, Clean-up, Return by 12:00 Noon
- Speaking/Discussion Preparation Reminders:
Bishops and Ma & Pa Couples:
PREPARATION FOR SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES:
WEDNESDAY
DAY 1: Departure-Bus ride to Sellars Creek Ranch. Great time to chat and get to know one another better. Ponder some get to know you questions for youth.
DAY 1: Ward evening time after camp is set up. Under the direction of the bishop. Bishop’s may choose to speak, or have a counselor, or simply let each trek family gather and have individual family time. This will probably be just a shorter thought or discussion and a ward/family prayer to close the evening because of the short window.
THURSDAY
DAY 2: Morning devotional before hitting the trail. This is under the direction of the bishop whether it will be by family or as a ward and by whom.
DAY 2: Ma & Pa will share a pioneer story or two up at the Cove. Then youth will have solo time to reflect, journaling, etc.
DAY 2: Stake Devotional by President Preator and YW Presidency Member followed by a dance DJ by Brother Haworth.
DAY 2: Close evenings as directed by bishop as a ward or in families.
FRIDAY
DAY 3: Morning devotional before hitting the trail. This is under the direction of the bishop whether it will be by family or as a ward and by whom.
DAY 3: Ma & Pa will share a pioneer story or two at the Mountain Valley Camp to kickoff a discussion.
DAY 3: Stake President Dalling speaking in the West Grove preceded by YW Counselor Sister Amy Hancock and High Councilor Brother Michael Gentry (young men and young women broken into groups and brought back together for President Dalling)
DAY 3: Ward Dinner and Ward Testimony Meetings under the direction of the bishop.
SATURDAY
DAY 4: Morning devotional before cleaning up camp and loading the busses. This is under the direction of the bishop whether it will be by family or as a ward and by whom.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the following Trek Committee with questions:
Shane Wasden, Jan Gehmlich, Wendi Ballard, Amy Hancock, Josh Anderson, Michael Gentry, Daniel Stoddard, Sam Butikofer, David Moss, Kaylie Klingler, Shelli Chambers, and Pres. Shawn Preator.
Additionally, just in case, anyone has any last minute questions.
We will hold one final OPTIONAL Zoom Meeting for Trek Q&A this Sunday, July 16 at 4:00 PM.
--Shane Wasden Zoom Meeting link.
Meeting ID: 208 496 3651
Passcode: byuidaho12
Passcode: byuidaho12
Best wishes and looking forward to joining you in this great experience!
Shane and Trek Committee