Trek Newsletter #5 - ONE WEEK AWAY!

We are officially one week out from departure! Exciting times ahead for sure. Yayyyyyy!!!

Please see the other new posts of the

-traffic-bus-loading departure plan for July 26th

-Ward Campsite location, along with other camp information.

-Detailed Trek Itinerary.

Please read through the below information.

Thanks again for all you do!!! Looking forward to rubbing shoulders with all of you next week.

Best,

Shane & Trek Committee

July 25, Loading Gear--Please remind your leaders and youth that they will load thier gear, buckets, and equipment ALL on Tuesday wherever your ward equipment specialist has designated. The stake will only be transporting PEOPLE on Wednesday. I have received a question about packing guidelines. Yes, it will be much easier and simpler if you just tell all your youth that they can only bring/pack everything into one big black garbage bag or one big duffel bag and one bucket for their personal "stuff". Obviously, adult leaders, bring your cots or air mattresses or mats as you see fit. I will have mine! Depending on the size and number of youth in each tent--they may or may not have room for all of them to have cots and a big air mattress. One packing tip to pass onto your youth--have them also use their sleeping bag to throw stuff into for packing. Just to confirm--one bag and one bucket for each youth will simplify things. (Not a mandate, just a suggestion to help you.)

REMINDER: Use the uniquely colored duct tape assigned to your ward. Place a piece of it on all bags and gear for your ward.

July 26, 5 PM--Youth and Ma & Pa's load onto Buses (no equipment and no buckets)

Each ward has a designated campsite location (see attached map). Your ward campsite will also be labeled with this same colored duct tape.

WATER: We have plenty of water and plenty of water stations along the way, no worries.

We will need a few Ma & Pa Couples to help run the activities and stations on Thursday afternoon. It'll be a great day!! Nine square, bracelets, washer necklaces, tug-o-war, stick pull, musical buckets, missionary letter writing, bishops watermelon eating contests, spike ball, cross net, musical buckets, and several more activities!!!

FYI: Each handcart can fit 11 buckets and one 5-gallon jug OR 9-10 buckets with two 5-gallon water jugs.If your family is larger than 9 or 10 members, the missionaries said some bigger families can use two handcarts if needed.

Each day the only thing in the handcarts are the buckets for personal belongings and the 5-gallons of water and the 5-gallons of Gatorade.

Review the packing list on Newsletter #4--we left "sleeping bag, pillow, pad, etc" off of the youth packing list. It is on the Ma & Pa packing list. Make sure each youth has a sleeping bag and/or blankets.

Pioneer clothing--we encourage pioneer clothing/western clothing. It truly does have a functional purpose for the hot sun and the elements. It also has as a memorial/remembrance purpose. All of that being stated, NO youth or Leader will be turned away because of what they are wearing. (Unless someone shows up in their swimming suit and flip flops!!!) We want our youth and leaders to feel loved, accepted, and appreciated. Let's make sure that no person feels like an outcast because of the clothing they chose to wear.

Food specialists/cooks and equipment specialists!! We love you. There are a lot of moving parts, but food and equipment are the lynch pins or the small cogs moving this big trek machine!! Thank you.

Arrival Time: The Senior Couple Missionaries requested that no one arrive at Sellars Creek Ranch before 1:30 PM on Wednesday, July 26. They have another Idaho Falls Stake departing that morning. FYI--Shelli & Dustin Chambers along with Dan & Wendi Ballard will arrive about 1:00 PM and the Refrigerated Reefer Semi-Truck will arrive about 2:00 PM. Food Specialists and/or Equipment Specialists wanting to arrive early to help set up the ward camp area are encouraged to arrive between 1:30 to 6:00 PM. The LARGE GROUP of Busses and majority of the group will arrive by 7:00 PM'ish.

Those marvelous Saints who embraced this great work and shared it in lands far and near,

Who gave all their heart, mind, and strength to the Lord with wisdom and vision so clear,

Now stand as examples of virtue and faith, of souls prepared to hear,

Of knowledge sure, born of humble heart, and love that banished fear.

With faith in every footstep, we follow Christ, the Lord,

And filled with hope through his pure love, we sing with one accord.

Rexburg Idaho Henry's Fork Stake Trek 2023