MAS AND PAS GUIDELINES

1. Each couple will be responsible for supervising on the trail and in camp 10-12 youths ranging in age from 14 through 18 assigned to your 'family' from wards throughout the stake. You may not know the youth in your 'family' and they may not know each other. You will have the opportunity to hold a FHE with your trek family prior to trek to get to know each other and make your family flag. 2. All adult leaders must be there for the whole conference and walk approximately 16 miles the first day, 15 miles the second day, and 6 the third day. Each family will pull a handcart the entire way. 3. All will be camping in fairly primitive circumstances. Ma's will stay with the girls in a tent; the boys have the choice of sleeping in a tent or under the stars. Pa's will have the same choice and sleep separate from the boys. 4. All participants are encouraged to wear pioneer style clothing throughout the conference. Men: two pioneer shirt (button-down long sleeves), t-shirts for underclothing, 2 long trousers (wool or cotton no jeans), 1 pioneer/western hat with string (no ball caps), vest/suspenders are optional; Women: 2 pioneer dresses or 2 ankle length skirts with long sleeve shirts, 2 lightweight bloomers, 1 bonnet or straw hat with string, aprons (with pockets) are optional but encouraged.

Each Ma and Pa is expected to:

a. Help the Build Unity Within your trek family, encourage the participation of all the youth in activities and challenges such as get acquainted games, devotionals, meal preparation, following conference rules, keeping the family together, problem solving, pioneer games, etc. b. Keep things positive - Encourage appropriate behavior by setting a good example and maintaining a positive and supportive approach before and during the trek (absolutely no whining!!). If you have concerns, speak directly to one of the trek leaders. Your family should be working together. If you find yourself and your youth leader running around gathering equipment, loading carts, doing dishes, etc., something has gone wrong! Help all members of your family to be responsible. c. Maintain hydration - Keep yourself hydrated and make sure everyone in your family is carrying their water bottle and drinking at least as much as you are. If you have a timer on your watch, set it to go off every 20-25 minutes. Have your trek family drink at least 4 ounces of water or Gatorade. d. Enhance the spiritual experience - Prepare well and seek the Spirit in all you do and say. The manner in which challenges are faced and handled will have as much of a lasting impact on the youth as any of the prepared activities or talks. Remember that we do not want to try to accomplish the Lord's purposes using Satan's methods. e. Encourage all family members to write in the family journal Each family will be given a trek journal. Please have everyone share their feelings in the journal. Its okay if its short or long, serious or funny. We hope to have everyone participate. The journals will be collected and used for our Trek Reunion. They will be returned to the Mas & Pas afterwards. f. OPTIONAL Some Mas and Pas like to give their kids a small gift that unites their family. These gifts should not be expensive (no more than $2 per youth), and should not distract from the trek experience. Some suggestions are matching bandanas, wooden spoon, matching neck coolers (see attached pattern), etc. This is not included in the stake budget.

FAMILY DISCUSSIONS
Family discussions led by the Ma and Pa are an important and necessary part of the trek experience. They may be held anytime and almost anywhere on the trail. They can help youth become mentally, spiritually, and physically involved. During the discussions the youth should begin to seriously ponder the Gospel as it relates to their everyday life. The family discussions may be either formal or informal. The first one should be formal as it will set the tone for the rest of the trek. In preparing for the discussions, ponder the following suggestions: 1. After your meal, clean up, gather your family and sit in a circle with everyone facing toward the center 2. Share a pre-assigned pioneer ancestor story (the Activities Committee will supply stories for you or you can use one of your own). 3. Ask the youth to look for parallels between their own lives and the experiences of the pioneers. 4. After the stories ask some questions to get the discussion started. a. Begin with concrete questions like, Which part do you remember most? b. Next ask questions about how they felt about these events. c. How do you feel about the trek so far? Why do you feel that way? d. What are you learning from this experience? Can you think of similar situations in your life?

e. We may all want to think and ponder how our trek through life is similar to the trek the pioneers made. f. Have someone share scriptures that are relevant to the discussion.

g. Close with your testimony. Below are some general ideas to help you with meaningful meetings: 1. Remember this is a time for sharing and expressing feelings and ideas about the experience, life, or the Gospel. Your responsibility is to initiate the sharing. 2. If you do not know where to start, begin at a point in the circle and have each one respond in turn to a question. Then ask them why they responded the way they did. Then continue that process around the circle. 3. For many this will be a new experience. Encourage everyone to share but do not force anyone. Listen carefully to what each one says and give reinforcement. However, don't overdo the compliments; they will become forced and insincere. 4. It is alright for the youth to express negative feelings. Don't let others laugh at what is said. 5. Make sure the youth know there are no wrong answers. It doesn't matter if their stories or feelings seem out of line. What matters is that everything is kept sincere.

Helpful References
Our stake has created a blog with links to the trek handbook, patterns, Ma & Pa Training information, Individual Packing Lists, etc. The URL is grovecreekstaketrek.blogspot.com. The Church has a wonderful site that lists all the known primary sources for each emigrant company and includes transcripts for documents in the public domain. It is on the following internet site: http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompanysources/0,16272,4019-1-192.00.html This is a map to get to the site listed above: lds.org.>About the Church>Church History>Church History and Archives>Resources Available>Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel Many books are available for purchase, about early church history and the migration to Utah, including the following: 1. The Price We Paid: The Extraordinary Story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Pioneers, Andrew D. Olson, 2006, Deseret Book Co. It includes the details of the events that transpired in separate sections for the two companies. Also includes significant journal entries, and follow-up research about the lives of many of those who survived. One of the most informative and authoritative books to date. 2. The Sweetwater Rescue: The Martin and Willie Handcart Story, Heidi S. Swinton and Lee Groberg, 2006, Covenant Communications, American Fork, UT. Story of the handcart companies, and also includes a host of new artwork relating to the handcart experience; also has a companion DVD. 3. The Mormon Trail, Yesterday and Today, William Hill. 1996, Utah State University Press, Logan, UT. It includes an historical introduction, a chronology, excerpts from trail diaries, along with maps, over 200 then-and-now photos, and descriptions of major museums and displays along the trail. 4. Handcarts to Zion, The Story of a Unique Western Migration, 1856-1860. LeRoy R. Hafen and Ann W. Hafen. 1992. Bison Books. It draws on diaries and reports of the participants, rosters of the ten companies, and a collection of the songs sung on the trail and at The Gathering. 5. Trail of Hope: The Story of the Mormon Trail, Slaughter and Landon. 1997, Shadow Mountain, Salt lake City, UT. Also has an accompanying Video/DVD. It gives an overview of Church history. 6. Their Faces Toward Zion: Voices and Images of the Trek West, Richard Holzaphel. 1996, Bookcraft, Salt Lake city, UT. Overview of Church History and a number of pictures related to various events. 7. 111 Days to Zion, The Day-By-Day Trek of the Mormon Pioneers, Hal Knight and Dr. Stanley B. Kimball, 1997, Big Moon Traders. Salt Lake City, UT. The story of the Vanguard Company, the first group with Brigham Young to travel west to locate and settle the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. 8. Tell My Story Too. Jolene Allphin, Tell My Story Publishing, 1776 Ridge Rd. Layton, UT 84040. Contains a collection of stories of the members of the Willie and Martin Companies, the Hunt and Hodgett Wagon Companies, and the Rescuers. 9. Fire of the Covenant. Gerald Lund, 1999, Bookcraft Publishing Co. (Now owned by Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, UT. A novel of historical fiction about the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies. Numerous articles about handcart pioneers, and early pioneer migration may be found by searching Church Magazines, by using the church internet sites, or by consulting with local ward or branch librarians.

Videos/DVDs Legacy. Video shown at Joseph Smith Memorial Building for several years. Church Distribution Center. Faith in Every Footstep. Church Distribution Center. Also a 16 min. portion of the Teachings from the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History (53933) video that was available for the Sunday School course in 2005.

Neck Cooler Pattern

Material Needed 6 Wide 36 Long Cotton Fabric 1 teaspoon Polymer Instructions Fold Fabric in half lengthwise. Sew one end and one side Turn inside out and make a tube. Sew one seam 10 inches from end (A). Sew center seam 15 long (B) making 2 tubes lengthwise.

10 inches

15 inches

10 inches

Put teaspoon of polymer into each tube. Sew seam 10 from opposite end (C). Sew end D closed. Polymer can be purchased in most craft stores, florists or nurserys and soil conservation offices. Directions on how to use To activate your neck cooler, soak in cool water for 15-20 minutes. Evenly distribute jell in tube; re-soak for another 15-20 minutes. Use towel to dry excess water from outside of tie. Hand wash only and hang dry. Use mild soap and rinse thoroughly. Re-soak as needed. DO NOT OVER SOAK. Refrigerate for super cold pack. Do not store in plastic bag. DO NOT FREEZE.