Trek is a special Stake Youth Camp where participants experience a 3- to 4-day reenactment of a pioneer handcart trek. All Rockingham Stake youth will be encouraged to participate.

From 1856 to 1860, about 3,000 Latter-day Saints pulled handcarts across the American plains to gather in the Salt Lake Valley. These pioneers trekked more than a thousand miles through heat and cold; through mud,sand, and sometimes snow; and through rivers and over mountains. They faced trials that required great faith and perseverance.

To help youth learn from the experiences of the hand-cart pioneers, stakes, and wards, organize handcart trek reenactments for youth conferences. Treks provide powerful opportunities for youth to:

• Strengthen testimonies
• Build unity
• Do family history
• Learn and appreciate church history
• Feel gratitude for the sacrifices of the pioneers and the heritage they provided
• Appreciate blessings more fully
• Seek and find guidance to overcome challenges
• Focus on serving and rescuing others
• Learn core gospel principles

The trek will be held on September 26–28, 2024.

The trek will be held at Muja State Forest in Collie, WA.

Youth ages 14 to 18 are welcome to join.

Yes! You can; however, it is advisable to consider discussing this matter with your bishop beforehand.

Pioneer Treks are activities designed for youth. For this reason, only the adult leaders that have received a specific assignment or invitation for Trek will be going.

The Rockingham Stake Committee will arrange transport for the trekkers from the initial meeting place to the trek location.

• There will be at least one physician on the trek who is dedicated to medical surveillance and treatment. Special needs should be communicated on the medical release form
• Anyone taking prescription medication is responsible to bring, store and take them as prescribed. Please notify the medical team if you need assistance.

• Medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, antacids, etc. will be available from the medical team.

• We need to know who is going for accountability purposes and food preparation.
• Medical and appropriate personnel need to be aware of specific medical needs in order to be prepared.
• Medical provisions are limited by the location and logistics of the trek.

Each young man or young woman will be assigned to a Trek family. The bishop and trek chair will carefully select “Ma’s and Pa’s.” These individuals will lead your family for the duration of the trek. Other members of your Trek family will be young men and young women. There will be 7–8 youth of both genders and a variety of ages in each family.

• Trek participants will be provided with snacks and three meals each day. It is our intention to keep everyone well fed. Daily menus will be made by the trek food committee to provide appropriate protein and carbohydrates.

• If a trekker has significant food allergies, please let the food committee chair know. We will try to best handle specific allergies with our food committee.

Portable bathrooms will be available while trekking and at the camp sites.

Girls will be separated from the boys. Each participant will bring their own sleeping bag, blanket, and pad. Tents and tent assignments will be provided.

Each handcart will have sufficient water for drinking and washing hands.

Numerous breaks will be taken while trekking to drink water.

• No immodest clothing
• No shorts, midriffs, sleeveless, or short-sleeve tops
• No T-shirts (as outerwear).
• No fireworks, matches, or lighters.
• No cellular phones
• No electronic devices (no iPods, tablets, or electronic games, radios, phones, etc.)
• No hatchets, sheaths, or buffel knives (pocket knives are okay).
• No inappropriate materials or behavior that is not consistent with the strength of youth standards

Make-up will distract from the trek and trek activities. Perfume and perfumed lotions attract mosquitoes and other insects, as well as some animals.

This is a tremendous opportunity to get out of the world and worldly influences. This allows for better opportunities to feel the spirit in our lives. It allows for better interaction with family members and other trek participants.

The wind often blows in this region. Dust and debris in the air are common.

• Sleeping bag for cold weather
• Old blanket (inside bag)
• Coat (heavy and warm; it will be cold)
• Tarp 8 x 10 (to sleep on)

• 2 mid-calf, long-sleeve dresses, or skirts and blouses (Wear one, pack one.)
• Bonnet or wide-brim straw hat
• Apron (with pockets; you will need them)
• 2 pairs of bloomers (can be old PJ pants; needed for modesty) and leg protection.
• Feminine hygiene supplies

• Hair elastics or fasteners (keep your hair out of your face during windy conditions, which is most of the time.

• 2 Pair cotton pants (N camo pants, no shorts. Wear one, pack one)
• 2 long sleeves, collared, button-on shirts (no t-shirts. Wear one, pack one)
• Wide-brim straw, canvas, or western-style hat (no baseball-type hats, no military-type hats)
• Suspenders (optional but very functional)
• Vest (optional; may help you keep warm in colder conditions)

• Rain Poncho
• Tin Plate
• Fork, spoon, and knife (metal), no plastic
• Cup (metal) for drinking
• Hand towel or washcloth
• Toilet paper (very important leaves aren't that good)
• Comb or brush
• Deodorant
• Toothbrush and paste (in zip-lock)
• Insect repellent
• Bandana (stake to provide)
• Shoes (wear one pair, bring a spare)
• 3 pairs of sturdy socks (wear 1 pair)
• 3 sets of underclothing (pack two pairs)
• Sleepwear (for sleeping only)
• Gloves for pulling a handcart
• A small torch or headlamp
• The Old Book of Mormon
• Pencil
• Chemical heat packs (optional)
• Prescribed medication only (to be declared)

• Trek participants are responsible for obtaining their own trek clothing. You can borrow clothing from others who have been on treks or do DIY. In addition, we will give bandanas to all trekkers. To have these printed, please reach out to Memory for assistance. Furthermore, Trek journals will be provided to all participants.

• Pioneer story-telling
• Devotionals
• Firesides
• Testimony Meeting
• Dancing
• Pioneer games and activities
• Tons of fun! Laughter! Memory-making and testimony-building!