Suggestions for Ma's and Pa's

You will help to ensure that the overall Trek experience is completed safely and without serious incident. As you lead your trek family, prayerfully consider how you can foster an environment where each of our youth participants will have an opportunity to strengthen their testimonies of the Gospel and to feel the prompting of the Holy Ghost.

  • Study pioneer stories and be prepared to share faith promoting experiences. See the link below.
  • Look for opportunities to teach correct doctrine and Gospel principles and to allow the youth the same teaching opportunities. Encourage increased understanding of the scriptures, of the importance of personal and family prayer, and of becoming more like the Savior. Feast upon the word of Christ.
  • Encourage everyone to keep a journal of their challenges, how they faced them, what they have learned from their experiences, and the value of continuing this practice in their every day lives.
  • Ensure that every youth is engaged and helping members of their trek family. Every youth should feel they are contributing meaningfully and are loved and appreciated.
  • Have fun in appropriate ways! Have fun even when the going is hard. Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ. Discover a perfect brightness of hope.
  • Each youth can gain a better understanding of enduring to the end, becoming the person God intends them to become, to then enjoy eternal life.
  • Listen for the promptings of the Spirit. Help to ensure that each youth will look back on this experience as a positive turning point in their lives.
“Trek participants are given the opportunity to face and overcome difficult tasks. Part of the challenge comes as they are asked to pull with people they don’t really know, and part of it comes later, when they are asked to pull the handcart farther than they ever thought they could. They are given the chance to discover their own strengths and weaknesses, to recognize the strengths of others, and to see where they need to change their own lives. They are given the chance to see the power of seeking our Heavenly Father’s help, and the power of serving others. With this new knowledge, they can return to their families and homes with the courage to make changes in their own lives.”
— Cedar Mill Oregon Stake Trek

 

Ma and Pa (Family) Packing List

This list (download here) is provided to help ensure that your family will be prepared. Please work within your wards to gather these items. If you have difficulty getting everything, please contact a member of the Stake YM or YW presidency and we will assist you.

  • Tents (two) (at least 6-person size), one each for your YW and YM plus one tent for Ma and Pa (at least a 3-person size)
  • Tarps for tent ground cover
  • Broom (to sweep the tent sites clear)
  • Hammer or mallet for tent pegs
  • Small tarp 6’x8’ to 8’x8’ and rope to secure over the handcart (a canvas painter’s drop cloth is very authentic for this purpose)
  • Rope to help in pulling and belaying the cart (hemp or jute is more authentic than synthetic), at least 2x 50 feet
  • 2x 5-gallon water jugs; jerrican style is better than a round cooler because it can be lashed to the outside of the cart for use without unpacking the cart
  • 5-gallon family supplies bucket
  • 3 rolls of toilet paper
  • 1 small shovel
  • Lantern(s) (gas or electric); campsites have lantern hangers
  • Walkie-talkies for communication between trekkers and base camp
  • Extra pens/pencils
  • First aid kit (kept on the cart) with band aids, moleskin, Vaseline, common medications, etc.
  • Consecrated oil
  • Twine and clothespins for drying socks
  • Small sewing kit
  • Flashlight with fresh batteries
  • Extra personal hygiene products for YW in your family
  • Spray bottle for use as a “mister”
  • Pocketknife
  • Duct tape
  • Optional: bungee cords (4-6)

Handcart Safety

  1. Treat handcarts with care; pull or push by hand. Do not pull handcarts behind vehicles. No one should ride in the cart, except in an emergency.
  2. Do not run with the handcart. Trek participants can easily trip and get run over by the wheels.
  3. After stopping the handcart, slowly lower the shaft to the ground gently. Never drop the it.
  4. Do not sit or stand on the shaft when it is resting on the ground.
  5. Stay away from the wheels. Some clothing, especially dresses, can get caught in the wheels.
  6. Don't overload the handcart.
  7. When going down steep hills, have everyone help to slow the cart or turn the handcart around and take it down the hill backwards. Always keep it under control.
  8. When stopping on a hill, place a rock or other object behind the wheels so that the handcart does not roll.
  9. Do not pull a loaded handcart sideways on a steep incline (where one wheel is consistently lower than the other). If the weight of the handcart is shifted to one wheel, it can break.

 

More great information and helpful details from LDS.org: