Trek Workshop

Handcart Safety

The below link will give you a copy of the slides used in the Handcart Safety discussion.  Some reminders:

• The grease used for the wheels will permanently stain clothing.  Be careful with it!
• Only push and pull from the front and the back.  Stay away from the wheels!
• Do not be below the handcart on steep hills.  Use ropes to allow more people to pull or lower.
• When resting, block the wheels with rocks to avoid runaway carts.

Medical

The following link will allow you to download the slides that were referenced during the medical portion of the trek workshop.  Please review and make a goal to be physically ready for trek.  That could include becoming more physically active, learning how to prevent and treat blisters, and/or identifying ways to help cope with being outdoors in the heat.

Sleeping on the Trail

Due to Covid-19, every youth that will be on trek will need to have their own tent or cot to sleep on - there will be no sharing of tents by youth.  Youth from the same household will be assigned to different families, and the youth are to pitch their tent or set up their cot at their family (ma/pa) campsite.  We recognize the challenges that this presents.  Please consider the following:

1)  We recognize that this will significantly increase the amount of equipment that each family will deal with.  We do not want to overload the carts with all this extra equipment.  Therefore, sleeping gear (tents, cots, sleeping bags and sleeping pads) will not be transported on the handcarts.  Each of the ma's and pa's were given a flag at the leadership kickoff.  This flag will be attached to that family's luggage.  Starting at trek check-in, youth equipment will be gathered together with their families items and moved to the various campgrounds by our Roadies.  The family cooking equipment will also be moved this way.  The carts will hold trekkers personal gear (in buckets), coolers with lunch, snacks, and Gatorade, and water coolers for refilling water bottles.

2) Lots of tents will require lots of flat space to make camp.  The Dragoon mountains is beautiful, but hilly.  Although the Smith's have hosted over a dozen treks on their property over the last 20 years, they have identified campsites specifically for our trek that will accommodate a large number of family campsites.  Both campsites are distinguished by a long (1/4 mile+) road along which families will be able to set up individual family campsites.  This may result in a significant 'trek' to get to bathrooms at night for some families, but there will be room for all of us. We are encouraging youth to bring small tents (1-2 person tents) to maintain smaller family footprints.

3) Some families have multiple youth going on trek and may not have many small tents.  We do not want trek to be a financial burden - there should be no need for families to purchase a lot of extra equipment specifically for this activity.  If you your family is in need of an additional tent, please discuss with your ward leaders (Bishopric and/or Young Women presidency).  We are asking wards to first try to resolve shortages within their own wards.  If additional help is necessary, ward leaders will bring the issue up with stake leadership.

There are some trees at the campsites, but it will be difficult to find a good place for a hammock.  Cots are a good option if the youth would like to sleep under the stars and off the ground.  In most cases, ma's and pa's will have a tent that the youth may change in for privacy.  Other arrangements will be made if this is not the case.

Cooking on the Trail

On trek, you will be eating and cooking with your family on the trail, and we hope great memories will be shared around good food!

CAMP STOVE TIPS

A few things to remember when cooking with your family:

1. Good food starts with clean hands. Wash your hands with soap and water before you eat or prepare food. Scrub for at least 20 seconds and then rinse them.

2. To use your cook stove:

Attach the connector valve to the propane tank and open your tank valve.

Turn your burner knob to allow some gas and using a lighter or match, light it from the side of the stove through the small opening below the stove surface. Do not light the stove from above. Tuck in loose hair and keep dangling clothes (ie sleeves) away from open flames or when lighting.

Handles will be hot. Use oven mitts when handling your pot and pans.

When not in use, turn the burner knob to the off position AND close the valve on the propane tank.

POPCORN RECIPE (to make about 8 cups of popped corn):

In a sturdy pot (or aluminum foil pan), add 2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil (canola oil)

Add 1/4 cup popcorn kernels.

Cover with a lid or tin foil.

Constantly shake your pan over low to medium low heat.

Remove from the heat once the popping slows to about 1-2 seconds between pops.

Melt butter, season to taste.

TREK MEALS: Lunch meals will be "on the go" while you are on the trail. To minimize food handling while on the trail, your meals will be pre-made to your order. If you were not able to fill out a lunch menu, watch for an email and fill in your order as soon as possible. To discuss any food allergy or menu concerns, you can contact Brother or Sister Neumiller by phone or email (520-971-8445 or bcneumiller@gmail.com)

STAYING HYDRATED: Hydration is the body's need for water plus electrolytes from water and food. On trek, PLEASE be sure to drink it all throughout the day... and do not NOT drink to avoid using the bathroom. Portable bathrooms will be available along the route. 

Pioneer Clothing and Equipment

The youth committee opted to do the trek in pioneer clothing.  There are lots of resources for adapting and sewing pioneer clothing.  The below church publication has instructions for sewing skirts, aprons and pioneer shirts

Everybody should bring a bucket to store and transport their personal items.  Some people like to fix a seat cushion to their buckets so they have a semi-comfortable item to rest on along the trail and in camp.  If you would like to do that, the below link will take you to a website that demonstrates one way to add a seat cushion to your bucket.