Processing

Someone asked me a good question about processing so I thought it might be good to refresh your memory since our first training session was several months ago.
Processing is helping the youth discover life lessons in their experiences. You will ask them to respond to questions that make them think about what they've experienced such as "What did you learn from that?" "How can you use that at....school, home, quorum, etc?" "How was your testimony strengthened by that?" "What principle of the gospel does that remind you of?" "How do you think that will help you face other situations?" Your goal is to have them glean the truths and share them so try to avoid yes or no questions by starting with how, why and what. You know you're succeeding when THEY are talking more than you are.
Often, a testimony will be shared without the youth even knowing it. It's good to acknowledge that with, "Thank you for that testimony." or, "That is a great testimony to have." Or maybe even, "Did you realize you just bore your testimony?"
Some processing happens formally, in a circle where everyone is expected to share. Some happens more casually as you are talking to the youth, chopping the carrots, setting up camp or just relaxing together. Don't feel that you need to "Process" every thing that happens on the trek, some of it really is just for fun!
Remember: the best processing involves the kids doing the thinking and the talking.

On another note; if you have time, take another look at this video clip and remember to let the youth earn the confidence that comes from doing hard things this week.
"Death Crawl"

1 more day/ 24 more hours until our adventure begins

Last minute stuff - MAKE SURE your name is on EVERYTHING!  There is a good chance that the logistics people will help bring some of your (Ma/Pa) supplies to the camp sites. 

Did you notice your families are growing?  You will probably have up to 13 youth in each family.  Congrats!  I know you will be the proud Ma and Pa of your family!

Bathroom kits - each Ma and Pa need to have a bathroom kit for those emergencies in between port-a-potty stops.  LEAVE NO TRACE BEHIND. 

• toilet paper - in a zip-loc bag to keep clean and dry
• trash bag
• wipes
• feminine hygiene products
• hand sanitizer or soap on a rope
• and anything else you can think of.

Equipment check will be from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.  Please come 15 minutes early and wear regular clothes.

Wednesday morning at 5 a.m., come ready to go in your pioneer clothes and with your camelback filled with water.  Once we have a short devotional, load the buses, and arrive in Happy Jack - the first thing the Ma's and Pa's and CAPTAINS will do is an introduction cheer!  Make it a song, chant, top 10 list, or anything that is fun and introduces you to the youth! 

THANKS for all of your time, talents, and energy in preparing for this trek!  Enjoy your nice soft bed one last night and don't forget to enjoy your glass of ICE water.   We will see you soon!

HAPPY TREKKING!

2 more days! Are you ready? I am not.

The wagons are packed up and loaded.  Everything is ready to go to Happy Jack.  But I've got nothing new to tell you.

Read the older posts.  Check us out on facebook.  Pack your stuff.  Check your lists twice.  Get lots of sleep.  And I will see you at the equipment check Tuesday at 4:45 p.m. at the Stake Center!  ANY Stake Staff and ALL Ma's and Pa's are needed and wanted to help at the equipment check.  Please bring your supplies that night too! 

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate - KEY to a good Trek is WATER and good SHOES/ hiking socks - 3 days!!!

Check out this article HERE. 

And this one HERE.

If you can't take the time to click away, let me sum up.  When exercising, you can lose a quart of water through sweating.  While hiking, drink regularly – every 15 to 20 minutes take in approximately one glass of water to replenish what you are losing.  When you feel thirsty, you are already on the way to dehydration. So, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

Avoid soda before and during your hike or backpacking trip. Caffeine is a diuretic and will contribute only to depleting the water that you already have stored in your body.   The rule of three states that you can live three minutes without air, three weeks without food, and just three days without water.  Hydrate before you start your trip.  Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

SIGNS of dehydration:

• Thirst
• Loss of Appetite
• Dry Skin
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Head Rushes
• Dry Mouth

EFFECTS of dehydration:

• Increased heart rate
• Increased respiration
• Decreased sweating
• Decreased urination
• Increased body temperature
• Extreme fatigue
• Muscle cramps
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Tingling of the limbs

If you see any of these signs, please contact someone on the Trek Medical Staff.  We will all be well taken care of. 

There will be plenty of water to drink on the trek, so no worries.  Just make sure all the youth in your family is drinking even if they don't want to.  It is a must!  Happy Hydrating!  (Make sure your pee is clear and then you are ready to start the trek!)

A note from "Aunt" Jackie - 4 days to go!

I am suddenly flooded with ancestor papers. As I get them organized, most people have the right idea of a name, a little biography and a short story. HOWEVER, there are a few that are handing in "books" of information. I have skimmed through these and highlighted or underlined what they can use  
so please let the Ma and Pa's know that for their ancestor activity to stress that   

• first to give the youth a few minutes to read their info and look for my markings and
• then to share it by telling, not reading it.

 Just a short story, if they are one of the ones with a stack. Nobody wants to hear someone read a stack of papers.  Anyway, I am finding this highly interesting reading all their info!  Thanks for your help.

Jackie

Don't forget Aunt Jackie and Captain Reber are great resources to call on during the trek.  If you are stopped and want to invite a guest to share a pioneer story with your family, keep them in mind.  Every Ma and Pa should have turned in their Trek for a Pioneer form to Sister Anderson or Aunt Jackie.  It is not too late!  Do it and bring it to the Equipment Check - Tuesday night.  

On the trek, every Ma and Pa will receive an envelope of their family's Trek for a Pioneer forms.  You may break up the day, the bathroom stop, or even wrap up the night with a family circle and let one or two of your family members share their stories.  YOU (as the Ma/Pa) decide when it is best to share these stories.   

POST EDIT:  A NOTE FROM PAM- On Thursday, there is some significant time spent waiting. We have several ideas for activities to fill the time, and sharing ancestor stories is one of those. It fits well with everything else we're doing that day. You may want to do it in more than one session, just be sure everyone shares.

5 days to go and some thoughts

Dear Ma's and Pa's,

You are about to adopt 12 - 13 young men and young women into your lives on this Trek.  I wanted to pass along some thoughts.  None of us know what is going on in everyone's lives at this particular moment, but one ward is hurting right now and I am sure others are too.  In a recent exchange with a Ma she says,

• "I just wanted you to be aware of the situation just in case and also because some of the youth from our ward might need a little extra love, everyone's a little traumatized right now.  Thanks for understanding and for the prayer..." 

It doesn't really matter what the situation is, we all need and want love.  We have these amazing youth in our lives for 4 short day and 3 long nights.  I know all the Ma's and Pa's are ready and well trained, but I wanted to share these thoughts and words with you.   Good luck and "ALL IN!" as we do our last minute preparations for this trek.  Thank you for your time and talents.  I love you all and am looking forward to our upcoming adventure!

Seat Cushion - 6 days

 Don't forget to save a comfy seat for yourself!  Making a cushion for your bucket is TOTALLY allowed!  You will be sitting on this for dinner, breakfast, morning devotionals, evening firesides, etc.  It is worth your time to figure a cool way to do this.  There is no right or wrong way, but I simply cut a foam pad in a circle and then created a fabric cover with elastic around the bottom.   My seat cushion was packed inside my bucket and then came out when I needed it.  Good luck and many happy bottoms!