Up for the Trek?

Have you ever sat in Sunday School wondering what it would have actually been like to cross the Great Plains with the early Mormon Pioneers? What were the real challenges they faced, especially when crossing with families? What was it like traveling all of those miles by wagon or on foot? And what was the big idea behind those frilly bonnets the ladies wore? Well, whether or not you tend to daydream in your Sunday classes, the BYU Department of Recreation Management and Youth Leadership is providing an opportunity for would-be pioneers to get a glimpse of what a Mormon Handcart Company would have gone through.

From their site:

The Mormon Trail Handcart Trek 2009 allows individual participants and family groups to re-create the historic trail. Participants will wear pioneer style clothing and camp each night along the trail. All participants will also participate in various academic courses and special events, such as daily devotionals and dances.

The Trek is divided into two sections:

• Spring 2009: 27 April–20 June, 2009, Iowa City, Iowa to approximately North Platte, Nebraska.
• Summer 2009: 22 June–26 August, 2009, approximately North Platte, Nebraska to Salt Lake Valley.

A unique opportunity is available for a limited number of families to join the Mormon Trail Handcart Trek that takes place April 27 through August 26, 2009. Families who apply for participation in the trek will be research subjects in an on-going project by BYU faculty and students that focuses on how “wholesome recreational activities” strengthens families. Along with being part of the daily handcart trek, participants will be involved in research methods that include in-depth interviews, observations, and journaling.

Family participants are invited to join the trek for a week at a time beginning on a Sunday and ending the following Sunday. Sundays are non-travel days and facilitate an opportunity for families to more easily transition into the trek company and to spiritually benefit by being included in Sabbath day worship on two Sundays. If desired, families may apply for multiple weeks. Due to the logistics involved with this type of event, applications will only be considered for those who can participate for the entire week. No applications for partial week participation will be accepted.

All meals and support services are provided. All trek participants will tent camp each night. No accommodation is available for RV use. Expect to walk and help pull handcarts (approximately one per 10 people) from 15-25 miles per day.

Only 80 spots per week are available for family participants. APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR FAMILY PARTICIPANTS IS MARCH 1, 2009, but slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Costs for the week-long family trip are:

• Ages 13 and up: $250 per week
• Ages 4-12: $200 per week
• Ages 3 and under: Free

Please click here to visit the program site for more information.

Contributing: Chris Giovarelli & Kari Newman
Photo: BYU Museum of Art