Pioneer Day Camps

To continue our study of the Doctrine and Covenants this year, we are celebrating the Pioneers! We will have 2 day-camps - 1 for girls and 1 for boys. We will divide the children into 4 "Companies" (about 10 children each). "Pioneers" from each region along the trail will tell their story in first-person point of view, then make crafts/play games with the children. Our over-all theme is the same as the stake theme for the year, "Let God Prevail."

Poster/Invitations:

All should dress in Pioneer clothing.

• Girls might wear a long dress or skirt, an apron, a bonnet or her hair in braids.
• Boys might wear jeans or dark pants, a button-down shirt, a bandana, boots, and a hat.

Setup: I find it is always helpful to have a map and instructions for number of tables and chairs that are needed. That way, I can hand it to the helpers setting up and they know exactly what is needed.

Groups: Divide into 4 groups (named from actual Pioneer companies that correspond to colors). Berry Company, Lemmon Company, Field Company, and Snow Company. 

Activity Schedule: Each company guide (adult volunteer) gets a group sign with a schedule on the back for directing their group from class to class. 

Class/Bell Schedule: Posted in each classroom and by the bell button. Make your life easier and assign someone to bell duty. They can set the alarms on their cell phone to remember to ring the bells.

There are 8 wards in our stake so we were able to ask each ward to supply 1 helper for each day camp to be company guides (2 per company). They should take turns:

• 1 - lead group to next room
• 1 - wipe down tables and chairs between groups

Any other helpers/Stake leaders gather crafts from each class and place on colored tables in the cultural hall for children to collect before they go home.

Sign-in: Assign children to one of the 4 companies and stamp their hands with colored dots. We use a tally system to make sure the groups are even but we do allow them to choose what group they want to be in so they can be with their friends.

While the children are waiting for everyone to sign in, play these videos:

I'm a Pioneer Too & Pioneer Children Sang as They Walked

Welcome: Sit on colored quilts on Gym floor, around a "campfire": Welcome, Opening Prayer, Handcart family enters and talks about Pioneer life.

AM Classes: 20 minutes each. (pictures coming soon) Pioneers from each region along the trail, tell their story in first-person point of view, then make craft/play game with the children. Groups don't necessarily go in order on the "trail". The activity is divided into AM and PM classes.

Here is a sample of the email we sent to the teachers:

(Links provided for what we "plan" to do. And for products purchased.)

SNACK: Granola bars provided between second and third classes.

Palmyra – Stick Pull

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/1971/12/stick-pulling-newly-revived-game-of-the-1840s?lang=eng

Kirtland - Whirligig

Wood Disks with holes drilled in them.

https://heapsoflaundry.blogspot.com/2011/06/whirligig.html

Missouri – Make Butter

https://sofestive.com/2018/06/08/homemade-butter-in-a-jar-recipe/

Nauvoo – Pioneer Children Games

Ideas from: https://oneshetwoshe.com/celebrating-pioneer-day-family-night-she-veronica/

LUNCH: Served in a #10 can with a handle. Paper liner and wood tag are included.

Biscuit, Beef Jerky, Cuties, Fruit rollup, Hershey Kiss, Milk or Water

Children will use the butter they made on biscuits - spread with a popsicle stick.

Wood tag souvenir: 1.4"x2" laser engraved wood tag, tied with 8" of leather lace.

Movie: During lunch, play movie "Legacy" starting at 37:00 [16 min.] in April 1844 Joseph Smith bearing testimony on steps of Nauvoo Temple - Picks up where our "trail" left off and where they will "go" in the afternoon classes.

PM classes: 20 minutes each. (pictures coming soon) 

Winter Quarters - Quilt Tying Service Project (40 minute class)

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/fleece-tie-blanket-1252959

Trek West – Girls: Yarn Doll

https://thecraftyclassroom.com/crafts/pioneer-crafts-for-kids/yarn-doll-craft-for-kids/

Instruction Posters PDF - 11x17 condensed instructions to hang in classroom.

Boys: Popsicle Stick Harmonica

http://www.housingaforest.com/popsicle-stick-harmonica/

Salt Lake – Tin Punch

Bottom of lunch pail cans (for most stable surface) with battery-powered candles underneath. https://www.auntannie.com/PartyDecorations/TinCanCandleHolders/

Testimony Meeting: Gather back in cultural hall around "campfire". Allow children to bare testimonies and close with comments from Stake Presidency. Closing Prayer.

Games: Fold up quilts and setup games. Each game should have at least one adult overseeing it. Let children play until their parents pick them up.

Ideas from: https://oneshetwoshe.com/celebrating-pioneer-day-family-night-she-veronica/

• Stick Pulling 
• Hopscotch
• Marbles
• Balls and Jacks 
• Cat’s Cradle 
• Hoop and Stick