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.
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.
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:
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
Kirtland - Whirligig
Wood Disks with holes drilled in them.
Missouri – Make Butter
Nauvoo – Pioneer Children Games
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)
Trek West – Girls: Yarn Doll
Instruction Posters PDF - 11x17 condensed instructions to hang in classroom.
Boys: 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.
- Stick Pulling
- Hopscotch
- Marbles
- Balls and Jacks
- Cat’s Cradle
- Hoop and Stick
