Are you ready for picture overload? Because there are a ton of pictures in this post. I had a hard time picking just the few that I did.
We had the opportunity to join our Stake at Youth Conference for 3 days at Badger Creek this year.
Our stake leaders did a great job!!
We met at the Stake Center Wednesday morning and each received a colored T-shirt. That color determined which group we would be in. We didn't stay as ward groups, but intermixed with everyone throughout the stake. I got to know several new people over the next couple of days.
The pictures don't necessarily go in any order.....
Kenneth and Jordan waiting for the buses to arrive...
Our ward gathered quickly to get a group shot.
Sunny M, Josh T, Mindy J, Hannah M, Rhyannon T, Abby S, Bekah M, Makayla K, Kole P, Matt F, Mark F, Josh K, Kenneth J (we were missing Trinitie S who didn't want to be in the picture and Emily M who was laying down - she wasn't feeling good :(
All of the girls from the stake were assigned to sleep in 2 large yurts. There wasn't enough room, so they set up a large tent. All of the girls from our ward and 14th ward picked to sleep in the tent together rather than be in the yurts.
Hannah, Makayla, Bekah, Abby, Trinitie
The boys resting in their tent
Matt, Kole, Josh and Kenneth
One of the first activities our group did was a team building one. It is called the spider web. The group had to work together to get all team members from one side of the rope to the other without touching the rope. The leaders were not allowed to help and the youth couldn't speak to each other. It was a great teaching tool!
This is another team building exercise. Our entire group (I think there were 9 of us) had to swing on a rope over the top of a stick without knocking it down. Then we had to land on this small platform. Our entire team had to be on the platform and not fall off in order to accomplish this exercise. It took a while and a few different strategies. Our group did well in communicating and helping each other out. I didn't know any of the youth in my group, but they were all amazing!! We had a good time together.
Bishop Fielding on top of a power pole. After getting to the top he jumped - kind of like Superman!
The incline log with Lexi. The purpose was to climb the log and then walk across the other log, then rappel down. She did great!
Cutler (I think) doing a Karate Kid pose after going up the incline log!
The jungle gym..
President Bishop working his way along the jungle gym...
Waiting to ride the horses...
Playing human foosball....
Giant game of twister. Kenneth is the one in the center with the hat on...
I missed seeing him....so I was taking advantage of the short opportunity that we saw each other on Thursday afternoon...
Me and Sunny - the other leader that came from our ward.
She is fantastic!!
There was a dance and karaoke going on, but the girls thought hanging around outside of the tent was more fun.
I found this "throne" and we snapped a fun pic.
Back: Abby, Trin, Makayla
Front: Bekah, Mindy, Rhyannon
The view of the Tetons right outside of our tents...it is gorgeous!
The theme for Youth Conference this year was "Livin the Dream" meaning Lehi's dream.
The stake leaders organized a fantastic iron rod activity.
This was the iron rod.
The youth started down a trail and there were a few scriptures for them to stop and read. Then the youth continued down the trail and there was a great and spacious building (a cabin) that had a bunch of people trying to entice them with candy and they had a party going on with music and the game Dance Dance Revolution going on.
After they got past that, they were brought to the iron rod. At this point they were blindfolded and their hand was connected to the rod. They were instructed to not let go. Then they started walking and feeling their way through the trail.
There were several people along the way that were tempting the youth to let go of the rod. Some of the trickier things they used included....
They would stand in front of the youth and tell them the rod was broken and they were trying to fix it. They told them to just let go and go around them and get back on. As soon as they would let go for an instant, someone would grab them and move them away from the rod.
OR
One lady was very convincing and she would tell them that they were at the end of the rod and to go ahead and let go....it was a trap!
If one of the youth did happen to let go of the rod, they had someone (bishop, stake leader, etc) right there to talk to them and help them and guide them back to the rod. Then they would continue on their blindfolded journey.
At the very end of the rod they came into an area with this tree....representing the tree of life.
They had a notebook and were able to sit as long as they wanted and write down their thoughts and feelings about the whole experience.
The youth LOVED this activity!!!! Several of them had very moving experiences.
We had a fantastic time and enjoyed the variety of activities - both physical and spiritual.
