KITCHENER STAKE YOUTH NAUVOO HISTORICAL TRIP HANDBOOK & INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUTH & PARENTS May 19th May 23, 2016
KITCHENER STAKE YOUTH NAUVOO HISTORICAL TRIP HANDBOOK & INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUTH & PARENTS PLEASE REFER TO THIS HANDBOOK FOR YOUR ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRIP! Registration It is VERY IMPORTANT that you and your parents take time to read and understand the information in this booklet so you can properly prepare yourself for this wonderful experience. ALL youth must complete a REGISTRATION FORM in FULL. Registration will occur on this site from Monday, April 18th to Monday, May 2nd, 2016. There are more Youth eligible to go than positions available, so we encourage Youth to register as quickly as possible. After the limit is reached, there will be no additions to the number of participants. Signatures are required on the registration form and all supporting documents must be attached in order to be considered registered in full. PLEASE NOTE: Please match the names used on the Registration Form to the names that are used on the government identification you will be using. (Passport or Birth Certificate) Documentation All Adult Volunteers must have & carry their own valid Canadian passport. We suggest all youth with Canadian citizenship have a current & valid passport to avoid any uncertainty of being permitted to enter the United States. It will be the parent(s) responsibility to pick up their child(ren) at the border should entry be denied. That having been said, those who are travelling on the bus, can travel as a religious group with a special privilege. Normally, everyone over 15 needs to travel with a passport, but as you will read below, the requirement of the passport for youth aged 16 through 18 is waived when a person is traveling as a part of a religious group. US Customs and Border Protection states: Children: Canadian citizens 15 years old and younger arriving by land or sea from contiguous territory may present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate or a Canadian Citizenship Card. Canadian Citizens 16 and older must have a valid passport, unless traveling as part of an organized group described below. Groups of Children: Canadian citizen children under age 19 arriving by land or sea from contiguous territory and traveling with a school group, religious group, social/cultural organization, or sports team, may also present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a Naturalization Certificate, or a Canadian Citizenship Card.
Please Note! Non-Canadian citizens will be contacted by the registrar sometime after their registration to review documentation you might need to enter the U.S. It is important for you to inform us of this in Section 4 of the Registration Form. In some cases, we might need to make some special arrangements, and we want all of these things known in advance. Other Must Have Items a) TEMPLE RECOMMEND if intending to do baptisms and confirmations. It is your responsibility to contact your Bishop or Branch President for the necessary recommend. i. An individual, limited-use recommend for youth ii. Current temple recommend for adult leaders b) AMERICAN MONEY (USD) for breakfast on the morning of the 20th, and dinner on the way home on Monday, the 23rd. The Stake will NOT be paying for these meals. We will be stopping for fast food and all youth & leaders will be responsible for paying for their own meal. We recommend around $30 American money (USD). c) Youth may bring snacks for the overnight bus trip, but because we are crossing a border, all perishable items such as fruit, and sandwiches with meat, must be eaten prior to arriving at the border." Travel Medical Insurance It is important that as an Adult Volunteer or the parent of a youth, that you obtain Travel Medical Insurance from a reputable provider. Many banks or the CAA provide such coverage at low cost. For example, in checking with TD Canada Trust online, one can find $2 million coverage for a single trip for an 18 year old for May 18 th to the 24th (one day extra on either side of our schedule) for a cost of $34.00. Please plan for this on your own in the following weeks, as you cannot obtain coverage once you are underway on the trip. Luggage Since we re traveling by bus and have limited storage space for luggage, please limit what you bring to 1 SUITCASE, a sleeping bag (or bedding), and 1 CARRY-ON BAG that can be stored under the seat in front of you. Please refer to Packing List and Dress & Grooming Standards in this Handbook for what to bring with you. Travel Youth are responsible to get themselves to the Kitchener Stake Centre on Thursday, May 19, 2016 starting at 9:00 pm. Everyone should be there no later than 9:30 pm. The bus will leave from the Kitchener Stake Centre at 10:00 PM SHARP on Thursday, May 19th. Please bring any snacks you want. Likely, during the time between departure and the US Border, we will be showing an historical movie pertinent to Nauvoo. After passing through the border, it will be time for lights out. Up to the border, anybody can sit together. After the border, seat selection will be gender specific.
We will be stopping for breakfast, just prior to arriving at Nauvoo. This meal will be at a fast food location and its cost will be the responsibility of the participant. We are expected to return to the Kitchener Stake Centre Parking lot late on the night of Monday, May 23 rd. One bus will return at 10:30 PM and the second bus will return at Midnight. Lunch will be provided before departure from Nauvoo, but travelling participants are responsible to purchase their own dinner at a fast food stop along the way. Accommodations All youth and leaders will be staying at Camp Nauvoo. The girls will be staying in one of the 19 cabins, which sleep from 4 to 12 persons. The boys will be staying in the Large Lodge. Mattresses will be available for everyone, but it necessary that each person brings their own sleeping bag or bedding, including a pillow. The accommodations are rustic, reminding me of a YMCA camp (bunkbeds, flat mattresses, etc.) The website for Camp Nauvoo is http://www.campnauvoo.org if you would like to see some pictures, and need address or contact information. Please do not call the camp for more information. Instead direct your questions to axsonjeff@gmail.com, and we will feature a question and answer section on the website in the next weeks from the questions that come in. The girls will be housed in the cabins, and the Stake Young Women's Presidency will be determining the billeting arrangements. One of the goals of the trip is to meet new friends within the Stake, and there will be plenty of activities where everyone is together, so be flexible with your cabin mates. For the boys, with everyone sleeping in one large hall, you will have the ability to move your mattresses to find your own spot. Throughout the duration of our stay and especially upon leaving, it will be the responsibility of each participant to keep their living spaces neat and tidy. It will be especially important to leave the place in a good state. We desire to maintain excellent relations with the Community of Christ, who are the owners of the camp. Please throw out garbage in the designated bins. The boys will be asked to return the mattresses to the cabins from where they came. Everyone will be responsible for their own personal belongings. Please make sure nothing is left behind. Food All meals will be provided, with the exception of the breakfast as we travel to Nauvoo on Friday morning, and the dinner as we travel back to Kitchener on the Monday evening. Again, please feel free to bring your own snacks for Thursday night, but make it something that is not perishable, as there will not be coolers brought on the buses. The registration form will have a space to put your dietary information (and remedies for unfavorable outcomes this info will be used by the Nurse). The Kitchen Staff will accommodate diagnosed, bona fide medical needs (severe food reactions and allergies). Please do not abuse this accommodation by stating preferences (ie, I don t like quiche). There will be food alternatives, but in order to feed 140 people ten meals and especially to meet the budget, this will not be meals cooked to order. We are quite excited to have Sister Julie Jakob as our Chief of Kitchen, along with many other volunteers assisting. One of the goals of the trip is to have memorable meals. Those young women who have attended a Girl s Camp where Sister Jakob has overseen the cooking, will know of her skills in preparing menus, and organizing others to produce satisfying meals.
Itinerary An overall itinerary will be provided & posted on the website as soon as times are completely confirmed. Activities will include a visit to the Nauvoo Temple, a tour of Carthage Jail, a tour of Historic Nauvoo, a trip to the Visitor s Center and Women s Memorial Garden, wagon rides of Old Nauvoo and Inspiration Point, a pioneer handcart trek and a special walk down the Trail of Hope. We will also have a couple of devotionals by our Stake Presidency, along with recreational time and personal time. There is a possibility of a service project, too. Youth will also be divided into groups with two Organizers/Chaperones as Adult Volunteers assigned to each group. Youth must stay with your assigned group(s) for all activities. You will be given your own personal itinerary at the beginning of the trip. During free time, you must always be with at least one other person and you need to let your leaders know where you are at all times. Respect for the City of Nauvoo We must remember that the Saints were forced out of Nauvoo by angry people with great animosity toward them. Many of those people have descendants who still live in the area and, therefore, there continues to be a natural tension for some residents at having their community overrun by LDS touring groups each year. Over the long run, the best way to overcome this tension is to continually improve on these relationships. We need to go out of our way to respect the city, and its residents. Because Old Nauvoo seems much like Williamsburg or Upper Canada Village, we often treat them like historical villages. We forget that the streets of Nauvoo are actually functioning streets to the city. They are regular everyday roads maintained by the city. Therefore, when we walk in groups, we must stay to the sides and/or be prepared to move to the sides quickly with approaching traffic. The #1 irritant to residents is to have groups wandering down the middle of the street impeding the flow of traffic. Please do not use shortcuts across private property. Stay on the sidewalks where they exist. We encourage everyone to be courteous, respectful, and friendly to the residents of Nauvoo. As LDS members, we want to have good relationships with everyone, and realize at a time of tension, many good efforts can be negated by the insensitive act of one individual. When we first arrive in Nauvoo, we will have a short meeting with the Mission President, who will identify other things that we need to know. Cell Phones and Technology Policy We are taking this trip to draw closer to the Spirit and not to be distracted by technology. Therefore, we ask that you limit your technology to personal free time. Although we would rather that you abstain altogether from the technology, we also realize the importance of these devices for positive uses. Please be aware, though, if they become a distraction as determined by the Adult Volunteers, the person causing that distraction will be asked to curtail the use of their device. Please understand that this trip s purpose is to focus on the history of Nauvoo and its people, and technology devices could be a deterrent to this objective if used at the wrong time. Also, there may be significant roaming or data charges for out of country usage, so don t be disappointed with a big bill when you return home.
Packing List a) Documentation! (Passport for those over 18, birth certificate for those under, etc.) DO NOT PACK THIS ITEM IN YOUR SUITCASE. YOU MUST BRING IT WITH YOU TO THE CHECK-IN TO BE ABLE TO BOARD THE BUS. Your original passport or birth certificate will be collected & secured for the trip. A photocopy of your passport or birth certificate must accompany your Registration Form. Adults will carry their own passports for the duration of the trip. b) A carry-on bag with items you might want to use during the bus ride. It must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you or under your feet for the duration of the bus ride. You will not have access to your suitcase while we re on the bus. c) Clothes that meet church & trip standards (details below) d) Scriptures, For the Strength of Youth pamphlet, and a journal or notebook e) Limited use Temple Recommend for youth and Temple Recommend for Adults f) Toiletries g) Melchizedek Priesthood holders should bring consecrated oil h) BUG SPRAY. The mosquitoes are fierce in Nauvoo! There are also ticks, so be sure to wear socks and shoes if walking through tall grass. i) Comfortable walking shoes. We will be doing A LOT of walking, so make sure your Best Casual and Semi-Formal shoes are comfortable! j) Sunscreen and possibly a hat to shield the sun k) A watch (need to be punctual!) l) Alarm clock for getting up in the morning m) Roughly US$30 for breakfast on way to Nauvoo and dinner on way back. Other monies you might want for souvenirs, etc. n) Camera o) We discourage the use of cell phones, MP3 players, ipods, video games, headphones, computers, CD players, etc. You will be asked to discontinue use if they become a problem, and certainly while on the bus while people are sleeping, we do not want these items to be a disturbance. p) A pillow for use on the bus q) Either a sleeping bag, or bedding for the twin-sized mattress that will be provided. r) We strongly suggest that you bring an inexpensive, but adequate rain poncho. Storms come up quickly at this time of year. It will likely be warm, but it is much more pleasant when you can keep dry! Average temp. for May is a low of 12.5 degrees and a high of 22.5 degrees Centigrade (54-73 degrees F), but it can go as low as 0 to 33 degrees Centigrade (30 90 degrees F). May is also the rainiest month, with an average of nearly 13 cm (5 ) of rain. IMPORTANT: Please make sure your name is printed inside the cover of your scriptures, journal and also marked on any valuable items.
Practical Pointers Follow your itinerary & your Tour Operator/Chaperone while in Nauvoo. They will have details where you should be at all times. Participate in all activities & devotionals. Introduce yourself to others & make new friends, especially from units other than your home unit! You won t regret it! Keep your cabin or sleeping area clean throughout the week so there will be less work needed when it is time to leave. Abide by all trip standards and you will have an enjoyable time! Bring your scriptures, journal or notebook and pen or pencil to all applicable events. Spiritual aspects of the week are most important. Ponder the things you are taught. Commit to make meaningful change in your life as you are prompted by the Spirit. Take time to meditate, pray, set goals and record your feelings in your personal journal. Standards of Conduct It is essential to emphasize these standards. By abiding by them we can each get the most out of this experience. Strict obedience to these standards is a requirement of all youth and adults attending the trip. Abide by the principles and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the conference you are a representative of the Church, your home Unit, and your family. Be honest Live the law of chastity Obey the law and all property policies Use clean language Respect others Respect church and public property Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, and substance abuse Observe conference Dress and Grooming Standards Participate with a positive attitude in all scheduled activities Be on time for all activities Encourage others in their commitment to comply with our conference standards Follow the program schedule that has been issued to you at check-in. Your Tour Organizer/Chaperones will also have a copy. Stay with your Tour Organizer/Chaperones at all times when on an organized and scheduled event. Follow their instructions and decisions, including their decisions regarding the use of technology. Each group will have two adult volunteers with them. Do not be outside your cabin (other than the use of the toilets) after 10:00 PM. Young Men are not permitted inside the Young Womens cabins at any time. Young Women are not permitted in the Assembly Hall (Upstairs of the Lodge), except at those times that will be designated for Devotionals, Group assemblies, rain alternative, etc. No Boyfriend/Girlfriend relationships. You are single for the duration of the trip.
These are some activities for which a Youth could face disqualification from further participation with his or her group, and could be possibly grounds for being sent home early. We do not anticipate any of these things, but it is sad to say that in speaking with the Visitor s Centre, reports of increased shoplifting have been reported with some Youth Groups to Nauvoo. Please do none of the following; Stealing Possessing firearms, knives, or any harmful weapon Doing anything harmful to yourself or others Violate the Word of Wisdom YM do not go inside a YW cabin YW do not go on the upper floor of the Lodge (except when informed by Leaders. This will be a gathering point for some activities and an alternative to other locations when it rains) Repeatedly disregarding leaders instructions Using profane or inappropriate language Deliberately damaging public, camp, or church property Disrespecting or misusing property belonging to other youth or leaders Practical jokes, pranks or other similar inappropriate conduct that risks the well-being or respect of another participant Dress and Grooming Standards "... When you are well groomed and modestly dressed, you invite the companionship of the Spirit and can exercise a good influence on those around you....always be neat and clean and avoid being sloppy or inappropriately casual in dress, grooming, and manner..." (For the Strength of Youth, p. 15 16) Please read this information carefully so you can prepare in advance for this event. Remember we are representing not only the Church, but the Kitchener Stake, your home unit, and most importantly, your families. When the Itinerary is finalized, you will have an idea of what dress is expected at what event. But for guidelines in your planning, we are offering the information below right from the beginning. General Young Men A clean and well-cared for appearance should be maintained. Clothing is unacceptable when it is sleeveless, revealing, or form fitting. Shorts should be knee length or longer. Inappropriate clothing includes grubby or baggy, patched, faded, frayed, or torn clothing as well as sweat suits, athletic-type clothing, tank tops or anything with vulgar or suggestive wording or pictures. Pants and shorts must be worn at the waistline so as to not reveal underwear. Headbands or bandanas are not permitted. Footwear must be worn in all public areas. Hairstyles should be clean and neat, avoiding extreme lengths, styles, or colours. With few exceptions to those with medical conditions, the face must be shaven. Sideburns should not extend beyond the bottom of the ear or be long and bushy. Earrings and excessive jewelry are not appropriate for young men. Flipflops and crocs will be considered inappropriate footwear for events that require Semi Formal.
General Young Women A clean, well-cared for appearance should be maintained. Clothing is unacceptable when it is sleeveless, strapless, backless, low cut fronts or backs, revealing, or form fitting. Dresses, skirts, and shorts must be knee length or longer. Slits in dresses and skirts must also be modest. Shirts and blouses must be long enough to completely cover the stomach and lower back, especially when bending over or raising one's hand or arm. Sleeves must cover the shoulders. Tank tops are not acceptable. Other inappropriate clothing includes long-johns, pajamas other than for bed, sloppy or grubby styles such as patched, faded or torn clothing, sweat suits (unless for bed), and any clothing with suggestive or vulgar wording or pictures. The no bra look is unacceptable. Skin-tight skinny jeans are not acceptable. Sleepwear must be modest. No short shorts or spaghetti straps. Avoid extremes in makeup and jewelry. Multiple earrings or other piercings are also inappropriate. Flip flops and crocs will be considered inappropriate foot wear for events that require Semi Formal attire. Semi-formal - Young Men Young Men should wear a dress shirt with top button done up. Shirt should be white to accommodate our trip to the temple as well as Sacrament meeting. The shirt can be short sleeved, 1/2 way down to elbow. No shirts should have vulgar or suggestive wording or pictures on it. Shirt should be tucked in and neat with the top button done up and tie knotted at the top of the shirt. Dress pants (no jeans or denim pants). No hooded sweaters. Hair should be clean and neat. Piercings and visible tattoos are not acceptable. Dress shoes (No running shoes). No hats. No chains. We do not expect the YM to bring suit jackets. Collared, white shirts with ties, dress pants and dress shoes are appropriate for both sacrament meeting and temple attendance. Semi-formal Young Women Young Women should wear a skirt or dress that is to the top of or below the knees. The slit should be modest. The shirt should have long or short sleeves and should have a back. The shirt should not be form fitting or revealing (ie: sheer), and should cover the midriff and back even when bending or raising one arm. No hooded sweaters. Hair, as always, should be neat and tidy. No hats. No chains. Piercings, other than one set of earrings in the ear, are not acceptable. Dress shoes (no running shoes). Visible tattoos are not acceptable.
Best Casual Young Men Young Men should have a shirt with long pants (jeans are acceptable), or knee-length walking shorts (no athletic shorts). The shirt should have short or long sleeves and not be revealing. T-shirts are acceptable. If wearing a polo shirt, the top button can be undone. Overly baggy pants are to be avoided. There must be no underclothing or bare skin showing above the pant line. Clothing should not be patched, faded, frayed, nor torn. There should be no vulgar or suggestive wording or pictures on any part of their clothing. Hair should be neat and clean. Piercings and visible tattoos are not acceptable. No chains. Hats are acceptable for casual wear, specifically when walking or doing activities under the sun. Best Casual Young Women Young Women should have a shirt with a modest skirt (as outlined above), long pants (jeans are acceptable), capris-length pants or knee-length walking shorts (no athletic shorts). No leggings or yoga pants with long shirts or sweaters. If wearing leggings, they must be worn with a knee-length skirt. The shirt should have sleeves and should not be backless or low cut. The stomach and lower back must be covered, even when bending over or raising one hand or arm. T-shirts are acceptable as long as there is no vulgar or suggestive wording or pictures of any kind. The shirt and pants should not be form fitting or revealing in anyway. Skin-tight skinny jeans are not acceptable. Patched, faded or torn clothing is not acceptable. Hair should be neat and clean. Piercings, other than one set of earrings in the ear, are not acceptable. No Chains. Visible tattoos are not acceptable. Hats are acceptable for casual wear, specifically when walking or doing activities under the sun.
For both Young Men and Young Women - Sports We will be having some recreational sports. There is an area to play soccer, a softball field, halfcourt basketball, and volleyball courts. Please bring the appropriate sportswear to participate, ie. shorts to the knee, sweat pants, modest T-shirts, running shoes, etc. Remember, though, no ripped shorts, vulgar pictures or words, or spandex. Pioneer Handcart Trek We will be simulating a pioneer trek as one of our activities (2 hours). For this activity you will need tough clothing with most of your body covered as there is some poison ivy in the area, as well as mosquitoes and other insects. Hats are ok to shield the sun. Shoes should be durable and able to withstand rocks, mud and water. You will be going through a creek several times. For more details, visit the Pioneer Handcart Trek Information Tab on the Website. It will also provide safety information in case of rain and lightning, and pictures of the plants you will want to avoid.