Trek provides a powerful opportunity to:

• strengthen your testimony of and faith in the Savior Jesus Christ and how His atonement, and keeping your covenants, can give you strength and peace as you act in faith. 

• be inspired by the handcart pioneer’s faith in Jesus Christ, perseverance, and ability to find joy amid difficult circumstances and trials and learn to apply those gospel principles to today’s challenges. 

• feel gratitude for sacrifices of the early Church pioneers, and pioneers in our own family, for preparing the way for you to receive the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

• associate with other youth who share your beliefs and develop new friendships.

• experience an environment that helps you feel the joy of the gospel.

• engage in activities that will bolster self-esteem and increase confidence.

Your health and safety are the first priority of trek! You are not allowed to do anything to harm yourself or others, play pranks, or participate in risky behavior. Trekkers should never run with the handcart. Participants are expected to follow all principles taught in For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices. For your safety, you must remain with your trek family while trekking, during family activities, and after curfew. Absolutely no wandering off. You are either with your trek family or trek company.  Remember: youth are guests on the ranch and have committed to follow the Savior’s example. Everything and everyone should be better because they were there.

The following prohibited activities will result in staff speaking with youth’s parents and may result in staff contacting the youth's bishop and/or sending the youth home immediately, at staff's sole discretion.

• Participating in or encouraging immoral behavior of any kind, which includes breaking the law of chastity or viewing or distributing pornography in any form.

• Theft, or vandalism of any kind

• Breaking the Word of Wisdom, including vaping and possessing illegal or harmful substances 

• Harming or threatening to harm themselves or others physically, spiritually, or emotionally, including any form of bullying or disruption of other's trek experience.

• Wandering off, skipping scheduled activities, and breaking curfew

~ adapted from FSY guidelines

All youth in the Cypress Texas Stake who will be turning 14 in 2024 through high school seniors, and adults who have been assigned as Ma’s & Pa’s or support staff.

Trek is for youth who are members in the Cypress Texas Stake, who will be turning 14 in 2024 through high school seniors. For further information please contact: cypresstxstaketrek@gmail.com 

There is no cost to attend trek. However, you may incur a small cost to acquire specific clothing and supplies. Check out the “Clothing” pages under the “Packing List” tab for resources.

All participants (youth and adults) must register online. There are 3 steps to registration. Click here for our registration page. 

Registration opens October 8, 2023 and closes January 1, 2024. We highly encourage early registration as planning is dependent on registration numbers. 

Planning a successful trek is a time intensive process that takes months. Everything from food, supplies, location, programs, handcarts, medical and safety and transportation details are based on the total number of people attending.

No. It’s important that participants participate the entire time. The remote location, family and group building activities, and the nature of pulling a handcart relies on having enough people in a family to do the work. Limited special circumstances may be considered on a one-on-one basis if approved by the stake presidency. Please contact: cypresstxstaketrek@gmail.com

There are many things you can do to prepare yourselves for trek, including these ideas:

• • Review Participant Info page for specific details, especially how to physically and spiritually prepare. Begin preparing now!

  • Review all FAQ’s, including the Standards of Conduct at the top.

  • Print the packing list and begin gathering items early, especially clothing and shoes. Don’t procrastinate.

  • Study the scriptures regularly and strive to make seminary participation a priority.

  • Study For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices.

  • Attend the temple as often as your schedule allows. 

  • Find ways to participate in family history and learn about early pioneers in the Church and in your family.

  • Attend pre-trek activities. 

  •  Set personal goals for your time on trek.

  • Encourage those in your classes and quorums to register for trek.

• • Come prepared with questions and seek answers to those questions.

  • Come prepared to be inclusive and open to new friendships and look for opportunities to serve those around you. 

Yes! We can’t stress this enough. Preparation is essential. Please refer to the “Preparation” sections under the “Participant Info” tab. 

It is very important for us to know if you cannot attend. The structure and size of trek families needs to be balanced. See "How are trek families structured?" on the FAQ page. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are not coming. To cancel your registration, please email Amy Robison at aarobison@sbcglobal.net or text 281-802-2199

There will be a team of five medical professionals on trek with basic emergency equipment and supplies that will monitor the safety and health of participants and weather conditions. A medical emergency plan is in place that includes emergency communication, transportation, and access to local hospitals if needed. Each handcart is equipped with a first aid kit and each Ma & Pa will be trained in basic trail safety and first aid. 

It is important that each participant note any medication, allergies, or medical conditions on their registration. The Medical Committee Chair will review each medical release form before trek to identify possible medical needs (i.e. allergies, prescription medication, medical or mental health conditions), and will contact parents of youth regarding allergies and medications if necessary.  

For questions regarding trek medical information, please email arzac.laura@gmail.com

If you have any questions regarding trek medical information, please email arzac.laura@gmail.com

If a trekker has significant food allergies, it is the responsibility of the participant (or parent) to identify any allergies on the registration and medical release form. The Medical and Food committee will coordinate with a parent as needed.

You have the opportunity to become immersed in a Pioneer Trek experience. Dressing in pioneer clothing promotes unity within the stake and connects us to the pioneers who made so many physical sacrifices because of their commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Trek participants are responsible to obtain their own pioneer-style clothing, however, acquiring pioneer clothing does not have to be expensive. Check out the “Clothing” pages under the “Packing List” tab for resources. 

The handcart companies were under strict guidelines as to what they could and could not bring because a handcart is pulled by the traveler. Please refer to the “Clothing” pages under the “Packing List” tab for a printable detailed packing list with instructions and important information. 

Cell phones, smart watches, ear buds, electronics of any kind (music players, game systems, or other electronic devices etc.), cameras, jewelry, makeup, lotions, aftershave, hairspray, gel, or perfumes.

Studies show that teenagers spend five to nine hours a day on various social media apps and technology … Hold up! — you can fly to Peru in that amount of time! Make no mistake, while social media and technology can be positive if carefully used, one of the greatest blessings of trek is that you will have ZERO access to your phones, which allows you to be totally present in the experience. 

Breathe. You will be ok.

You may not believe it now, but the “Digital Detox” will be one of your favorite aspects of trek. You may experience a few moments of panic, but without the distraction that carrying your phone brings, you will be able to completely focus on the relationships you are building with members of your trek family, serving others, and being better able to recognize the Spirit and a feeling of gratitude for the blessings of the Restored Gospel in your life. Never underestimate the power of a Digital Detox. As you leave behind the stress, and distraction, you will be open to the opportunities that will strengthen your relationship with Heavenly Father, your Savior, Jesus Christ, and those around you, and gain a better appreciation of those who have prepared the way for you. (adapted from HEFY participant handbook)

No. There will be five photographers and a videographer who will capture your entire experience. You will have access to all of the photos and videos post trek.  

This is an outdoor trekking experience where dust, heat, and wind can make wearing contact lenses uncomfortable and difficult to manage on the trail.  

Parrie Haynes covers over 1600 acres of hill country terrain. See Location page.

While some handcart pioneers may have suffered from lack of food, trek participants will be provided with snacks, and three plentiful delicious meals each day.  

Yes. Trek participants must have their own water bottles with them while trekking. Each handcart will have a 5-gallon water container to re-fill personal water bottles. All participants will be encouraged to drink water along the trail to prevent dehydration.

Staying hydrated is a priority. The slightest bit of dehydration will cause a decrease in your physical performance, ability for the body to cool itself, and FUN. By the time you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated! 

Portable bathrooms/restrooms and hand washing stations will be available along the trail and at each campsite. Showering facilities are not available. Feel free to bring body wipes in your bucket (please dispose of used wipes in trash bags provided at the campsite).

This is a camping experience. Each Trek family will have three large tents: one for young men, one for young women, and one for the Ma & Pa. (Youth do not need to bring tents.) Chaperones will monitor the campsite throughout the night. 

Each trek family consists of a Ma & Pa, and eight youth (four young men, and four young women). Ma’s and Pa’s were carefully and prayerfully selected by the Stake. Pulling a handcart requires a specific number of people. Through the process involving fasting and prayer, youth are distributed by height, age, and gender. Youth from each ward are distributed across all trek families. The handcart pioneers traveled by family in “companies” led by a company captain. A trek company consists of 4-5 trek families. Those families will trek together. Bishops from our stake will serve as company captains. 

No. Trek families are placed together through much prayer, as well as distributing youth by height, age, gender. (refer to the FAQ “How are trek families structured”).  Remember, one of the benefits of trek is to get to know other youth. You may not have a favorite friend in your trek family, but it is guaranteed that you will know several youth in your company. By the end of trek, you will have made even more friends. 

Trek provides a great opportunity to grow in many social and spiritual ways. Remember this: What you put into trek is what you'll get out of it.

• Be inclusive and open to new friendships.

• Look for opportunities to serve those around you.

Don’t worry, you won’t be trekking the entire time. Despite their hardships, the pioneers were a joyful people who loved to have fun! They would sing, dance, play music, play games and discuss spiritual things on the trail. While on trek you will participate in large morning and evening group devotionals, family activities and devotionals, dancing (yep! We will have a dance on trek), games, large group and family testimony meetings, and other faith building and fun activities. More info can be found on the What to Expect page. 

Trek families will be pulling and pushing a handcart through various terrains for up to 16-20 miles over the course of 4 days (broken into smaller lengths each day). When you are prepared you will be surprised at what you can accomplish. Please refer to the preparation sections under the “Participant Info” tab. 

You can expect to make several river crossings. The water will not be deep (just enough to get your shoes and calves wet). Youth will not be permitted to walk barefoot or in flip-flops across the river as both pose a significant safety risk. Youth will have time to put water shoes on before crossing and will have time to dry their feet and put their trek shoes back on after crossing to prevent the formation of blisters. 

Youth participants: (PLEASE refer to the packing list for details of what to pack in your bucket)

• all sleeping gear (sleeping bag/pillow) must fit in one large heavy-duty plastic bag (doubled or tripled for extra strength) or a large duffle bag, labeled with your name and ward in large print on duct tape, and tied shut.

• your five-gallon bucket w/lid, labeled with your name and ward in large print. Everything must fit in your bucket except your sack lunch, water bottle, and sleeping gear.

• your scriptures in a large Ziplock bag boldly labeled with your name and ward

Adult participants: (PLEASE refer to the packing list for details of what to pack in your bucket)

•  all sleeping gear (sleeping bag/pillow) must fit in one large heavy-duty plastic bag (doubled or tripled for extra strength) or a large duffle bag, labeled with your name and ward in large print on duct tape, and tied shut.

• your five-gallon bucket w/lid, labeled with your name and ward in large print. Everything must fit in your bucket except your sack lunch, water bottle, and sleeping gear.

• your scriptures in a large Ziplock bag boldly labeled with your name and ward

• For Ma’s & Pa’s, you will also need to bring equipment, tents, bear boxes, etc., labeled with your name and ward.

Come dressed in one set of your pioneer clothing and bring a sack lunch and your water bottle (NOT a disposable water bottle. Remember, this is the water bottle you will use on trek. Please bring a sturdy, refillable water bottle and carabiner to attach it to the cart)

Lunch money for the ride home on Saturday. Put this in a ziplock bag with your name and ward. You will give it to your driver to hold.

Ward Trek Specialists will be responsible for coordinating transportation for the youth in their ward to and from the trek site.

The youth will return to the Fairfield building the afternoon of March 16. Your youth will call/text you when they are 30 minutes out. 

Parents will be supplied with a list of main emergency contact numbers. Please refer to the “Communication” tab

All trek questions and non-confidential communication should go through your Ward Trek Specialist (Please refer to the "Communication" page). Most questions can be answered on the FAQ page and various tabs on the website.  If a Trek Specialist cannot answer your question (or if it is confidential in nature), they will direct you on who to contact.