Massachusetts Latter-day Saint Youth Reenact Unique Pioneer Trek

Youth in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are generally familiar with a summer activity called Trek. Trek refers to a reenactment, as much as possible, of the long journey through heat and cold made by the Mormon pioneers in the mid-1800s. They drove covered wagons, walked and pulled handcarts across the United States to settle in Utah to worship without persecution.

In the Church’s Hingham Massachusetts Stake (several congregations located in a geographical area), trek has been reenacted every four years for quite some time. When the opportunity came around again this year, leaders brainstormed ways to make it a little different and to capitalize on some of the resources and history around them.

This summer about 60 youth ranging in age from 14 to 18 boarded a ferry to the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Girls, dressed in floor-length skirts and bonnets, and boys, who wore straw hats, button-down shirts and pants complete with suspenders, were quite the conversation piece as other ferry passengers asked the youth questions.

Martha’s Vineyard is a well-known tourist spot for celebrities and even former U.S. presidents, but this is the first time islanders had ever seen Mormon pioneer trekkers. Many people were surprised to hear that a small Latter-day Saint congregation exists on the island.

This trek happened to coincide with a large storm system, making the ocean crossing choppy, which was reminiscent of what the early pioneers experienced coming from other countries as they crossed the ocean to America and begin the months-long journey from east to west. Similarly, the youth found themselves battling a little sea-sickness before reaching land and pushing their handcarts first through mud and rain and then in the intense heat and humidity that followed.

“It was a humbling experience to understand the hardships my ancestors went through,” said 15-year-old Liz Rosbach of East Falmouth, Massachusetts. “Pushing in the rain was miserable, and I couldn’t imagine doing that 150 years ago.” Then in a nod to what the challenges of the modern age really mean, she added, “As harsh as the rain was, being disconnected from technology was the most uncomfortable part of the trip.” Other youth echoed those sentiments.

Another interesting addition to this year’s trek was guiding the youth to a working farm with many tasks to do, including tying up 2,000 tomato plants. The Norton Farm has been a fixture on Martha’s Vineyard for over 100 years and has been a part of Diane Norton’s family since 1838.

Norton, also a member of the Church, said the farm helps people learn to work together. “The experience gives the teens perspective. This type of work teaches them humility and to remember their history.” Another participant noted that one of the biggest needs in the world today is getting people to work together in harmony.

This diverse group of teens comes from different backgrounds, some speaking Portuguese and Creole. For many of the youth who live in urban cities and towns outside of Boston, this was their first time out in the fields, doing actual farm work.

While the youth had prepared for trek for months, many admitted it was harder than they expected — but also better. Without exception, they said pushing heavy handcarts in the harsh heat and pouring rain was physically difficult, but learning to interact with others without technology, namely their phones, was a challenge they hadn’t anticipated, with benefits they didn’t expect. Many of the youth said they didn’t realize how close they would become to each other.