Pioneer Day!

Happy Pioneer Day!!

Pioneer Day celebrates the early members of our church entering into the Salt Lake Valley after traveling west.
In Utah there are parades and fireworks around the state, outside of Utah the celebration isn't as wide spread.
This year our primary planned a Pioneer Day activity - and Pioneer Day ended up being on a Saturday, so we could celebrate on the actual day of commemoration.
The youth went on Trek for youth conference and we used some of the handcarts they made as part of our activity.

After singing some pioneer songs and hearing some stories, the children made an edible "covered wagon."

Natalie, and the other girls her age, wrote journal entries as if they were pioneer girls traveling across the plains. They read these entries as they trekked across the gym.
Earlier in the week I made her a bonnet and apron for her costume - from an old sheet. I think they turned out pretty well.

After the girls play, the children divided up into groups and went to different activities.
They learned about games the pioneer children played and what toys they might have had.

They went outside and learned about handcarts and got to try pushing and pulling them.

Then they talked about what was packed in the handcart and used some of the children to add "items" and the rest tried to pull them again.

Then they had races.

And then everyone was piled in and Cameron pulled the whole load.
Here Alyssa is helping with one group.

But he was usually pulling on his own.

After being out in the heat they went in to help make homemade ice cream, color pictures, play pioneer memory.

The ice cream was very good and the perfect way to cool off after being outside.

The activity went very well and all the children had a wonderful time.
Afterward, the rest of the ward came and enjoyed a Pioneer Day picnic (inside because it was hitting 100 outside!).
Good food and good times.
Happy 24th!