Lumberjack Dance

The theme for our Stake Youth Conference Dance this year was "LumberJack". Our conference was held within the beautiful Yosemite National Forest, the lumberjack theme seemed fitting. :)

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The youth and leaders were encouraged to pack a flannel/plaid shirt or other lumber jack attire for the occasion. This was such a fun dance!! 

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The Stake YM and YW Leaders decided we would wear scouting attire to go with the theme. :) One of our YM leaders really wanted to have us all dress in brown and wear green afro wigs - trees!

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PHOTO BOOTH PROPS

Every dance should have a photo op for memories sake! :) Holding to the lumberjack theme, here are a few of the props available in our photo booth:

• top of an atrificial christmas tree
• tree branch
• masquerade mask, which I covered in buffalo plaid material and connected to a long twig
• #1 hand, I also covered it in buffalo plaid material
• black beard (supplied by one of the youth)
• various floral crowns
• brown bear ears (made on the spot)
• wooden frames, spray painted gold
• toy ax (brought by one of our chaperons)

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REFRESHMENTS

There is always an array of treats available at any dance. A few of our staple treats would have to be:

• Life Saver Mints (for obvious reasons)
• Pretzels
• M&M's
• Skittles
• Licorice
• Gummy Bears
• Sour Patch Kids
• Oreos (not sure why, these leave your teeth filled with dark cookie remains)
• Peanuts

DECOR/AMBIANCE

Since the dance was held outdoors, under the already star filled sky, surrounded by towering redwoods and cabins... there wasn't much more we needed to do than hang some white lights and decorate the refreshment table. Here are a few items I used for the refreshment table:

• fire logs
• extra large pine cones
• Buffalo plaid fabric
• bronze washed flower pots (for goodies)
• gold wired ribbon (I just love gold!)
• lanterns
• an old metal strainer, wit a wood handle (for mints, found it in the kitchen)
• mini snow shoes (found at Salvation Army for $3 - darling - score!)
• aged gold chalice (for goodies, also found at Salvation Army)
• bright green spanish moss - looks like lichen
• sprigs of green leaves and berries
• two miniature pine trees
• baskets (for goodies)
• mini brown bear rug (I made it from a piece of faux fur I found at the fabric store)
• bronze branch hooks (from Urban Outfitters)
• wooden letters, spray painted gold "I'M  A LUMBERJACK"

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I had a little too much fun creating posters for the dance.

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These posters were hung with clothespins, onto lines of jute tied over the refreshment tables.

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I really wanted to hang this one up, but my daughters told me it wouldn't be a good idea. :)

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HALF-TIME SHOW

It has become a tradition for the graduating Seniors to do a half-time show during the stake youth conference dance. A few of the seniors (including my cute daughter) choreographed this year's dance using a mash-up of songs, including the SONG: "I'm yellin' Timber!"

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ADDITIONAL INSPIRATION

As I was searching for a little inspiration, I came across these (too cute not to share):

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This darling Lumberjack Doll:

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This Lumberjack themed wedding dress:

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Vintage pine cone drawings:

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And these cute prints:

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DANCE: Hawaiian Paradise

Our seniors chose the theme "Hawaiian Paradise" for the dance held during our Stake Youth Conference this year. They did an awesome job transforming the large gymnasium beforehand.

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The Amazing Race - Utah Valley Edition

 

Look at this good looking group below!  They just had, from what I've been told, one amazing ward youth conference. The day began in the heart of Utah Valley and took them to Salt Lake City and back home again. Waterfalls, gorillas, dance instruction, church history, and service in their own community were just a few of their adventures. I am still waiting for some more details and photos of the youth and leaders in action, but the clues used for their "Amazing Race" I have below.

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2013 Youth Conference T-Shirt Design

Here is the t-shirt design we used for our stake youth conference this year:

 

We wanted there to be meaning behind the shirt. This is what we came up with...

• The mountain - represents the mountain of the lord/temple.
• Youth standing on top of the mountain - represents both the young men and young women.
• The tattered flag - represents what they stand for, personal title of liberty.
• The gear - though we stand firm in the gospel, we are always moving the work forward through service.
• ... or the sun - anchored in Christ, the son of God.

I loved that there were seniors involved in the process. We sat down and talked about what they wanted the design to look like, they sketched, changes were made, and eventually the final design was approved. 

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When it came time to pick out colors for the t-shirts, our senior co-chairs took the lead. They chose charcoal (for all the seniors), indigo blue (for all the adults), and pistachio, orchid, daisy, red, Carolina blue, jade dome (teal), tangerine, and ice grey for all the youth.

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A text went out Monday night encouraging all those who attended youth conference over spring break to wear their t-shirts to school on Tuesday. Tuesday, after school, one of the seniors come by my house and she was so proud of the t-shirts she helped design. As she should be! :)

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Kenneth Cope sporting one of our t-shirts. :)

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Quad Stake Youth Conference

Do you remember this post? Guess what? He inspired us in person!

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I am not going to give you all the details of the planning stages, but you will find the details of the day if you keep reading. I wanted to share how awesome the youth program is in this area!  I know what you're thinking... the youth program in your area is the best (and you're right).  It is always the best, no matter where you are!  :)  Love, love, love the youth!  (I love my new calling serving in the Stake Young Women's presidency. Just sayin'.) :) 

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Here are our seniors creating banners for the event. They did a spectacular job!

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SET-UP

We had a enough time to set-up on the morning of the event.  We even had time to check in on the youth service project, before they starting arriving at the Stake Center.

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Setting up 700 chairs in the cultural hall, hanging banners and poster sized schedules, area for wristband dispersal, sound system outside and inside, water stations, wash areas, dinner tables, outside game area, balloons, traffic flow, snack stations, garbage cans, dressing rooms, slide show set-up, reception area for chaperones/adults, and everything else that needed to be done in preparation.

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SERVICE PROJECT

The day started with a service project.  This year's service project was a food drive.  "Youth Impact Day".  Approximately 700 youth going door-to-door in the community gathering non-perishable food and money for the local food bank.

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Our youth gathered enough money and food to provide 8,500 meals.  Tremendous!  The food bank said it was their most successful single event day to date.

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The local news stations were on hand to cover the event.  Here is one of those stories:  KMPH FOX 26.

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ARRIVAL

The seniors were divided into 8 different Color Groups.  They arrived at the stake center before the rest of the youth, so they could change into their colors! They positioned themselves at the entrance to the parking lot, at the drop off point, and in between.  As the youth arrived, they were greeted with excitement as the seniors cheered.  So many smiles!

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AGENDA

1:30 – 2:00 pm

Arrival

Meet in the cultural hall.

Instructions and Color Group Assignments.

 

2:00 pm

Welcome and Instructions

Seniors excused to go outside and wait by their color company flags.

Youth each received a colored wristband as they left the building.

                                    

2:30 – 3:00 pm

First Session

●Red, ●Orange, ●Yellow, ○White INSIDE listening to Brother Hank Smith Thou Shalt Be Nice

●Green, ●Blue, ●Purple, ●Silver playing games as color groups OUTSIDE Throw-Up Hagoo! Fillers: Hula Hoop, Sharks and Minnows

 

10 MINUTES FOR GROUPS TO ROTATE

 

3:10 – 3:40 pm

Second Session

●Green, ●Blue, ●Purple, ●Silver INSIDE listening to Brother Hank Smith Thou Shalt Be Nice

●Red, ●Orange, ●Yellow, ○White playing games as color groups OUTSIDE Throw-Up Hagoo! Fillers: Hula Hoop, Sharks and Minnows

 

10 MINUTES FOR GROUPS TO ROTATE

 

3:50 – 4:20 pm

Third Session 

●Red, ●Orange, ●Yellow, ○White INSIDE listening to the Clevelands "Choosing the Right Isn't for Sissies"   video clip: Return to Virtue video: Stay within the Lines

●Green, ●Blue, ●Purple, ●Silver playing games as color groups OUTSIDE Steal the Bacon Trash Can Fillers: Hula Hoop, Evolution

 

10 MINUTES FOR GROUPS TO ROTATE

 

4:30 – 5:00 pm

Fourth Session

●Green, ●Blue, ●Purple, ●Silver INSIDE listening to the Clevelands "Choosing the Right Isn't for Sissie      video clip: Return to Virtue      video: Stay within the Lines

●Red, ●Orange, ●Yellow, ○White playing games as color groups OUTSIDE Steal the Bacon Trash Can  Fillers: Hula Hoop, Evolution

EVERYONE OUTSIDE AT PAVILION

 

5:00 – 5:45 pm

Dinner

Prayer on the food.

Dinner Served in record time:  less than 15 minutes!

Youth and adults

 

6:00 – 7:30 pm

Evening Devotional

Musical Number:  Arise: 2012 Mutual Theme Song

Keynote speaker:  Brother Hank Smith, "Break Up with the World"

 

7:30 pm

Beehives and Deacons met in the pavilion for ice cream and parent pick-up.

Everyone else helped put up chairs to get ready for the dance.

Many hands make light work!

7:30 – 10:00 pm

Dance

10:00 pm

Clean-Up

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OUR SPEAKERS

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Hank Smith is a teacher in Brigham Young University’s Religion Department while also pursuing a Ph.D. Hank is well known for his many “Talks on CD” available through Deseret Book and Seagull Book. He is a favorite speaker at EFY and BYU Education Week. A St. George native, Brother Smith served a mission in California and earned an MBA from Utah State University.

Known for his sense of humor and spiritual insight, Brother Smith enjoys running marathons and eating lots of ice cream, the latter, he claims, being the reason he runs marathons. Hank, his wife Sara, and their 3 children (twins on the way), live in Mapleton, Utah.

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Skylar and Angie Cleveland.
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PHOTOS
Thank you to Shelley Van Wagenen, one of our official photographers for the day! I appreciate you allowing me to use some of those photos here! :) So many to choose from. I am sure I will continue to add to the photos here.
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