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
Green, Blue, Purple, Silver
playing games as color groups OUTSIDE
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
 
Red, Orange, Yellow, White
playing games as color groups OUTSIDE
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
Green, Blue, Purple, Silver
playing games as color groups OUTSIDE
 

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
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
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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