Logan Utah FamilySearch Center/Tours and Group Activities

Group Activities
The Logan Family History Center is pleased and eager to offer the opportunity for individuals, organizations, and other groups to schedule a group visit to our Center. We offer a variety of options that are sure to provide interest to your group - Youth, Adult, Church, Organization, Club, etc. Please review the following guide lines for scheduling a group visit.

Group Size

 * If you want a tour of the Center, groups should be 10 or less to avoid distrubing other patrons who are working.
 * If you want to schedule a classroom for instruction, we have 2 options - Our large classroom has 20 computer stations and our smaller classroom has 10 computer stations.

Reservation Procedure

 * Determine the date you would like to come by checking our Online Calendar for available dates.
 * Determine the goal for you visit. You may want to check the list of suggested activities below for ideas.
 * Call the Center - 435-755-5594 - to reserve the date.

Available Times

 * In order to use the Center as efficiently as possible, we suggest the following times:
 * Evening group visits (Tue, Wed, &amp; Thu) will begin at 5:00 PM or 7:00 PM.
 * Daytime reservations (Mon thru Sat) will begin at 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM or 3:00 PM.

Supervision

 * Adults accompanying youth groups should prepare to actively participate with their youth.
 * Local family history consultants are an excellent resource to bring with your group and will provide continuity after your visit.

Printing

 * Copies of any documents found during your visit can be printed at the Center for $0.05 each. (B/W 8"x11").
 * Documents could also be scanned and saved to your flash drive.

Guidelines for a Successful and Rewarding Visit

 * Please DO NOT bring food or drink to the Center.
 * LDS Account Registration: Each LDS Member of the group needs to have an LDS Login Account BEFORE coming to the Center. Please have them log into https://ldsaccount.lds.org or another church account site to make sure their username and password are working. For members who don't have a current account, have them register for one prior to your visit. They can do this by going to https://ldsaccount.lds.org and clicking on the Register for an LDS Account button on the right side of the screen and entering the necessary information, which includes their church membership number and birth date. Their membership number is on their temple recommend or can be provided by their ward clerk.
 * Personal Family History Information: Except for Indexing visits, please have everyone bring a personal Pedigree Chart with as much family information as possible.
 * Specific Goal or Objective to Accomplish: Each group should have an idea or goal, before they arrive, of what they would like to accomplish during the visit to our Center.

Suggested Activities
While most of the activities below can be done at our Center, we've also tried to give you the forms, websites, etc. needed so you could prepare these activities for your own groups - Youth groups, Family History classes, Relief Society mini classes, etc.

Elmo's Pedigree
Each child is given Elmo's blank pedigree to complete from clues found around the Center as they are given a guided tour of what is available at our Center.

Introduction to the Family History Center
A tour and overview of our Center, including the resources, tools, equipment, computers, multimedia &amp; oral history center available for use by our patrons.

Introduction to New FamilySearch/FamilySearch

 * A demonstration of finding an ancestor in New FamilySearch, then locating historical documents about that ancestor in FamilySearch to learn more about him.
 * Great preparation for Pioneer Trek
 * We use the 3 short videos - Step 1, 2 &amp; 3 found at lds.org/youth allowing time after each for hands-on practice.

FamilySearch.org (Searching for information about an ancestor)

 * View the video - Family History - Made Simple (2:19), excellent for children as well as adults. It ends with the suggestion to search familysearch.org.
 * You could then view the video "Step 2 Discover a Family Record" (2:23)
 * Lynn Miller, a member of our staff has prepared the following hands-on exercises to help you practice what you learn.

FamilySearch Website - A Great Place to Do Research

FamilySearch - More ways to search for ancestors

FamilySearch - Even more ways to search for ancestors

Introduction to Indexing

 * An overview of the why and how of indexing with hands-on practice.
 * Go to FamilySearch Indexing and take the 2 minute Test Drive (button in upper right).
 * Another good getting started video is FamilySearch Indexing Quick Start (5:49)

Research Quick Start
A focused presentation demonstrating popular research websites to find specific information on your ancestors.

Cemetery Scavenger Hunt

 * Find a Grave is an excellent research site where volunteers post information about their deceased ancestors in cemeteries around the world.
 * You may find birth/death dates, tombstone pictures, links to other family members, photos and even biographical information.
 * This scavenger hunt type activity will help you learn how to use the site and inspire you to contribute as well.
 * Activity Form used in this activity.

Adults
All activities listed in the Youth section work well for adults as well. Other ideas are:

FamilySearch.org (What is it and How can it help me)

 * View the video - FamilySearch Overview (6:23) (excellent introduction to all facets of FamilySearch)
 * You could then show any one of these short videos, depending on the interest of the group.
 * Each section (Finding Records, Wiki, Indexing, Forums and New FamilySearch) has an overview or getting started video if your group is just beginning or more indepth ones for advanced interests.
 * Then let them practice, hands-on, what they learn.

Research in the Family History Center Scavenger Hunt

 * Dear Myrtle created a Family Tree Scavenger Hunt that we’ve updated for today’s technology and adapted to work in our Family History Center.
 * This Scavenger Hunt is intended to acquaint patrons with microfiche, microfilm, maps, reference books, computer programs, Internet sites and other resources available at our Center

Ancestry.com

 * Access is free at our Family History Center
 * View video "Search for Historical Records on Ancestry.com" (7:42 min.) stopping periodically to practice the techniques discussed.

Getting Started with your own Database

 * Begin by viewing the video - Family History - Made Simple (2:19)
 * Create a new database (Ask leader ahead of time, which program their group would like to use.)
 * Enter their own personal information.
 * View the video - Finding Easy Information(3:07) pausing after the memory section (1:18) and have them add their family members and information they know.
 * Open a new tab and View the video "Step 2 Discover a Family Record" (2:23)
 * Search for records about an ancestor on FamilySearch.org
 * Add the information they find to their database.
 * Continue the video -Finding Easy Information (at 1:19), then challenge them to go home and gather what records they can find and start interviewing relatives to learn more.

Group Visit without a Presentaton
This is for those who have been trained or oriented, but want to schedule a time where group members can go directly to the Center and make use of the computers with our staff assistance as needed.

Visit a Cemetery

 * This wouldn't work in the FHC, but it would be a fun one for a group that could go to the actual cemetery.
 * Jennifer, at "One Branch at a Time" Blog has developed Cemetery Scavenger Hunts for Primary age as well as YMYW age.
 * Be sure to stress reverence and respect for their deceased ancestors before taking youth to the cemetery.