Open to Youth, Ages 12-18
This event is produced for Ensign Peak Academy Middle and High School Students. It is open to the public. It is produced to serve members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Parents love Simulations Week because…
- Youth return home filled with a desire to take their education to a new level.
- Students learn diplomacy, negotiation and compromise.
- Youth gain more confidence in themselves and their capacity to make decisions.
- Students gain hope in their future.
Youth love Simulations Week because…
- They get to experience a rich, adult-level challenge with the freedom to navigate it as they choose.
- They make lots of terrific new friends!
- They get to talk with and learn from some amazing mentors, who love them.
- They enjoy sharing their talents with each other, and cheering for each other.
What is Simulations Week?
Middle and high school students have an opportunity to:
- Engage in realistic, hypothetical high-stakes scenarios
- Strengthen their ability to respond to crisis
- Practice the art of persuasion
Simulations are:
- Beyond fantasy role playing
- Do not follow a script
- Problems that require youth to negotiate, compromise, persuade, debate, strategize and challenge each other
- Invite students to use their wits and their knowledge to create and engage ideas to solve the problems together
Evening activities provide:
- Exciting and interesting opportunities for youth to associate together for friendship
- Time to strengthen meaningful relationships
- Game night
- Improv Night (talent and variety show)
- Fireside and testimony meeting
- Formal youth banquet
- Family Ball
The spirit of the event has been maintained through the years by the incredible youth who choose to attend, and the dedicated influence of our incredible adult mentors. Note that youth attendees often refer to this event as “Sim Week.”
What are parents saying about Simulations Week?
“My kids love it, and recruit more friends each year. They also come home energized, and spiritually uplifted. You are ennobling youth. Thank you.” -R. Howells
What are youth saying about Simulations Week?
Simulations Week is held each year in Utah, during the last week in June.
Annual Scenario Schedule
June 18-21, 2024: A Beautiful City – Students create a beautiful new city, based on the concept of Zion. They choose to compose music, create art, write a constitution, create new businesses, produce new drama, invent new sports, design architecture, report the news or provide security.
June 2025: The 1st Senate of Zion – Students propose and debate bills, report the news, gather and use intelligence or provide defense for the great city Zion.
June 2026: The Surprise Summit: An Out of This World Social Experiment – Students impersonate heads of state and draft proposals to solve some of the world’s most compelling challenges.
June 2027: Clash of the Cultures – Students pretend to be members of various historical cultures, kidnapped from back in time and brought together to create a single society.
Simulations are awesome!!!
- Explore courageous solutions to futuristic scenarios
- Practice communication, persuasion and leadership
- Apply your knowledge and test your wisdom
- Discover human nature
- Experience teamwork and group deliberation
As used by top colleges and industries throughout the world, simulations are a proven way to prepare for real action, influence and critical decision making.
2024 Simulations Week
Dates: June 18-21, 2024
Location: Wasatch Academy, 120 South 100 West, Mt. Pleasant, Utah
Note: Ensign Peak Academy rents the Wasatch Academy campus for the Simulations Week event. There is no other affiliation between these two, separate academies.
Enjoy a beautiful mountain atmosphere, comfortable dorm rooms, a roomy dining room with delicious meal options, a large grassy playing field, a dance hall, and state-of-the-art meeting rooms.
Wasatch Academy is Utah’s oldest private school, founded in 1875. It is a boarding school, located in a beautiful mountain valley, in Mount Pleasant, Utah, just a 1 hr. 40 min. drive south of the Salt Lake International Airport (shuttle service provided.)
2024 Simulations Week Scenario
It is the year 2040. The impact of the late world war erased our former national boundaries. The capitols and leading metropolitan cities of Canada, the United States, and Mexico are in ruins. Former citizens of those great nations have grouped together in different regions, to establish new nations. A large number of followers of Christ and other people of good will are now living in a relatively peaceful and safe zone, that exists in the center of the North American continent. In an effort to establish a lasting place of security and stability, they have called for a constitutional convention, and for commissions of architects, musicians, entrepreneurs, athletes, actors and artists, to come together for the purpose of laying plans for a large and mighty new city – a beautiful city – a city patterned after the principles of Zion. A commission of journalists are assembling to report on the birth of this new city.
This American Zion will be beautiful. It will also be necessary for our survival. It will protect us against threats from other North American groups, as well as from foreign powers. A security and intelligence commission has formed to oversee the safety of the citizens.
Commissions
Musicians Commission
Groundbreaking Ceremony planners are working hard to set an appropriate tone for the new and beautiful city. You are one of several elite musicians who have been commissioned to compose original music to be performed at the ceremony. The musical feel, tone, style, rhythm and symbolism of your compositions will convey the spirit of the new city to the heart of every new citizen, many of whom have lost loved-ones in the recent war. During Simulations Week, you will compose music for any instrument or for voice, to be played as an ensemble or a solo. Please bring your personal instrument(s). Pianos will be provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own keyboard. A mentor and guest composers will provide instruction and support throughout the week.
Athletes Commission
This special commission of elite athletes will create at least three new sports for “The Games,” to be held in connection with the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the new and beautiful city. These new sports will embody the principles of Zion, while testing the limits of human athletic ability. Strength, agility, speed and endurance – all are to be tested by these three new sports. The hope is that by celebrating the best in all of us, we will draw together in the spirit of Zion. As a world-class Christian athlete, you have been invited to be on the commission. This commission will meet for four days. By the afternoon of the fourth day, the Athletic Commission will submit documents naming and describing each of the three new sports. A complete listing of rules and judging standards must be submitted with this documentation. In addition, the athletes will hold The Games, featuring the three new sports. Competitors will be members of the commission.
Artists Commission
You are one of a handful of elite Christian artists, who have been commissioned to paint large free-standing murals for the Central Plaza of the new and beautiful city. Artistic minds will converge in order to create brilliant, original works of art in the form of large murals. The artistic feel, tone, colors, style, layout and symbolism of these murals will embody the principles of Zion – the vision for the beautiful city. The murals will be unveiled at the Groundbreaking Ceremony, and be displayed for many years thereafter, in the central plaza, to inspire the citizens of the beautiful city. The commission will have four days to conceptualize, design, build and paint the murals. What will your art say to the people of the beautiful city?
Constitutional Convention Commission
Scholars have been invited to meet in a four-day convention to draft a new constitution that will provide unity, peace and a strong defense. This constitution will establish a structure that promotes the free will of the people, while enabling them to live according to the principles of Zion. Many of our forefathers were responsible for establishing the most free and prosperous country in the history of the world. That country no longer exists, but its motto endures in the hearts and minds of Christians– “In God We Trust.” Now the responsibility to write a constitution for a new and mighty city – a beautiful and prosperous city – rests squarely on your shoulders. The presentation and signing of the constitution will take place at the Groundbreaking Ceremony, on the fourth day.
Architects Commission
This group of elite Christian architects has been commissioned to design the new, beautiful city, to reflect the principles of Zion. Plans may include (but are not limited to) the layout and the roads, the Central Plaza, the main buildings, the location of residential areas, places of worship, zones for farming and for the production and distribution of goods, places for natural habitats, and places for sports and recreation. Architects will have four days to conceptualize, plan and build a miniature-scale model of the beautiful city, to be displayed on the fourth day, at the Groundbreaking Ceremony. Note: Wood, foam, glue, paint and other supplies will be provided for building the city model.
Actors Commission
This group of acclaimed actors has been commissioned to write, produce, direct and act in a new theatrical performance, to reflect the principles of Zion. The script, parts, costumes, props and staging will be developed by the member of the Actors Commission. They will determine among themselves who will serve as the director(s). Their play will be performed in front of a large audience on the fourth day.
Entrepreneurs Commission
This group of seasoned business owners has been commissioned to develop plans for new businesses, patterned after the principles of Zion. They will brainstorm, strategize and then write business proposals. They will discuss and analyze multiple aspects of business success as they relate to establishing a Zion society. They will present their plan on the fourth day.
Journalists Commission
The energetic Zion Press Corp will cover the development of the new city. They will produce numerous video news programs, release news briefs, hold interviews, and discuss the creations of each commission with high level analysis and professionalism.
Intelligence and Defense Commission
The Intelligence and Defense Commission plays a key role in the security of the city and its citizens. They will gather and analyze intelligence and information as it relates to the common defense of the city. They will protect the city from enemies within and without. They will establish alliances with other states. Furthermore, the intelligence they gather will provide an understanding of the cities enemies in order to help predict and at times preempt other states’ moves. They will train and practice defensive strategies while providing ongoing security for the various commissions.
Mentors
Ensign Peak Academy faculty members will serve as mentors and for Simulations Week.
- Constitutional Convention (Ben Muhlestein)
- Architects (Desi Forbes)
- Musicians (Genevieve Peterson)
- Journalists (Heidi Anderson)
- Actors (Jeff Jensen)
- Entrepreneurs (Molly Anderson)
- Athletes (Tara Kelley)
- Artists (April Brede)
- Intelligence and Defense (Kursten Mason)
Simulations Week Tuition
Registration Fee: $460
Note: Registration is open to the public.
Tuition includes:
- Simulation experience
- Overnight lodging in twin bed, on Tues, Wed and Thurs nights. Bring your own sheets and blanket or sleeping bag, pillow, towel and soap.
- Breakfast on Wed, Thurs and Fri
- Lunch on Tues, Wed, Thurs and Fri
- Dinner on Tues, Wed, Thurs and Fri
- Evening activities on Tues, Wed, Thurs and Fri
- Family Ball admission for immediate family members of youth attendees
- T-shirt
Attendee Information
Visit the Attendee Info page for packing list, schedule, map and directions, dress code, check-in and check-out info and other info.
Chaperones: Ensign Peak Academy mentors, staff and parents will chaperone the youth in the dorms and meeting rooms.
Health Precautions
Medical staff will be on hand throughout the event. Parents will be contacted as needed. A hospital and urgent care facility are within a five-minute drive from campus. Our staff will be briefed on our emergency and crisis management plan, and appraised of student medical concerns reported on the registration form. First aid supplies will be readily available.
Simulations Week Airport Shuttle
Monday Simulations Week Airport Shuttle: Take the Simulations Week Airport Shuttle from the Salt Lake International Airport to Wasatch Academy, in Mount Pleasant, Utah. Includes a dinner stop on the way. Bring your own money for dinner. (Fee is for shuttle ride only.) Shuttle departure from airport is Monday, June 17, 2024 at 6:00 pm Mountain Time. Arrival time at Wasatch Academy is 9:00 pm Mountain Time. Email your flight itinerary to admin@ensignpeakacademy.com Fee: $35
Saturday Simulations Week Airport Shuttle: Take the Simulations Week Airport Shuttle from Wasatch Academy to the Salt Lake International Airport. Shuttle departure is Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 9:00 am. Includes a breakfast stop on the way. Bring your own money for breakfast. (Fee is for shuttle ride only.) Arrival at the Salt Lake International Airport is at 11:00 am. Flight departure must not be before 12:30 pm. Shuttle driver will assist students with airport check-in. Email your flight itinerary to admin@ensignpeakacademy.com Fee: $35
Simulations Week Extra Lodging Nights
Early Check-in Monday Night Lodging + Tuesday Breakfast: Reserve an extra night: Check into your dorm room on Monday night, June 17, 2024, anytime after 7:00 pm and preferably before 9:00 pm Mountain Time. Early Check-In includes a full hot breakfast on Tuesday morning between 7:00 am – 8:00 am. (Note: Monday dinner not included) Fee: $55
Late Check-out Friday Night Lodging: Reserve an extra night – Friday night lodging, June 21, 2024. No breakfast provided. Final check-out is at 9:00 am Mountain Time Saturday morning. Fee: $40
Disclaimer
Ensign Peak Academy is designed to teach members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; however, it is not endorsed by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The views expressed herein are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.