AUBURN — Over a three-day period, 160 young people from New Hampshire and Vermont will shed their cellphones, computers and iPods and don suspenders, shawls and bonnets to participate in a reenactment of the 1856 handcart trek of Mormon pioneers.

On Thursday, Aug. 9, through Saturday, Aug. 11, these young people will pull handcarts over a distance of more than 20 miles and experience some of the challenges that the original pioneers faced as they walked 1,500 miles.

During the Westward Expansion, thousands crossed the heartland of America seeking better lives and religious freedom.

Between 1856 and 1860, more than 40,000 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints emigrated from the England, Wales, Scotland and Scandinavia to gather in the Utah territory. Some had saved for as long as 19 years to make the trip.

Once the travelers had arrived in the United States, 10 handcart companies were organized to transport them to the Salt Lake Valley, and many of the travellers died on the way.

Wearing clothing of the era, including long skirts, aprons, bonnets, shawls and suspenders, and pulling handcarts, the participants, who are between the ages of 14 and 18, will be allowed no more than 17 pounds of personal belongings, just like the original pioneers.

The participants will learn about the pioneers and how they can act as modern-day pioneers through their choices.

Additionally, the young people — some of whom are descendents of the original handcart travelers — have been challenged to seek out pioneers in their own families, meaning those whose courageous choices changed their lives and the lives of their family members.

Faith-promoting activities, opportunities to sacrifice for others and time to bond with their “families” of 10 are aimed to teach the young people that life has its challenges but that they can be overcome seemingly insurmountable hardships.

The group will stop near Massabesic Lake on Thursday, Aug. 9, around 1 p.m. Those interested can stop by and participate as the group comes off the trail and into the field to play pioneer games and have lunch.

The group will be at the same stop again on Friday, Aug. 10, at roughly 11:30 a.m. for lunch and will pull out around noon.

The approximate address of the area where the group will gather is 147 Depot Road, Auburn.