October 18, 2025 9am to 3pm

This free event has something for everyone:

(Click for more details & to reserve a spot)

Children's activities and the digitizing workshop require separate registration.

Classes for all skill levels. Scroll down to view class descriptions & instructor biographies or click here to register now.

Local genealogical societies & historical organizations.

Lunch provided.

Doors will open at 8:30 am. Registration is now open.

This event will be held at the Hayden Lake Family History Center, 2293 W Hanley Ave, CdA, Idaho.

Class Descriptions

Meet the Instructors

Children's Activities

Discovery Day Registration

Class Handouts

Digitizing Workshop

Together: Connecting Through Family History - 9:00 am

Deborah White is our keynote speaker. Deborah has lived all of her life, other than seven adventurous young adult years, in the Spokane Valley. She and her husband, Joel, have four grown children and three granddaughters who are practically perfect in every way. Together they enjoy traveling, being on the Coeur d’Alene River, and working on their yard. At 5:00 every morning you will find Deborah either talking to birds and chipmunks in her garden or talking to dead people through her computer. She loves bright colored flowers, anything yellow or gold, talking to people one-on-one, and watching the sunrise. Since the year 2000, she has been passionate about gathering her family’s history. In the last five years, she has found joy inspiring other people to gather their own.

CLasses

Beginner (B), Intermediate (I)

Session 1 - 10 am - 10:50 am

FamilySearch 101 & 102: From Signing In to Adding and Editing People (B) If you are new to FamilySearch or just need to refresh your skills, this class will take you from creating an account to adding your family to the tree. Rhonda Budvarson

Researching Land Records (I): This class will look at why we need to research land records. I will cover the first transfer of land, metes and bounds legal descriptions, Federal Land Grants, legal descriptions of platted land, homestead patents and so much more. This class will help you no matter where you are in your research. Pam Heath

Temple and Family History Training: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints training for callings in TFH leadership and consultants. Training led by Hayden Lake Stake.

Youth Battleship (ages 11 - 18) Work individually and as a team to accomplish Family Search tasks and earn “hits” to sink the battleships! You’ll get to move around, work with friends, and earn treat prizes. Bring a Chromebook or laptop if you have one. FamilySearch account log-in required. Heidi Chapman

Cold Case Genealogy (I) Sometimes the tiniest clues can solve mysteries that are decades old. Investigate your genealogy dead ends like a cold case. Pam Williams Duce

Session 2 - 11:00 am - 11:50 am

FamilySearch 103: Searching and Attaching Sources (B) Learn to find and attach sources in FamilySearch. Sources not only help support facts and relationships in the tree, but often lead to additional family members. Rhonda Budvarson

FAN Research (B,I): FAN refers to Friends, Associates, and Neighbors. In this class we will learn where to go when we are trying to research these individuals. Places like the Census, City Directories, Land Records, Google Books and more. This is a fun class, and I think you'll be surprised what you can find. Pam Heath

Creating Audio Family Histories from Printed Works (B) Richard & Julienne Dance will take a family history of his great-grandfather that was written in the early 1900's and is boring to grandchildren and convert it step by step in the class into a wonderful exciting audio presentation that their grandchildren have been listening to that they believe will be fascinating to you. They will note the software and equipment that they used in a handout that you can take with you and will show you how they presented it to their grandchildren. Richard Dance

Youth Discovery Experience (B) This class is geared to youth 11-18 year olds who like to have fun exploring fun ways to experience Family History! This class will show fun sites to share with your family and friends while playing games like Wheel of Fortune, Matching games, Geneopardy, famous people you are related to, AI technology and more! Jeni Bitnoff

Searching the US Census (B, I) Early census records contain few details, while others are rich in detail. All can be used to discover more about your ancestors and give clues to guide your research. Pam Williams Duce

Session 3 - 1:00 pm - 1:50 pm

FamilySearch 104: Adding Memories (B) Share photos, stories, even audio by adding and tagging relatives. These memories help us connect to ancestors on a whole new level, making them more than a name and date. Jenn Potter

Intro to FamilySearch Labs: What are they? And why you should get involved. (B, I) FamilySearch Labs are innovations geared toward improving functions in the FamilySearch family tree. Currently, the labs being worked on are geared toward improving tree accuracy, utilizing AI (artificial intelligence) to help with your research, improving the merge function, and having better information available in the change log. If you are interested in trying out and commenting on groundbreaking family history technology as it is developed, FamilySearch engineers want to hear from you! Rhonda Budvarson

DNA Genealogy Basics: What is it and things to think about (B) This class will cover what DNA genealogy is, how it is used, best practices, and some things to think about when embarking on your DNA research journey. Ray Aust

US Naturalization Records (B, I) Learn about the sometimes rocky road to citizenship and where to find the records. Pam Williams Duce

Family History Games for Children Separate registration, ages 3-11. Grab your "passport" and travel back in time while playing family history games. You will travel to a variety of stations and get stamps in your passport along the way!

Digitizing Workshop with Richard Dance Separate registration. See below.

Session 4 - 2:00 pm - 2:50 pm

Digital Newspaper Research (B) What can you learn from an old Newspaper? Newspapers contain a wealth of information about births, marriages, deaths, and everyday events. Learn about available newspapers online and gather ideas and strategies to effectively search for information about your ancestors specifically using Newspapers.com. Kim Cannon

DNA Genealogy: Websites, tools, and techniques (B,I) This class will discuss the various DNA databases and their features for identifying relatives, additional online tools for taking a deeper dive into DNA genealogy research, and examples of how these resources and research techniques can be used to identify and verify family members. Ray Aust

Discovery Experience (B,I) Want to have fun with your family!! Come learn all the games and activities that you can play with your family and friends! This class will show you fun sites using your family information to play interactive games and AI technology. All levels welcome! Jeni Bitnoff

FamilySearch Full Text Search (I) This innovative tool uses handwriting AI to make documents searchable. This is especially helpful for narrative documents such as wills and land records. Warning using this tool may result in destruction of your genealogical brick walls and late-night research sessions due to exciting discoveries. Pam Williams Duce

Digitizing Workshop with Richard Dance Separate registration. See below.

I Love to See the Temple for Children Separate registration, ages 3 - 11. Come and prepare for our temple with activities, crafts, and more!

Meet the Instructors

Pam heath

Researching Land Records (I) 10 am - 10:50 am

FAN Research (B, I) 11 am - 11:50 am

Pam is a member of the Kootenai County Genealogical Society and currently serves as their secretary. She is also the Education Coordinator for the Foothills Genealogical Society of Colorado.

Jenn Potter

FamilySearch 104: Adding Memories (B) 1:00 pm - 1:50 pm

Jenn has lived in Northern Idaho for 4.5 years, she loves exploring and spending time with family outdoors especially camping and 4-wheeling. Jenn has 34 nieces and nephews who all keep her life interesting and so fun. Jenn enjoys dabbling in family history and loves to help others get started down their own family history journey.

Rhonda Budvarson

FamilySearch 101 & 102: From Signing In to Adding and Editing People (B) 10:00 am - 10:50 am

FamilySearch 103: Searching and Attaching Sources (B) 11:00 am - 11:50 am

Intro to FamilySearch Labs: What are they? And why you should get involved. (B, I) 1:00 pm - 1:50 pm

Rhonda Budvarson lives in Hayden Idaho and has a love of family history. She is blessed to have been raised with the belief that “ Family is Everything!” Family photos and stories are a treasure that need to be preserved and shared. And every hour spent working on Family History is a labor of love.

Kim Cannon

Digital Newspaper Research (B) 2:00 pm - 2:50 pm

Kim Cannon is the mother of 4 children. She enjoys searching for stories of her ancestors and learning about what life was like for them. She has lived in Hayden for the past 5 1/2 years and loves exploring the beautiful area we live in.

Ray Aust

DNA Genealogy Basics: What is it and things to think about (B)

DNA Genealogy: Websites, tools, and techniques (B,I)

Ray Aust grew up in a family with predominantly German roots. Both sides were heavily involved with genealogy and family history. As a child one of his prized possessions was a copy of the Ellis Island immigration record of the grandfather he was named after. However, Ray was adopted the day he was born and always wondered what his biological family history might look like.

With research skills developed over a career as an Intellectual Property attorney and the addition of DNA genealogy technology Ray’s interest in genealogy has developed into an obsession. He has identified his biological parents, seven biological siblings, and even identified the biological parents of a grandfather who had also been adopted as a baby and ultimately showed him to be a direct descendant of a Scottish clan. His biological family tree now spans hundreds of years and shows he is predominantly of British Isles, Western European, and Scandinavian decent.

Richard Dance

Creating Audio Family Histories from Printed Works (B) 11:00 am - 11:50 am

Digitizing Workshop (B) 2:00 pm - 2:50 pm & 3:00 pm - 3:50 pm

Richard Dance has been associated with genealogy and family history since 1974, when he took some of his original classes from Ben Bloxham at BYU.

In 1975, he wrote the history of his grandfather, and in 2021, the history of his mother-in-law. He has also gathered and distributed CD's within his extended family on family histories.

More importantly, he has been an early adopter of technology, dating back to Radio Shack model III's before IBM or Apple computers ever existed.

Lastly, he is related to both the Mayflower Pilgrim, John Howland, and the Wampanoag Indian chieftain Massosit Ousemequin. He is very grateful they established a treaty for 50 years and didn't kill each other off.

Richard, picture with wife, Julienne, who has been an integral part of creating these family histories and how we presented them at our recent family reunion.

Heidi Chapman

Family History Battleship 101 (ages 11-18) 10:00 am - 10:50 am

Heidi is a happy wife and mother of six who enjoys family history, music, outdoors, reading, chatting, and making memories. Her super powers include animal ballon tying and watching YouTube videos to learn how to fix things.

Jeni Bitnoff

Youth Discovery Experience (ages 11 - 18) 11:00 am - 11:50 am

Discovery Experience (B) 3:00 pm - 3:50 pm

Loves to have fun! Enjoying everyday no matter what comes her way. Loves to travel and see the world! Has been to over 40 countries and loves them all! Jeni was married for 38 years to her late husband Bruce and they have four children and ten grandchildren. She is the current Family Search Center Director and appreciates all the volunteers who share their talents with all who come to the Center. Jeni enjoys the outdoors, hiking, skiing, biking and playing games with her friends and family.

Pam is grateful for the love and support of her husband, Leon, children Daniel, his wife, Kylee, Sam, his wife Abby, Marcus, his wife, Lily, Emmalee, her husband, Gabe, and Elizabeth. Also her cute little grandchildren, Natalie, Oliver, Jack, and Beau.

Pam Williams Duce

Cold Case Genealogy (I) 10:00 am - 10:50 am

Searching the US Census (B, I) 11:00 am - 11:50 am

US Naturalization (B, I) 1:00 pm - 1:50 pm

Family Search Full Text Search (I) 2:00 pm - 2:50 pm

Pam Williams Duce has been a student of family history for over 30 years and will continue to learn and grow as long as she is able. She has been teaching classes and giving presentations for the last 24 years.

Pam’s love for learning about her ancestors started in her early years through the stories shared by her parents. Though not formally trained, as a preteen she did learn to read upside down and backward, believing it would come in handy when she became an FBI agent. Instead, it was useful while reading to her five children while simultaneously showing them the book.

Family History is full of great mysteries, stranger-than-fiction stories, and emphasizes the importance of all families. The perfect combination to create a deep desire to not only research her own family but also help others discover theirs.

Swedish research and DNA research are her current favorites.

Hayden Lake Stake Primary Presidency

Childern's Activities

Presented by the Hayden Lake Stake Primary Presidency. Children ages 3 to 11 are welcome to attend one or both classes. In order to have adiquate supplies. Please click the button below to let us know a contact name and email for the parent and the number and ages of children attending.

Children's Activities Registration

Family History Games for Children

Concurrent with Session 3: 1 pm - 1:50 pm

Grab your "passport" and travel back in time while playing family history games. You will travel to a variety of stations and get stamps in your passport along the way!

I Love to See The Temple for Children

Concurrent with Session 4: 2:00 pm - 2:50 pm

Come and prepare for our temple with activities, crafts, and more!

Digitizing Workshop

Richard Dance will demonstrate the digitizing equipment available at the Hayden Lake FamilySearch Center and best practices for using the equipment.

Space is limited so you will need to click the button below to reserve a spot. Make note of which workshop you sign up for, 1 pm workshop or 2 pm workshop. When you register for the conference, do not select a class for the corresponding session.

Digitizing Workshop Reservation

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