Youth Group Indexing Reservations
If there is a way to do this I am not aware of it. Making available a way to reserve a certain number of indexing batches at a beginner level for a youth group for a specific date and time.
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This idea would require an indexing group administrative capability to reserve an 'adopted Project'. To my knowledge most indexing Projects are open to all individuals first come first serve - and thus do not have this capability of reserving to a group. There are Projects specifically set up which limit indexers to being members of a particular indexing group - but those Projects likely would not even be visible to other indexers. Thus the capability could be there but I have not seen it implemented. Mostly FamilySearch wants the public Projects completed as quickly as possible - so doesn't allow further administration that I believe this idea would require
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We did indexing with our oldest YWs class almost two years ago and ended up with intermediate level handwritten records in an area of the US that was mainly settled by Immigrants from Poland. The YW had a difficult time indexing the records on their own. We pulled up maps from the time period and located the place names. Using the handwriting style of the letters in place names we leaders helped them identify the letters in the names and dates. It was discouraging for some of the YW. For others, the mystery and the service totally hooked them. I really want the opportunity to “hook” our younger class members. However, we have a few who struggle with reading and need a beginner level indexing project.
If there was a way I could reserve a small batch for my younger class while they are interested in indexing, I know they’d feel the influence of the Spirit and would come back for more on their own. Learning to look for information as your indexing is a valuable tool as you learn to do your family history.
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I have had the same experience, Our Youth want to get involved, but they don't read Spanish, so they turn to indexing. The younger 11 and 12 year-olds are very interested, but the projects that are available for long periods of time are the ones that are intermediate/advanced and the youth get discouraged. It is not only discouraging for the youth but for members that want to start indexing and need projects to get more comfortable with the process. For example, yesterday morning (Mar/12/2023) a new Beginner Project was released so I texted all of the Youth leaders to let them know to let their youth know so they could participate and build their skills. Today (Mar/13/2023) it is gone, and it was gone at 9:00am this morning when I logged in.
Also, there are scanned documents that have not yet been indexed in the FamilySearch Catalog, for our local area. They are from the 1870s - 1910s and would prove helpful in our local searches to help fill in the gap for the missing 1890 census. We (Stake Leadership) also strongly believe that if our stake and our neighboring stake could be allowed to index these records, interest and skills for indexing would be highly improved and more blessings would come to those that got involved. It would also give us something to work toward together in our area and bless us and those that are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder-Day Saints and help them to find their ancestors. If our stake group, and the community and unit groups under it could be given a project to work toward and complete that was just for us, it would help our stake tremendously. I know that there are projects that the missionaries work on, that are specific to their group. Why couldn't we do the same?
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Along the same lines... one recommendation/idea I have suggested in the past - have the youth start by indexing/transcribing records they may have at home. Have them gather the records, bring them to a FamilySearch Center to scan/add to family profiles. If FamilySearch would make the 'index every field' app available (past suggestion was for indexing app - but I also strongly believe in exposing the next generation of researchers on the latest tools available) for these documents that could be uploaded to Memories - then starting on records from home I believe is a great way to introduce the process of documenting/attaching records in Family Tree. It also inventories/documents the 'family collection' (photos/audio/stories can be a great place to start as well).
Related idea: FamilySearch could make indexing app or 'index every field' app publicly available for Projects imaged/administered by Private groups/individuals in exchange for uploading those Projects to records/Memories (whichever is more applicable). Whichever way gets more records preserved but also available should be considered.
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