“The rules of Panem reign over Vernal,” said one young teen on the lawn of the Old Dinosaur Museum Garden, explaining the fictional setting last week.

The setting is drawn from author Suzanne Collins’ book “The Hunger Games,” a tale of post-apocalyptic North America where teens are cast one against the other in televised contests of survival skills.

It took place Aug. 23, just two days before Uintah County schools opened. Hordes of kids moved from station to station practicing their skills in tests of endurance.

“I started putting it together with the (library’s) Teen Advisory Group in early June,” said Melinda Barlow, head of the Uintah County Library’s adult and teen programming and the force behind the games.

“We’ve got 27 teen advisers and about 100 kids here today along with volunteer counselors from the U.S. Army National Guard, the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the Uintah Fire Suppression District, Xtreme Climbing of Ogden, and of course family members,” Barlow said.

The kids weren’t battling to the death like those in Collins’ book, but Barlow had them learning to tie knots, climb a vertical wall, shoot a bow and arrow, start a fire from scratch and cite trivia from the book.

At the first station volunteers from the Army National Guard were teaching kids the art knot tying.

“Over here, around there and back through the hole. Got it?” said one camo-clad guardsman. His hands flied over the knot, and several boys then busily tried to follow his instruction.

Just steps away, Jeremy Raymond, Uintah Fire Suppression District manager, helped a group of young people trying to set ablaze wads of dried grass.

“Not as easy as you think, is it?” he said, moving among the young fire-starters. None could get a spark let alone a fire.

Frustrated, several youths gave up the test and began squirting each with the water placed nearby to quench the fires.

Dozens of green-shirted Teen Advisory Group members were among the challengers.

“I love the library TAG team. I couldn’t wait to be old enough to join the group,” said Morgan Forsgern, 12, who with Danielle Dixon was asking Hunger Games trivia questions to a rapt audience of small kids.

At each station, kids received tickets and stamps upon completion of the challenge to mark their success. The tickets were later drawn for prizes.

The games were part of the end of summer fun planned by Barlow. To learn more about TAG, contact her at mbarlow@co.uintah.ut.us.

Barlow said teens 12 and up can apply at the library to join TAG.

“They’ll need to bring a letter of recommendation either from a teacher, civic leader or church leader,” she said. “And, they have to be willing to volunteer at least six hours a year and attend six meetings.”