Montreat Conference Center

Current Conferences

We have openings in ALL weeks!
Need a lodge for Youth Conference week one or six? Contact the registrar, susieb[at]montreat.org.

Already registered?

• Download the Additions & Cancellations Form
• Download the Pre-Conference Study Guide
• Download the Covenant and Medical Form
• Download the Back Home Devotional Guide

“In These Waters”

Called from the chaos, we gather in this sacred space, rooted in God’s call and purpose. We seek to provide an authentic community of unconditional love where each individual gives and receives support, trust, and acceptance from others. We will encourage and empower youth to encounter God in, through, and with each other to ask questions, embrace challenges, and be commissioned to apply their faith relevantly in the world.

The Montreat Youth Conferences are designed for high school students, entering freshmen through graduated seniors. A Youth Conference is a unique gathering of young people from all over the country for a week of study, worship, and recreation. Activities include morning energizers, music, keynote, small group meetings where the conference theme is explored, afternoon recreation activities, and evening worship.

Considering a Mission Trip?

Add a Montreat Summer Mission Experience to your Youth Conference week! Build in a meaningful community helping project for a fraction of what a separate mission trip would cost. Your youth group can make a real difference in the world – while the Youth Conference is making a difference for them!

Questions about adding a mission experience? Contact Aimee Wallis Buchanan director of Asheville Youth Mission.

Key Leaders for Youth Conference Weeks I & II

Youth I – June 6-12, 2010 (download single flyer OR request multiple flyers for this week)
Youth II – June 13-19, 2010 (download single flyer OR request multiple flyers for this week)

• Gail Porter Nelson, Memphis, TN; Keynote; ordained Presbyterian minister serving as Parish Associate at Liberation Community Presbyterian Church and as Transition Pastor at Peace Lutheran Church; has been a small group leader, planning team member, and co-director of the 2007 Montreat Youth Conference.

• Nancy Smith-Mather and Shelvis Smith-Mather, Nairobi, Kenya; Preachers; Nancy is Program Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator, Church World Service; previously coordinated a refugee resettlement ministry in Atlanta, GA. Shelvis is Coordinator for Theological Reflection, Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa; previously led the Youth and Young Adult Ministries of New Life Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA.

• Laura Becker, Chattanooga, TN; Recreation Leader; Pastor, Northminster Presbyterian Church; loves laughing with her family, exploring new ways of being church, and having an opportunity to be back in the mountains of western North Carolina.

• Bobby Williamson, Conway, AR; Music Leader; Assistant Professor of Religion (Biblical Studies) at Hendrix College; director of Bonhoeffer House, an intentional community for Christian college students. Will be joined by drummer Scott Morrison, graduate student at UNC.

Key Leaders for Youth Conference Weeks III & IV

Youth III – July 11-17, 2010 (download single flyer OR request multiple flyers for this week)
Youth IV – July 18-24, 2010 (download single flyer OR request multiple flyers for this week)

• John and Noelle Tennis Gulden, Louisville, KY; Keynote; John served for six years as pastor, Briargate Presbyterian Church; Noelle serves as coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Discipleship for JustFaith Ministries.

• Loli Reiter, Seffner, FL; Preacher; minister, Presbyterian Church of Seffner; has ministered alongside youth in the church, at camp, at school, and at a variety of conferences; her spirit looks forward to “sharing in God’s presence at Montreat with you.”

• Emily Nelson Dixon, Overland Park, KS; Co-Recreation Leader; Youth Director, Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church; excited to be a part of Montreat again “as I truly believe it has a profound impact on everyone who is involved.”

• James Goodlet, Tuscaloosa, AL; Co-Recreation Leader; Associate Pastor for Campus Ministry at First Presbyterian Church; “...can’t wait to dive into recreation with all of y’all!”

• Jorge Sayago-Gonzales, Louisville, KY; Music Leader; Director of Youth Ministries, Second Presbyterian Church; has served as a woship and music leader in Puerto Rico and the U.S.; a songwriter/singer with special interest in multi-cultural, contemporary, and emergent worship.

Key Leaders for Youth Conference Weeks V & VI

Youth V – July 25-31, 2010 (download single flyer OR request multiple flyers for this week)
Youth VI – August 1-7, 2010 (download single flyer OR request multiple flyers for this week)

• Shelli Latham, Davidson, NC; Co-Keynoter; Associate Pastor for Youth and Missions, Davidson College Presbyterian Church; thinks church should be a place where youth are seen and heard, and where people aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.

• Casey Thompson, Memphis, TN; Co-Keynoter; Associate Pastor, Idlewild Presbyterian Church, where he works with young adults; has been a semi-professional juggler, magician’s assistant, youth minister, kitchen vent hood scraper, and George Washington impersonator.

• Byron Wade, Raleigh, NC; Preacher; Vice-Moderator of the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); Pastor, Davie Street Presbyterian Church; has served leadership roles for Youth Triennium, Massanetta Middle School, and Montreat Youth Conferences.

• Neely Stansell-Simpson, Simpsonville, SC; Recreation Leader; has served as Director of Youth Ministries at Lexington Presbyterian Church (Lexington, VA) and Eastminster Presbyterian Church (Simpsonville, SC).

• Kye Chung, Allen, TX; Music Leader; Lead Pastor, Binnerri English Ministry; MDiv from Union Theological Seminary in Virginia; past music leader at Montreat Youth Conferences and looks forward to being back.

Program Fee

Send us your registration form…

• on or before December 1st: $231 per person plus receive free youth conference t-shirts!!!
• between December 2nd and January 15th: $231 per person
• between January 16th and February 15th: $241 per person
• between February 16th and March 15th: $251 per person
• between March 16th and April 15th: $261 per person
• after April 15th: $271 per person

Program fee does not include housing or meals. Scholarships are available for this conference.

Registration Information

Already registered and just need to make changes? Download the 2010 Youth Additions & Cancellations Form.

Registration Form for Groups:

Group leaders must register all youth groups as a block using the 2010 Youth Conference Registration Packet. Each conference is limited. All registrations will be processed in the order received. There will be no registrations by phone.

Registration Form for Individuals NOT Coming with a Group:

New this year! Available weeks I & VI only. Individuals NOT coming with a group may register using the 2010 Youth Conference Registration Packet for INDIVIDUALS. Space is limited. All registrations will be processed in the order received. There will be no registrations by phone.

• Q: Why is Montreat accepting individual registrations?
• A. Some churches have one or two youth who want to attend youth conference, but finding an adult to accompany them is difficult. With this special program, Montreat Conference Center provides the adult advisors!
• Q. Will individual registrants have a back-home group?
• A. Montreat will provide two adults (one male and one female) to be advisors for each group of 12 youth who register as individuals. They will do all the same things together that a back-home group would do: sharing meals, daily devotions, and Wednesday free afternoon activities.
• Q. Where will this group stay?
• A. This group will live in the Assembly Inn and eat meals in the Assembly Inn dining room.
• Q. Where can I get more information?
• A. See the Youth Conference Registration Packet for Individuals.

Questions about registration? Contact the registrar, susieb[at]montreat.org.

General Information for All Youth Conferences

• Leader Chats: Some youth leaders have been bringing groups to Montreat Youth Conferences for years. Learn about their processes, fundraising efforts and more in these audio interviews.

• Eligibility: The Montreat Youth Conferences are designed for high school students, entering freshmen through graduated seniors, and for their group leaders. All groups must include at least one adult for every six young people. Adults must be housed with their youth.

• Housing: There are numerous housing options to meet the needs of various size groups, including Assembly Inn, Winsborough Inn, and Glen Rock Inn, which include meals in the Galax Dining Room in the Assembly Inn. Other housing options within a five minute walking distance are Montreat College, which offers dorm rooms and meals in Howerton Cafeteria, and William Black Lodge, which offers lodge accommodations and meals at the lodge. Prices for Assembly Inn, Winsborough, Glen Rock Inn, Montreat College dorms and William Black Lodge are listed in the registration packet. Private housing is also an option with housing accommodations and meal arrangements made between the church and the private cottage owner. A special meal package is available for individuals and/or groups who would like to purchase lunch or supper at the Galax Dining Room in Assembly Inn. You may request a private cottage list by emailing carolo[at]montreat.org. For more information concerning private housing, download helpful hints.

• Conference Schedule: A Youth Conference is a unique gathering of young people from all over the country for a week of study, worship, and recreation. A typical day at Youth Conference includes morning energizers, music, keynote, small group meetings where the conference theme is explored, afternoon recreation activities, and evening worship, as well as other options (Wednesday afternoon is free). See specific dates above for leadership information. Registration will begin at 3:00 PM on Sunday. The conference will run from Sunday supper through Saturday breakfast.

• Opportunities for College Students: You have an opportunity to participate in the Youth Conference as a member of the Collegiate Work Crew. We are looking for college students who want to attend the conference with their church groups. You will have the chance to help the conference planning team during the week. You will work behind the scenes, learn the ropes, and get a close-up look at what is involved in running a Youth Conference. Look for more Work Crew information in your Back Home packet. No application is necessary; just make sure that you are registered as a part of your church group.

• Small Group Leaders: If you are 21 + and are interested in applying to be a small group leader for the Youth Conferences, call 800.572.2257, ext. 327, or download a Small Group Leader Application. You may be both a small group leader and a back home leader if there is another adult with your home group attending the conference. Your registration fee is waived, and your room, board, and travel are covered! All small group leaders must be members of congregations that are members of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (for a listing of member churches, go to World Alliance of Reformed Churches).

• Scholarships: Limited scholarship funds are available for this conference.

• Opportunities for Younger Children: Learn more about the Clubs & Child Care program. Pre-registration is required. Enrollment is limited.

• Planning Teams: Be part of the planning for a future Montreat Youth Conference. Apply now!

• Cancellation Policy: See the registration packet for cancellation details.

Commissioning Service Liturgy

In response to requests, we’ve developed brief liturgy for a short service for commissioning the young people and adult leaders who are heading to a Montreat Youth Conference this summer!

• Download a pdf that you can print quickly and fill in the blanks on the go!
• Download a document that you can download and edit yourself.

Additional Youth Conference Resources

• Have you heard about the Morgan Endowment for Youth?
• Check out resources from past youth conferences.

Check out other opportunities for youth and young adults offered by the Center for Youth & Young Adult Ministry