Young Adults

The Center for Youth & Young Adult Ministry

The Center for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, as a witness to Jesus Christ, affirms youth, young adults, and their leaders in their calling to be and to shape the Church of today and tomorrow. Through events, resources, and leadership opportunities responsive to the needs of congregations, youth and young adults will come to know and believe that they are the beloved of God.

Download CYYAM’s Promotional Flyer for 2008 Conferences!

Montreat’s Center for Youth and Young Adult Ministry (CYYAM) is building an exclusive web site just for YOU – the teenagers, college students, and young adults, as well as the adult youth leaders – who come to Montreat Conference Center! Please email your ideas and suggestions to cherylp[at]montreat.org.

Conferences & Programs Offered by CYYAM

High School Youth | Middle School | College | The Blaze | Young Adult | Youth Ski | ARW | Clubs | Summer Staff

Youth Conferences

The conferences for youth at Montreat Conference Center model true Christian commitment and community. The young people who come here are both challenged and comforted. They leave empowered, encouraged, and encircled by new friends. Likewise, the leaders who come with them begin to see their connectedness with the greater church and the vast community of Christ. They take home the tools they need to expand the Montreat experience into the everyday lives of their young people. 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. Learn more…

Additional Youth Conference Resources:

Middle School Conference at Presbyterian College

The Middle School Conference creates a place where middle school youth can foster and develop meaningful relationships with peers and adults, where they can be actively engaged in learning about God’s love for them and be heard and understood. The conference helps them begin to appreciate their parents’ and families’ counsel, be affirmed and reminded that they are valued so that they may reach out to others, and encounter opportunities to exercise personal and group responsibility for the building up of the body of Christ. The Middle School Conference at Presbyterian College is designed for youth who have completed fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth grade by the beginning of summer, and for their group leaders. Each day will include keynote, worship, recreation, singing, and many other activities. In small groups, young people and adults will explore the conference theme using a manual written especially for this particular conference. Learn more…

Additional Middle School Conference Resources:

College Conference

In January, hundreds of college students gather in Montreat for a time of questions, answers and reflection. College is a time of transformation and self understanding for young adults. The College Conference is a time to share and grow in faith and help each other understand what role they play in the world. With the values learned growing up intermingled with new ideas and questions formed by continuing education, this is a time focused on how these relate to our own personal spirituality. Learn more…

Check out resources from the 2008 conference and join the Facebook group for the 2009 conference…

The Blaze Conference

The Blaze is a time for all who work with youth – as mentors, youth directors, associates for youth, back home leaders, small group leaders – to consider youth ministry afresh and alongside others who share their passion. The Blaze will challenge you to pioneer new trails in youth ministry, help you be nourished and shaped through that ministry, and send you home inspired in your own call to work with youth. Learn more…

Check out resources from the 2008 conference!

Sponsored by Montreat Conference Center and Project Burning Bush, a youth ministry initiative of Union-PSCE.

Young Adult Weekend

The Young Adult Weekend is a time for those who consider themselves to be “young adults” to gather in the valley of Montreat and discuss issues that are affecting their ever changing world. It is a time to reflect spiritually on their world around them. From graduating college to starting a family to nurturing growing children, many young adults are in a transformative period. The purpose of Young Adult Weekends is to group people together to help nurture their faith in the midst of their ever changing lifestyle. Learn more…

Ski Weekend for Youth

Check out a hassle-free outing for your youth group! The Ski Weekend for Youth at Montreat Conference Center offers grades 6-12 the perfect combination of adventure on the slopes, worship, and great fellowship. Your young people play…and we make all the arrangements. No worries!
Learn more…

Annual Recreation Workshop

This five-day training event in recreation ministry is designed for pastors, educators, volunteers, and anyone interested in recreation leadership. ARW is connected to the Presbyterian Church (USA), but welcomes all denominations to participate in the workshop. Learn more…

Clubs and Child Care Program

Clubs is a recreation and fellowship experience for the children of conferees, Montreat summer residents, and vacationers staying in Montreat. It groups children and youth according to age and school level. Collegiate counselors supervise each group. They are trained to help the young people feel comfortable as they create new interpersonal relationships and develop social and outdoor living skills. The program also makes effective use of Montreat’s recreational facilities set in beautiful outdoor surroundings. Montreat’s Environmental Education program includes hands-on learning experiences in wilderness and environmental science. Events are planned with each group’s age and interests in mind. Learn more…

Summer Staff Program

Spend your summer in the mountains of Montreat! Our summer staff provides a ministry through work & play for over 13,000 people! Come be a part of a wonderful team of young adults from across the country! In order to keep the conference center running throughout the summer we require the help 150 or so enthusiastic college aged students who like to work and play hard. Montreat is nestled in a mountain valley with gorgeous scenery and wilderness activities. And if you are looking for a place to escape during the off hours, the city of Asheville is a short twenty minute drive away. There is still plenty to do inside the gate of Montreat. There are evening bible studies, weekly community events, free pottery, an Olympic sized swimming pool, barn dances, and everyone on staff is allowed to attend any conference activity outside of working hours. Learn more…

Download the 2008 summer staff application now!

Check out the Presbyterian Foundation’s Youth Mission Initiative.
It’s website, ymiLIVE.org, is a site where you’ll be able to share your experiences and excitement about the things that mean the most to you – faith, family, friends, mission and ministry.

When you register your youth group, you’ll be able to:

  • upload and watch videos
  • take part in a youth video challenge with a chance to win one of three $25,000 endowments
  • and, most importantly, share ideas in a safe and respectful environment.