This month, Montreat Conference Center is taking time to highlight upcoming events for those between the ages of 11 and 32. This might cause you to wonder, “where do I fit into all of this?” While adults are not the primary audience for events like Montreat Youth Conference and Middle School Conference, they still play a vital role in their success. Each year, over one hundred adults volunteer as Small Group Leaders, another 16 serve on event Planning Teams, and dozens more attend conferences alongside youth, serving as guides and chaperones for those in attendance. Through these various avenues, we’ve found that when adults get involved with a youth event, they are able to enrich their personal faith, build relationships with youth in their congregations, and support the future of the Church. Interested in exploring these opportunities further? Here are a few ways that you can get involved with youth and young adult events in 2026.
Apply for a Conference Planning Team
If you want to have an impact on the future of Montreat’s youth conferences, there is no better way to do so than by serving on a conference planning team. These groups of youth and adult volunteers are responsible for everything that happens behind the scenes to make an event happen, including the selection of conference themes and stage leadership. In the time leading up to each event, Planning Team members grow in understanding, deepen their faith, and connect others as they work together for a shared goal. It’s an extremely rewarding experience! We are currently accepting applications for 2027 Montreat Youth Conference and Middle School Conference Planning Teams. Submit your application here by October 15, 2025 for consideration.
Volunteer as a Small Group Leader
Small Group Leaders (SGLs) are a very special group of volunteers that help to facilitate faith-based conversations and community growth during Montreat Youth Conference and Middle School Conference. While serving as a Small Group Leader is not something to be taken lightly, there are many benefits to supporting Montreat in this way. First, there are tangible benefits, as Montreat provides free travel, housing, and meals for Small Group Leaders. But there are also spiritual and emotional benefits to guiding youth as they embrace their calling as Christians. By giving them a space to voice their opinions, an opportunity to make new friends, and reminding them that they are beloved children of God, you are able to directly impact the lives of these youth. If this sounds intimidating, please know that we don’t expect Small Group Leaders to do this alone! All Small Group Leaders participate in training sessions leading up to the event and, once the conference starts, our leadership will offer daily guidance and support. It really is a lot easier to make a difference than you think!
Attend as a Chaperone
Chaperones are also an important part of the Montreat Youth Conference and Middle School Conference experience! These adults assist Back Home Leaders with the responsibilities of bringing a group to a conference. Chaperones might act as drivers or cooks, attend worship services, join in Small Group discussion, or generally support youth from their church as they engage in a transforming faith experience. Just as youth grow closer to other youth over the course of a trip, they also build relationships with adult chaperones, often leaning on them as trusted mentors once they return home. In this way, serving as a chaperone allows you to live into your baptismal vows, supporting the faith development of young disciples in your congregation.
We hope that you now have a greater understanding of the opportunities available to adults as part of Montreat Youth Conference and Middle School Conference. Whether as a Planning Team member, a Small Group Leader, a chaperone, or in a different capacity entirely, we hope you will choose to get involved with our upcoming events for youth and young adults. Your involvement not only enriches the lives of youth who attend, it also allows for personal growth and strengthens the intergenerational bonds that allow churches to thrive. For more information, look for the “Ways to Participate” tab on our event pages or visit our “Get Involved” webpage.
This article was originally published in the October edition of Montreat Conference Center’s email newsletter Engaging Grace which highlights conference and event opportunities for adults. Sign up to receive Engaging Grace directly in your inbox by clicking here.