Before this summer, Montreat was a place I visited. It was tied up with youth conference during my high school years, packed into church van rides with people I grew up with, small group name games, and the stillness of candlelight at Lake Susan. It felt like a time capsule I stepped into every year and left too quickly. But this summer, it became something entirely different. When I drove through the gate in May, I was alone in a car packed to the brim, stepping into ten weeks and I didn’t know a soul. I unpacked my bags in …
Shining A Light on Aud Crew
When most people think about Montreat’s summer conferences, they picture energizers, worship, games on the lawn, and deep conversations in small groups. What many don’t realize is that every unlocked door, clean room, and perfectly placed chair is made possible by the Aud Crew. They are an often unseen, but essential, part of Montreat conferences. I spent three days with Aud Crew and got a close up look at the people that keep things running smoothly. Ava, James, and Scott showed me everything that goes into being a member of the crew. They answered my endless questions with patience, explained …
From the Booth: A Week With AV
If you’ve ever been to a Keynote, Worship Service, or recreation event at Montreat during the summer, you probably haven’t focused much on the technical things going on around you. But behind every song lyric, microphone, and carefully timed light, there’s a team working behind the scenes to make it all happen: the AV Crew (audio-visual crew). I shadowed Dibby, one of the AV crew members, for three days as she showed me everything that goes into being a member of the AV crew. The team is made up of five crew members, two supervisors, and two DPTs (data projection …
Building Community at the B Dubb
Tucked between the tennis courts and the playground sits a building that hums with energy all summer long: the Bill Wilde Youth Center. Also known as the BYWC or the B Dubb, the building looks simple on the surface: Old wooden floors, a few game tables, a counter full of lanyard string. But if you spend a little time inside, you’ll quickly realize it’s one of the cornerstones of Montreat’s magic. I spent three days with the guys who make everything in this space happen: Hudson, the supervisor, and Keaton and Lucas, the tennis instructors. Hudson told me his favorite …
My First Fourth of July in Montreat
Spending the Fourth of July in Montreat is hard to describe to someone who hasn’t experienced it firsthand, but I was told ahead of time that it would be like nothing I had ever seen before. I quickly learned what they meant. This was my first Fourth of July in Montreat, and from the early morning hours to the final dance steps at sunset, the day was packed with joy, laughter, and a deep sense of community that I’ll carry with me long after the summer ends. The day is full of long-standing traditions that have become staples of the …
The Untamable Spirit of the Montreat Rangers
Spending two days with the Montreat Rangers felt like tagging along with a band of mountain goats who carry axes, wear matching hats, and can rattle off the name of any plant you point at. As we worked in the Montreat Wilderness, their job was to keep Montreat’s trails safe, beautiful, and hikeable. My job was to try not to pass out as I attempted to keep up with them. If you are ever around the Rangers, you will witness their untamable, joyful spirit in action. If they see a tree, one of them will try to climb it. If …
A Week in the World of Clubs
If you’ve spent a summer day in Montreat, you’ve probably heard the Clubbies before you’ve seen them. Throughout the week, you’ll find them shouting with joy as they run across Moore Center Field, splashing in the pool with their friends, or belting out camp songs in the barn. I got to spend time with these “Clubbies” (the spirited campers of Montreat Clubs) and over three days, I had the chance to step into their world. Montreat Clubs is a day camp that runs all summer long for kids who have completed kindergarten through those who have recently graduated high school. …
Behind the Counter: A Week at The Montreat Store
A favorite pastime for many of Montreat’s summer visitors involves making a visit to the rocking chairs at Moore Center. There, you will find many a “Montreater” donning a new Montreat T-shirt, sipping on a cool, crisp Cheerwine, or simply listening to the hum of the Lake Susan Dam as they rock. Tucked behind the lake and nestled beneath the trees at Moore Center, The Montreat Store is more than just a place to grab a sweatshirt or a sticker; it’s a cornerstone of Montreat magic. I spent three days shadowing the Montreat Store staff this summer, which allowed me …
A Closer Look at Conference Support
Down a gravel path, in the basement of the Allen Building, behind a locked door covered in caution tape and handmade “do not enter” signs, you will find the Conference Support Summer Staff. Their home is known as the “Cloffice” (closet office), and it is exactly what it sounds like; a windowless room packed with everything from flashlights to pool noodles. If you have ever been given a paper packet in your small group or been served communion during youth conference worship, the Conference Support team is to thank. I was given the opportunity to shadow the team and quickly came …