2026 Montreat Youth Conferences

June 7–August 8, 2026SummerYouth
A Montreat Conference Center program

2026 Dates

Week 1 June 7-13
Week 2 June 14–20
Week 3 July 12-18
Week 4 July 19-25
Week 5 July 26-August 1
Week 6 August 2-8
Montreat Youth Conference affirms youth in their calling to be and to shape the church of Jesus Christ. Our desire is to help youth come to know and believe that they are the beloved of God and to be a place where authenticity, community, connection, and God’s truth thrive. We seek to be an inclusive space where each voice can be heard and where each heart can be molded; where change is invited, challenge is expected, and where all are embraced.
Youth leave Montreat knowing that:
  • Their faith matters.
  • They are loved as they are.
  • They are part of a community of faith.
  • They are empowered to act for change in the world.

Check out the MYC Guidebook!

Feeling overwhelmed? Need some clarification about something? Check out the MYC Guidebook! We’ve collected lots of information we think you might need all in one, easy to access place.

Montreat Youth Conference Email Sign-Up


Need to talk to a real person?

Leaders

Youth Conference Weeks 1 & 2

Cedric Portis – Preacher

Cedric has been leading Third Presbyterian Church since 2003, bringing bold messages and a big heart. He’s a mentor, speaker, and changemaker who’s just as comfortable behind the pulpit as he is making moves in the neighborhood. With his wife Varonaki and son Cedric Jr. by his side, he’s all about faith in action.

Jasmine Evans – Music Leader

Jasmine is an NC native currently serving as Associate Pastor at North Avenue Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA. During her time at North Avenue she has served as Associate Pastor for Young Adults and Acting Head of Staff during their Pastoral Transition. Her interests include college/young adult ministry, uplifting BIPOC Women seeking ordination in the PCUSA, the performing arts, and traveling for ministry as well as leisure. She holds a B.S. in Music Business with a concentration in Vocal Performance from Winston-Salem State University and an M.Div. with a concentration in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Wake Forest University’s School of Divinity.

De' Patton – Music Leader

De’ Patton is a high school chorus teacher in SC and Director of Music at Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill, SC. A graduate of Winthrop University, De’ enjoys playing with his two labradoodles, traveling, spending time with family and friends, exploring all things music, and being in Montreat.

Jeremy Tidman– Recreation Leader

Jeremy lives in Richmond, VA with his wife and their new baby boy, Peter. Jeremy enjoys all forms of worship and play, and his favorite part of Montreat is when those two things can meet! In his free time, Jeremy enjoys playing D&D, fantasy football, and any sport he can get outside and enjoy.

Merritt Liebman – Recreation Leader

Merritt is the Director of Youth Ministries at Wake Forest Presbyterian Church in Wake Forest, NC. As a lifelong Presbyterian, her journey in ministry began early, shaped by formative experiences serving on the New Hope Presbytery Youth Council and as an Advocate at Massanetta Springs—places that nurtured her love for faith, service, and community. Her and her husband Paul share their life with two energetic dogs who keep things playful and loud (in the best way). Outside of church, you’ll probably find her on a yoga mat, out on a run, or savoring a really good cup of coffee.

Youth Conference Weeks III & IV

Erin Hayes-Cook – Keynote Leader

Erin is the pastor of First Presbyterian in the rolling hills of New Jersey. Growing up Erin always felt in the middle of two worlds because of her bi-racial identity. Now she counts it a strength to bring people together and help them see each other as beautiful creations of God.  She loves sharing adventures with her husband Lawrence and her daughter Arden and a good cup of coffee.

Daniel Heath – Preacher

Daniel serves as Associate Chaplain and Director of the Davidson Forum at Davidson College (yes, where Stephen Curry went to school). He loves to lead worship and has served in a myriad of congregations and college, university, and seminary chapels. Daniel is married to Katrina and they have two sons.

Paul Demer – Music Leader

Paul is a Dallas-based singer-songwriter, producer, and worship leader whose heartfelt folk tunes blend introspection with empathy. Raised by professional musicians and inspired by bands like Weezer and Death Cab for Cutie, he started writing songs in middle school and never looked back. Whether he’s performing in hospitals or crafting psalms, Paul’s music brings comfort, connection, and a whole lot of heart.

Zachary Payne – Recreation Leader

Zach is a freelance costume designer based in Asheville, NC but spends most of his year living and working in Sarasota, FL. In his free time Zach enjoys road cycling, knitting, and taking care of his plants.

Peri Flanigan – Recreation Leader

Peri is the Director of Christian Education at Christ Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, Florida. She loves encouraging "holy play" and meeting youth where they are. She enjoys reading, watching movies with friends, and attending FSU baseball games.

Youth Conference Weeks V & VI

PJ Craig – Keynote Leader

PJ is a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, community development nerd, wannabe poet, and personal photographer for her two-year-old identical twin girls. Growing up in rural Alabama, as the only Asian kid around other than her brother, shaped her curiosity about marginalized places, community, and belonging. She’s most at home in borderland spaces, whether that be leading an arts and literacy youth organization in North Philadelphia, university civic engagement in Camden, New Jersey, or pastoring a Germantown church dedicated to serving their immigrant and Latinx neighbors. With the help of her church, she’s practicing deep loving with folks in the midst of violence, homelessness, and hunger

Kate Haynes Murphy – Preacher

Kate serves as the pastor of The Grove Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys swimming, reading and watching pointless reality television. She and her husband Colin have three daughters and no pets.

Micah Nutter-Dowling– Music Leader

Micah is the Head of Staff at Deerhurst Presbyterian in Buffalo, New York, bringing energy, heart, and a deep love for community. Originally from Birmingham, he’s spent years leading youth, preaching, and building meaningful connections through creative outreach. He’s into music, sports, and tacos and lives in Buffalo with his wife Katelyn, who’s also a pastor.

Megan McMillan – Recreation Leader

Megan is the pastor at Mills River Presbyterian Church, where she brings warmth, wisdom, and a deep love for the mountains of Western North Carolina. A Columbia, SC native with a background in youth ministry and a Master of Divinity from Austin Seminary, she’s passionate about creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and loved. When she’s not pastoring, you’ll find her hiking, catching live music, or sipping tea with her rescue pup, Cooper.

Christian Kasten – Recreation Leader

Christian is a full-time student at the University of Missouri, pursuing a degree in economics. In his spare time, Christian is a collegiate debater, ballroom dancer, and coaches chess at his local elementary school. At his local PC(USA) summer camp, Christian is known for his love of energizers and for being the residential hype man.

What Is MYC?

Worship & Keynote

Worship and keynote engage youth in the theme and challenge all in attendance to faith exploration and growth. Using scripture, Reformed theology, and song, youth are affirmed and united as children of God. During keynote, everyone gathers for group building, announcements, and song. During worship, youth hear the Word of God proclaimed in word, song, and action.

Small Group

Small group is a place where youth can share their journey of faith with peers through respectful conversations. Small group sessions are led by trained adult leaders who facilitate honest discussions about the themes presented in keynote and worship. It is an important time where youth can dive deeper into the conference theme, while forming bonds and making dear friends with youth outside of their congregation.

Recreation

We engage youth physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in events that build up the Christian community while having fun! We believe that people who can play together can pray together; people who can sing together can talk together; and people who can dance together can walk together.

Back Home Time

Back Home Groups are the people you come with to Montreat. Each evening groups gather together to connect through prayer and conversation. Our hope is that experiences in keynote, worship, small groups, and recreation will provide all the content youth need to have some meaningful conversations with their back home group. Materials are provided to help adult leaders debrief the amazing events and emotions of each day with their youth.

Mission

We are all invited to participate in God's mission in the world by serving our neighbors.  In addition to collecting offerings on behalf of different mission partners each week, Montreat Conference Center builds mission opportunities into the weekly programming with opportunities are as varied as packaging meals for food insecure communities to educational opportunities to bring change to your home communities. Montreat also partners with local organizations for optional add-on mission programming for groups attending the Montreat Youth Conferences. For more information about those opportunities, please visit the Ways to Participate menu.

Conference & Housing Rates

We want you to be as informed as possible before you register! We've created a page with a lot of information pertaining to registration, conference participation, and things to know while you're here. We highly encourage you to read it before filling out the registration form. It should answer a lot of your questions. Below is information about scholarships, the cost of conference registration per participant, and the combined cost of conference registration and Conference Center and College housing.

Scholarships

We think Youth Conference is an important and formative part of a young person's faith journey and understand that it's not something affordable to everyone. As such, we have a limited number of scholarships available for this conference.

Conference Cost

Registrations made before April 1 require a $100 per person deposit paid to the conference registrar no more than 10 days after registering.

Registrations made after April 1 require the conference fee balance to be paid in full within 10 days.

On or Before April 1
($100 deposit)
After April 1
(paid in full)
Conference Registration

  • Housing & meals not included.
  • Includes $5 community services fee
$340 $390

Conference Center & College Housing Options

Montreat Conference Center Housing Info

Rates are PER PERSON and include room for six nights and meals in Assembly Inn’s Galax Dining Room (Sunday dinner through Saturday breakfast). Linens are included. A $50 per person non-refundable housing deposit is required (this is included in your $100 registration deposit).

Weeks 1-6
Single Occupancy Double Occupancy Triple Occupancy
Assembly Inn

  • Private Bathroom
  • Limited Availability; goes quickly
$885 $570 $465*
Assembly Inn

  • Shared Bathroom
  • Limited Availability; goes quickly
$795 $525 ---
Winsborough

  • Shared Bathroom
  • Modest Housing
$615 $435 ---
Glen Rock Inn & Apartment

  • Shared Bathroom
  • Modest Housing
$667.50 $461.25 $392.50

* A limited number of triple occupancy Assembly Inn with private bath rooms are available.

Montreat College Dorm Housing Info

Rates are PER PERSON (regardless of how many are in a room) and include room for six nights and meals in Montreat College's Howerton Hall (Sunday dinner through Saturday breakfast). Linens are not included. A $50 per person non-refundable housing deposit is required (this is included in your $100 registration deposit).

View pictures of the dorms here.

Per Person Rate
Anderson Hall

  • Private Bathroom
  • All rooms have two twin beds*
  • Available Weeks TBD
$TBD
McGregor Hall

  • Shared Bathroom
  • Rooms have a mix of two and three twin beds*
  • Available TBD
$TBD
Davis Hall

  • Hall Bathroom
  • All rooms have three twin beds
  • Available TBD
$TBD 

*Third person in a room must bring their own sleeping bag, air mattress, or cot.

Private Housing

Make your own arrangements directly with a private cottage owner or rental agency. A private cottager list can be acquired by emailing Daphne Waggener at daphnew@montreat.org.

Refunds & Cancellations

Please view the Youth Conference Guidebook for information regarding refunds and cancellations.

Registering "Extra" Adults

You will have an opportunity to purchase Keynote and/or Recreation wristbands upon arrival at conference check-in. The prices for each wristband are listed below.

Wristband Price
Keynote/Rec $150
Recreation Only $20

Ways to Participate

Montreat Youth Conference is for graduated 8th grade to graduated 12th grade young people and their leaders. Participation in MYC includes access to Keynote and Worship, Conference Recreation,—like late-evening energizer parties, scavenger hunts, and other activities—and Small Groups where you’ll unpack the message of the day and build bonds with other Youth and with God.

Opportunities for Youth

Jeremiah Project (JP) More information will be provided to Back Home Leaders at a later date.

Opportunities for Group Leaders

Small Group Leaders (SGL) Small Group Leaders provide critical guidance for the heart of the Youth and Middle School Conferences by leading small groups. The application will be available after the first of the year.

Back Home Leaders (BHL) are the people that bring youth to Montreat. They often help plan the trip, serve as chaperones while the group is onsite, and guide evening discussions and debriefs in the Back Home Groups.

Chaperones are important to the MYC experience. Chaperones act as drivers, cooks, and covenant protectors. We recommend 1 registered adult per every six (6) youth that attend.

Other Opportunities

MYC wouldn’t be able to exist without the important work done by our wonderful volunteers. As such, there are always opportunities to participate in MYC in support and planning roles! You can register to be a part of a Planning Team or become a Small Group Leader to lead our young people in discussion. For all opportunities, visit montreat.org/get-involved.

Montreat Mission Experience with Asheville Youth Mission

Description: Want to begin your group’s MYC experience with a mindset of mission? Sign up your group to spend Sunday with Asheville Youth Mission (a program of Youth Mission Co). AYM leaders will host a “pre-conference” experience from 9am to 3pm that includes mixers, interactive simulations, guest speakers, group discussion, artistic reflection, and exploration of our call to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. Groups will consider their home context and how they can live differently in it when their week at Montreat is over.

Sunday Montreat Mission Experience is $25/participant. Sunday MME does not include lunch, but you may pre-order and purchase box lunches from Montreat for $15 per person.

Wednesday Montreat Mission Experience will still be offered, and includes your group volunteering at a local agency from 1-3pm on Wednesday afternoon. Cost is $15/person

You can learn more about Asheville Youth Mission at youthmissionco.org/asheville-youth-mission. You will receive additional participation details in your Youth Conference confirmation email.

Resources

MYC Guidebook

We want you to be as informed as possible before you register! We've created a page with a lot of information pertaining to registration, conference participation, and what to expect once you're here. We highly encourage you to read it before filling out the registration form. It should answer a lot of your questions.

Marketing Resources

Past MYC Theme Resources

Looking for photos?

First Youth Conference?

Is this your first time bringing a group to Montreat? Contact Susie Burns to walk you through the process at 828.419.9814 or email her at susieb@montreat.org.

Back Home Leader Information

Back Home Leaders are super important to the Montreat Experience! The link at the button below will provide you with resources and the necessary information to help your youth conference experience be a success.

Main Phone Number

Physical Address

401 Assembly Drive
Montreat, NC 28757

Mailing Address

Montreat Conference Center
PO Box 969
Montreat, NC 28757

Business Office

Montreat Conference Center
318 Georgia Terrace
Montreat, NC 28757

Business Hours:
Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm

The Montreat Store

Phone: 828.669.5298

Moore Center, Second Floor
303 Lookout Road
Montreat, NC 28757

Store Hours:
Monday–Saturday, 10:00 am–5:00 pm
Sunday, CLOSED

The Huckleberry Cafe

Phone: 828.419.9880

Moore Center, Third Floor
303 Lookout Road
Montreat, NC 28757

Year-round Cafe Hours:

Tuesday–Friday, 8:00 am–3:00 pm
Saturday, 8:00 am–6:00 pm
Sunday–Monday, CLOSED

Summer Cafe Hours:
Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–9:00 pm
Saturday, 8:00 am–3:00 pm
Sunday, CLOSED