Pre-arrival Notes for Summer Staff

Important Dates

  • As stated in your contract, Saturday, July 4 is a work day for all Summer Staff. The weeks around the Fourth of July are wonderfully busy in Montreat, and we will likely ask you to do jobs or work hours outside of the norm. Thanks for your flexibility!   
  • The end date listed on your contract is when we are expecting you to leave Montreat. In most cases, the day before that is your last work day. Saturday, August 8 is a full work day for Contract A. Friday, July 31 is a full work day for Contract B. In most cases, you’ll be able to leave that evening if you live nearby. However, you are welcome to stay until the next morning if needed.

Name Tags

Each staff person is given a name tag. You should wear it any time you’re on duty (including throughout orientation week).    

Paychecks

Paydays are every two weeks occurring every other Friday for the duration of the summer. For folks arriving May 31 or later, your first paycheck will be on June 18. Paycheck amounts will depend upon the number of weeks you are working, your housing deductions (if any), and time off deductions (if any). Direct deposit is required.  

Insurance

The Conference Center carries liability insurance, which will cover claims due to accidents or negligence where the Conference Center is deemed responsible. Health insurance is not provided, so come prepared with individual or family health insurance information (insurance company name, policy number, insurance card, etc.). Drug stores and doctors’ offices may not file for insurance claims, so you will need to save some cash for the unexpected.  

Summer Staff & Music 

If you are a singer or instrumentalist, we would love to know about it! One of our summer traditions is to invite Summer Staff musicians into leadership for Summer Worship on Sunday mornings. If you are a singer, instrumentalist, or handbell player, and you would like to participate in music leadership for Summer Worship, contact Eric Wall (ewall@whitememorial.org and 828-713-8834) or keep an eye out for a paper sign up sheet at check in.  Your first chance to check out Summer Singers will be Monday, June 1.  We would love to welcome your gifts! 

Internet & Phone Service 

Cell phone service in Montreat isn’t always great. It’s possible you might have to go outside of a building to get a good signal, or not have a signal everywhere in the lodges. We’ve found that AT&T and Verizon have the strongest signals.  

NEW this summer: Lookout, Sylvan, and Balsam Lodges are getting wifi! This is a brand new development so set up might not be complete by the time you get here, but internet is available any time at The Moose (hub for Summer Staff evening events and Ministry Team), and other wireless points are available throughout the campus.  

Housing & Laundry 

If you have asked us to provide your housing, with very few exceptions, you will be assigned to one of the following: Sylvan Heights, Balsam Lodge, or Lookout Lodge. As stated in your contract, $17.50/week will be deducted from your paycheck to pay for housing. (Your department pays an equal amount toward your housing.) Lodges have fully equipped kitchens, including microwaves and dishwashers.  

Summer Staff lodges are each equipped with washers and dryers. These are free, and shared by all lodge occupants. There are also coin-operated facilities about 3 miles away in Black Mountain, if you find that more convenient.   

Mail 

The fastest and most reliable way for you to get mail is to rent a seasonal PO Box from the Montreat Post Office. You may get a box number prior to your arrival by going to www.usps.com and renting a box online or going to your local post office and getting the application form for getting a P.O. Box. You can also get a P.O. Box once you are here in Montreat simply by stopping by the Post Office to fill out the forms and pay the fee. The USPS does not deliver to street addresses in Montreat, but some carriers like Amazon may be able to. If no other option is available to you, you may use the conference center’s mailing address, but please be sure to clearly include “Summer Staff” with your name. 

What to Wear

All Summer Staff should wear clothing that is neat and clean, but comfortable, since you will have an active summer. For cool mornings and evenings, bring a sweatshirt or sweater. Refrain from wearing excessive face jewelry and observe appropriate dress based on your work area.  

You may opt to bring some nicer clothes for Sunday worship services or other special occasions, but it’s not required. When a Summer Staffer is in a position of worship leadership or on the stage of Anderson Auditorium (including as part of Summer Singers), take care that the focus remains on God, not individual leaders. The stage or worship coordinator has sole discretion to determine if the attire is appropriate.  

Some work areas and activities have more specific dress guidelines:  

  • Clubs and Recreation staff on duty should refrain from wearing clothes that prevent them from being actively and comfortably involved in high energy activities with children (things like: spaghetti strap tops, tube tops, halter tops, midriff-exposing tops, short shorts, low riding shorts or pants (you will be involved in high energy activities with children, and your clothing should not prevent you from participating fully and comfortably). Clothing should not include references to alcohol, sexual innuendos, images that ridicule a person’s gender, sexuality, or geographic/ethnic origin. In general if you’re not sure whether you should wear something, probably don’t risk it! 
  • Lifeguards on duty and Clubs staff on duty with their groups at the pool: Bathing suits should be one-piece or in the style of shorts. 
  • Facilities and Production Crews will wear staff shirts whenever they are working. 
  • If you’re interested in participating in Summer Singers or other worship/stage leadership, please be sure to pack at least one pair of long pants or a long skirt/dress. 

What to Pack

This list includes suggestions but might not be exhaustive! If you have questions, let us know at montreatstaff@gmail.com.  

  • Comfy clothes based on the guidelines above (Some people also choose to bring a few dressier clothes for Sunday morning worship or other events, but it’s not required.)  
  • Toiletries
  • Sunscreen and bug spray 
  • Rain jacket 
  • Water bottle 
  • Swimsuit (Clubs/Pre-Clubs Counselors and Lifeguards: see guidelines above) 
  • Musical instruments, if you play 
  • For those in conference center housing: 
  • Under-bed storage (optional, but helpful; storage is limited in lodges) 
  • Bedding for a twin sized bed, including a pillow 
  • Towel(s)  

What Not to Pack

  • Extra furniture 
  • TVs, monitors, or other expensive electronics you’d be worried about losing or getting damaged 
  • Pets (even if they’re contained to a tank or bowl) 
  • Too much stuff (bring less than you think you need!) 

Clubs 3-day Camping Trips 

Clubs counselors with Juniors, Junior Highs, and Senior Highs: one of your responsibilities as staff for our older groups is to attend a 3-Day camping trip with your campers. You will receive a 3-Day packing list in a separate email (the same list we share with participants). Please read this email carefully and bring those things with you if you can. If you need help finding this gear, please let us know in advance and we will do our best to help you.