This Week in Montreat – July 9, 2023

Wilderness Hiking Program

The Ranger staff will offer public hikes each Tuesday and Thursday during the summer conference season with two special full day Saturday hikes. Skill demonstrations will be held on Thursdays. All hikes and skills demonstrations are free and open to the public. You must be 13 or older to attend a hike without an adult guardian. Hikes will leave at 9:00 am, unless otherwise, noted from the Montreat Nature Center, located at 301 Lookout Road. All hikes this summer are subject to change based on weather. Return times are approximate.

Public Hike: Walker's Knob 

• Date: Tuesday, July 11
• Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
• Place: The Nature Center

 Skills Demo: Flintknapping and Early Tools

• Date: Thursday, July 13
• Time: 9:00 am
• Place: The Nature Center

Crafts and Pottery

The Currie Craft Center and Sally Jones Pottery are a collaborative ministry of Montreat Conference Center. Craft and pottery classes are open to people 12 years and older. Class offerings vary from week to week. In addition to classes, we offer independent wheel throwing and handbuilding.

Sign up for classes begins online each Friday morning at 8:00 am. The class registration link will be at the top of the Crafts & Pottery page. If you need further assistance, please email montreatpottery@gmail.com or call Ann Laird Jones at 662.347.3614.

Presbyterian Heritage Center

318 Georgia Terrace. 828.669.6556. Free admission.

This center offers multiple museum displays, special events, art galleries, and a reference library. Free WiFi and air-conditioning. Summer exhibits include: Missions in a Changing World; Minting a Tradition: Communion Tokens; Trains, Timber & Tourists: The Story of the Mt. Mitchell Railroad; Early Montreat; Chronicle, Culture & Context: Archaeology & the Old Testament; Who Are Presbyterians?; Montreat Scottish Society and much more!

Craft'n Around

We are having family craft nights this summer!

These events are designed for families of all ages. Youth 12 years of age and above can attend by themselves. Grandparents or parents must accompany children under 12 years of age. Come and explore your creativity while meeting new people and having fun! Cost is $6 per person (cash or check only). 

Clubs and Childcare Announcements

Childcare and Clubs groups are full the week of July 9 with the exception of Jellies and Senior High groups. All other groups have waitlists.

Pickleball

Pickleball is offered June 5–August 4, Monday and Friday mornings from 10:15 am–12:30 pm. The cost is $3 per session. Pickleball will conclude for the summer after the first week in August.

Arts, Music, and Theology

Arts, Music, and Theology is a mission and ministry of Montreat Conference Center. Its purpose is to provide the community with educational nourishment via various lectures and lecturers during our summer season. Themes of the lectures span disciplines.

“Food for the Future: Stories from the Alternative Agro-food Movement”
John Brueggemann

• Date: Tuesday, July 11
• Time: 7:00 - 8:15 pm
• Place: Convocation Hall

Friday Night at the Barn

Summer dances will take place on Friday nights through August 5. 

• Date: Friday, July 14
• Time: 7:30 - 10:00 pm
• Place: The Barn

Big circle mountain dancing is a special Montreat tradition! It's a fun filled night of dances called by the Bannerman family and music from the Stoney Creek Boys. All are welcome, and admission is free.

The Huckleberry Café

The newly renovated Huckleberry is now open! Thanks to generous donors, and efforts of staff and partners, the top floor of the Moore Center has been completely renovated to offer a state-of-the-art dining facility for Montreat visitors. In addition to a fully renovated interior, The Huckleberry menu has also been reworked and will include Dynamite Coffee, ice cream, burgers, the Tennessee Twister, and more!

Second Loaf

Second Loaf continues its long history of collecting food donations for the food insecure in our community beginning Saturday, June 10 (except for July 8), and ending Saturday, August 5, in the parking lot area in front of Black Mountain Presbyterian Church. Second Loaf can only take unopened shelf-ready foods. Frozen, fresh, and prepared foods cannot be accepted. We are grateful for the generous response of groups who drop off their "second loaves" on their way home!

Interested in renting your home to Youth Groups in 2024?

Each year we have youth groups looking for suitable housing for their Montreat Youth Conference experience and we are beginning to update our Private Housing List. Are you interested in renting your house to youth groups in 2024? If so, please fill out the form below, even if you are on our current list. This will allow us to have the most up-to-date information for our list.

If you have questions, please email us at privatehousing@montreat.org.

One Person's Trash

Clubs Crafts has a wish list! Please place items outside the porch of the Currie Craft Center by the double doors or contact Lynn Turnage at 828.707.6354 and/or Susan Haws at 615.584.1009.

• Paper plates - any size
• Ziplock baggies - all sizes
• Wood burners - of any kind
• Old candles or paraffin wax
• Sandbox sand
• Electric extension cords strips
• Electric pencil sharpeners
• Masking tape - any width
• Sandpaper - all grits
• Hemlock pinecones
• Acorn caps
• Hickory nut halves
• Marbles
• Paper towels
• Mod Podge

2023 Adult Summer Clubs Programs

Montreat Adult Summer Club will present its 2023 series of fun and informative Wednesday afternoon programs on July 12th, July 19th, and July 26th. All the programs will be held at 2:30 pm in Upper Anderson. This year's lineup of entertaining speakers includes Al Whitesides, Buncombe County Commissioner; Mike Pritchard, former U.S. Secret Service Agent; and Ron Vinson and Katelyn Powell of the PHC. Please plan on joining your fellow adult Montreaters at these interesting and enjoyable programs!

 Montreat Adult Summer Club Program: Al Whitesides

Leading off this year’s lineup of Montreat Adult Summer Club Programs is Al Whitesides, Buncombe County Commissioner and civic leader. Al is a dynamic individual and living connection to the south's struggle with segregation. Commissioner Whitesides will be sharing some of the memories and perspectives he has gained from his lifetime of leadership and dedication to serving all our communities.

• Date: Wednesday, July 12
• Time: 2:30 pm
• Place: Upper Anderson