It is important to start working with your group about this experience. They will likely be challenged in many ways.

The back home devotional guide will be posted on the Middle School Conference Resources.

Commissioning Service Liturgy

In response to requests, we've developed brief liturgy for a short commissioning service for young people and adult leaders who are headed to Montreat Youth Conferences.

• Download a Commissioning Service Liturgy PDF that you can print quickly and fill in the blanks on the go!
• Download a Commissioning Service Liturgy DOC that you can edit yourself.

Registration

Make sure that you have completed a registration form. Wondering who you should register? Include the following:

• Youth (rising sixth grade to graduated 8th grade)
• Adult leader(s) over 21 years of age (AT LEAST ONE ADULT PER GROUP IS REQUIRED TO REGISTER)

Wristbands

Wristbands will be worn by all conferees (youth & adults) and are required for admission to all conference events.

All persons wearing wristbands will be expected to adhere to all Middle School Conference guidelines.

Housing and Conference T-shirts

A link to the Housing and t-shirt form will be available in your Back Home Packet. Please submit as soon as you get it. Deadline for submission is June 1.

After June 15, we cannot guarantee housing or t-shirt size changes. Adding participants might be possible, but you would likely need to bring an air mattress.

All beds at Maryville College are (XL)Twin. Most rooms have two twin beds and bathroom access is on the hall. Please specify on your housing form if you have any married/coupled adults and/or parents attending with children. We highly discourage non-related youth and adults from rooming together, and we will not place them together. Most rooms do not have refrigerators but shared fridges are available on most floors. All rooms are air-conditioned.

We will make every effort to honor your requests; however, Montreat and Maryville College reserve the right to house participants where needed.

You will indicate on your housing form the appropriate tshirt size for each participant. All sizes are adult. We cannot guarantee available sizes after the order is placed. We do our best to make trades, but please be careful when making your selections on the form.

Fill out MyMontreat

The MyMontreat program is an online system that allows you to enter demographic and contact information about each registrant of the conference. The MyMontreat program will then produce the following documents which you MUST BRING TO CHECK-IN. When you receive your back-home packet 60 days before your conference, you will be given further instructions about this process.

• Group Covenants
  • The group covenant form is a document that explains our expectations for participant’s behavior while they are at a Montreat youth experience. It is important that you talk to your group and their parents about the covenant and that each participant and their parent sign it.
  • The group leader will be able to send a MyMontreat link to their youth allowing them and their parents to complete and sign their covenant/participant information online.
  • Once completed, the group leader can print out the conference covenant signature page to be turned in at Check-In.  You may choose to print the covenants or a copy of the signature page for your records. Montreat does not collect individual covenants.
• Participant Locator Form
  • Bring a printed copy of the locator form to submit at registration.

Sale of Items & Use of Montreat Identity

The sale of items by individuals or by youth groups is prohibited without approval prior to the conference. Any groups wishing to use the trademark/copyrighted name “Montreat”, the Montreat logo, or the Montreat Gate on any t-shirts or clothing items must request approval from the Conference Center. Direct those requests to Tanner Pickett, Vice President, Sales, Marketing & Communications, at tannerp@montreat.org, or call 828.419.9808, and a usage license will be granted to you free of charge.

Packing List and Dress Code

As we build a Christian community based on mutual trust and respect, Montreat Conference Center seeks to respect the choices of individuals in expressing themselves while setting norms to establish an atmosphere conducive to faith development and personal growth. Packing list and dress code will be available with the Back Home Packet.

Small Group Placement
Participants are assigned to small groups so that there are ordinarily no two individuals from each Back Home Group in the same Small Group. We ask that you trust the process of Small Group placement - it works! Year after year, strangers on Monday morning have become life-long friends by week’s end.

Why is it important that adults attend Small Group during Montreat Youth Conferences?

1. The youth conferences are a partnership ministry between youth and adults. All Planning Teams consist of both youth and adult members who contribute to the planning of the conferences. By having adults in small groups we are further upholding our commitment to partnered ministry between youth and adults.
2. Montreat’s Juvenile Protection Policy requires youth and adults to meet in groups. We have a two adult rule and an adult is never to be alone in a room full of youth. When adults attend small group they help to uphold Montreat’s Juvenile Protection Policy.
3. Adults can help insure that the programming that takes place during small group runs easily. When the small group is occasionally broken up in to smaller groups of 3-4 youth for short periods of time for discussion, prayer, Bible Study, and games, the adults in the group can be dispersed throughout these smaller groups to participate, helping to insure that conversation and activities are running smoothly. The adults in the small group can be a big help in assisting the small group leader with a variety of tasks.
4. We always appreciate having several sets of adult ears in each small group to listen for pastoral care concerns and issues from the youth that might require the attention and a response from conference staff. Also, in the event of an emergency, adults can serve in very helpful ways to help insure the group’s safety. For a variety of reasons, we never want a Small Group Leader to be the only adult in the room.

We are deeply thankful for your presence at the conference and hope you will make every effort to participate in a small group while you are here.

If, as a youth minister or Back Home Leader, you are aware of a special need regarding small group placement (wheelchair access, recent experience of trauma or grief, etc.), please indicate that need in writing via email to evelync@montreat.org as soon as you’re aware. Staff and directors will be sensitive to all such requests.

• Work Crew: High school youth have an opportunity to participate in the Middle School Conference in a unique way-as a member of the Work Crew. We are looking for high school students who want to attend the conference with their church groups. You will have the chance to help the conference planning team during the week. You will work behind the scenes, learn the ropes, and get an up-close look at what is involved in running a Middle School Conference. The number of work crew members will be limited. The application can be found here. Application deadline is May 15.
• Variety Show: Once again, our youth will have a chance to share their gifts and talents with the conference! The standard covenant understandings will apply (4 minutes or less, appropriate content and dress, etc.) and variety will be sought as conference directors choose the acts! Click here to download the Variety Show Requirements.

Juvenile Protection and Harassment Policies

Download Montreat Conference Center’s Juvenile Protection Policy and Harassment Policy. All Montreat Middle School Conference leadership receive training on these policies.

Insurance & Medical Information

Due to dramatically increased rates for conferee accident insurance, Montreat is no longer able to provide this coverage. Liability insurance is carried to cover accidents or negligence where the conference center is deemed responsible. Health insurance is not provided. Trips to the doctor/ER should be prepared for with health insurance information on each member of the Back Home Group.

We also no longer collect medical or insurance information for Montreat Middle School Conference participants. It is the responsibility of the back home leader and church to have medical and insurance information on file for each MMSC participant. Should the need arise in a medical emergency, you might be asked to make this information available.

Conference Evaluations

After you arrive back-home, you’ll receive an email with a link to a survey. We welcome your feedback and look forward to hearing about your experiences while at a Montreat Middle School Conference.

Cell Phones

We recognize that the use of isolating technology often prevents youth and adults from being fully engaged in conference activities. Therefore, we request that youth and adults alike use a way that helps build community, and we will be modeling some of those ways during the conference. Responsible & respectful social media use is now a part of our conference covenant. We will rely on Back Home Leaders to help young people fully engage in conference activities and share these expectations. Conference staff does monitor a variety of social media sites.

Smoking Policy

Smoking is prohibited. This includes incense, candles, and vaping. This is a conference for impressionable young minds, and we would like to keep our recreation events healthy for everyone. Your cooperation in adhering to this policy for the health of all is appreciated.

Environmental Concerns

Stewardship of God’s creation is an important concern for all of God’s people.

• Recycling: Conferences generate a lot of trash. Your help in recycling using appropriate receptacles is needed and appreciated.
• Water Bottles: It can get hot in Maryville, so we encourage lots of water-drinking. To cut down on waste, please bring a water bottle to use while you are here. We will have water stations available at outdoor events.