REGISTRATION opens in november.
Massanetta Springs Middle School Conference is a transformational program that welcomes hundreds of middlers and their leaders from all over the country each summer. Participants attend keynotes, recreation, workshops, and worship designed by the Advocates (high school leaders) with them in mind. Encounter Groups provide an opportunity to reflect and learn alongside youth from other places, led by Advocates.
2027 Dates
MSC 1: 6/24-27
MSC 2: 6/29-7/2
MSC 3: 7/8-11
MSC 4: 7/13-16
Conference arrival is 1:00-3:00 on the first day,
and concludes with worship on the final day, usually ending around 11:30.
Registration deadline is two weeks before the conference starts
in order for our Program Team to finalize details.
Questions?
Contact Rev. Colleen Earp, Program Direcor:
colleen@massanettasprings.org
540-434-3829
Our 2027 conference theme is “Be Here Now” from Matthew 6:25-34. Each year, the planning team chooses a theme after a rapid-fire round of Bible study. Each member of the team brings an excerpt from scripture, which we study, discuss, and think about the impact and influence it might have for middlers in the year ahead. After going over more than a dozen offerings, there was clear consensus emerging around a theme of being present here and now, which led us to these verses from Matthew.
Here’s more about the theme in the words of our Lead Advocates: A lot is going on in the world today and we chose the theme “Be Here Now” to represent the importance of being present in the moment. We spend too much time focusing on what comes next, and we miss the little things in life and what God is doing in the moment. At Massanetta Springs, we have learned to be present and realize experiences like this don’t happen everyday. We are hoping that this theme encourages middlers and chaperones alike to enjoy the experience of Massanetta and be present during the conference. We acknowledge that worry doesn’t stop just because you're at camp, and we hope the lesson of living in the moment helps us to recognize God's presence with us here, too.
Our Building a Place for All campaign is entering the most exciting phase: building!
We’ll share some updates here about how that will or won’t impact our 2027 Middle School Conferences.
We’re excited to be living into our mission to be a place for all people with this new more accessible and comfortable lodge!
information packet
Here is the information packet, with everything you need to know about registering and bringing a group. All of that information is also found on this webpage, this just has it all listed in one document. The 2027 info packet will be available when registration opens in November.
REGISTRATIOn
See below for a suggested timeline for registration!
DEPOSITS
There is a $25/person deposit to sign up for a group hold. You will not be able to register until the deposit is paid, and deposits are not transferrable or refundable. The goal is to help all of us get more organized around registration— in the past few years, group hold numbers have been increasingly overestimated. While we understand an optimistic buffer to make sure you’ve got the spots you need, it’s become harder and harder to accurately estimate housing and staffing needs on our end. To keep costs as modest as possible, we’re aiming for a more intentional system.
LATE REGISTRATIONS
We’ll do everything we can to accommodate late registrations, but it puts a lot of pressure on housing, facilities, and food service, as well as our program team, when we have a lot of last minute changes. It takes extra time to reassign encounter groups, redo housing assignments, and get accurate information to the operations department.
The late fee will not apply to a 1:1 swap (example: a female chaperone has to drop out, and you replace her with another female chaperone); the late fee will apply to swaps that are not the same gender or status (chaperone/youth), in addition to the cost of cancellation, according to our refund policy.
suggested timeline for registration
September: start checking with your families and decide on which session works best for you
October: work on figuring out who’s interested and committed
November: request your group hold and pay your deposit
December-April: get folks registered under the discounted earlybird rate! You might consider hosting a registration event at youth group to do the forms together, and help troubleshoot any registration issues.
April-May: hold a family meeting to go over the covenant, packing list, and your own group’s expectations
June-July: join us at Middle School Conference!
FOR current 5-7 graders
Do you have a Netta Day Camp Graduate,
or a teenager who doesn’t have a regular youth group to join?
Individual registrations are available for youth who don’t have a group to attend with! This program was designed with Netta Day Camp graduates and small churches without youth programs in mind.
Join us for Massanetta's Middle School Conference, Session 4, July 13-16. You’ll arrive a day early on Monday, July 14 to get to know your group and enjoy the site before the conference starts. Individual registrations will be accompanied by our own Netta Day Camp counselors, attending keynotes, recreation, workshops, encounter groups, and worship.
Middle School Conference is a transformational program that welcomes hundreds of middlers and their leaders from all over the country each summer. The program is designed by the Advocates (high school leaders) with middle school youth in mind.
This five day, four night program is $595, including all programs and a t-shirt.
Group size is limited! Reach out to our Program Director, Colleen to get registration information: colleen@massanettasprings.org.
Massanetta Middle School Conference is an active, participatory event with worship, keynote, small group discussions, workshops, and recreation throughout our time together.
Arrival and Departure
Groups should arrive between 1:00-3:00 on the first day. The conference concludes with worship with communion on the last day, usually ending by 11:30.
Housing
Standard Housing
Richardson: dorm-style suites have 2-3 twin beds per room, with two rooms sharing a full bathroom. All linens are provided.
Cottages: large houses with multiple bedrooms, hall bathrooms, and a common space. Massanetta has three cottages: Wilson, Hodge, and Virginia, each of which accommodates 16-24+ people. Some larger groups request these spaces; sometimes they are assigned out of necessity, and groups will be notified as much in advance as possible, usually one week. Cottage accommodations include all linens.
Cabins
Our rustic cabins at Camp Massanetta are a more cost-effective option, and also provide more of a camp experience. Cabins have 8 single beds each, with a separate bath house a short walk from the cabin. Adults and youth are housed in separate neighboring cabins. Some cabins include a central lodge for gathering. Linens are not included! Plan to bring sheets and blankets, or sleeping bags, as well as pillows and towels.
Housing Assignments
About one month before the conference, the registrar will send group leaders a blank housing chart, which will be due two weeks before the conference begins.
You know your group best! Follow the directions on the housing chart to assign roommates. Youth and adults will be housed separately and according to gender, in line with our child protection policy. In the case of trans or nonbinary participants, we will consult with the group leader and family to make a housing assignment that feels safe, affirming, and welcoming.
Depending on conference numbers, some participants may need to share a suite with participants from another church. Some adults may need to share a room with adults from another church. Every effort is made to give adults all the space we can; consider this a wonderful opportunity to meet another friend and colleague in ministry!
Packing List
Suggested Packing List
Bible
Toiletries
Sunscreen
Water bottle
Raincoat/umbrella
Alarm clock/watch
Prescription medications
Jacket/sweater/sweatshirt for evenings
Swimsuit, t-shirt, shorts, and towel for slip-n-slide*
Clothing for being active in warm weather (like t-shirts and shorts)
Sturdy/comfortable shoes or sandals (flip flops may only be worn poolside)
There will be a monetary offering collected at closing worship to be used for MSC scholarships for next year. There is also a gift shop with snacks and Massanetta swag.
*T-shirt and shorts must be worn on the slip and slide to reduce the risk of injury. Most people prefer to wear a bathing suit under. If your bathing suit includes swim trunks or board shorts, you don’t need to wear shorts over them! Shoes are not required on the slip and slide, but must be worn elsewhere on the lawn during this recreation session, so it helps to wear something like sandals or crocs (not flip flops!) that will dry easily later.
What Not to Bring
Do not bring: skateboards, scooters, rollerblades; alcohol, tobacco, or drugs; weapons of any kind; anything flammable or explosive; unnecessary technology or valuables.
Dress code
Pack comfortable clothing that will allow you to participate fully in a fun conference! Summertime at Massanetta Springs is hot and humid, and we’ll be active. Please DO NOT bring clothes that run the risk of “wardrobe malfunction” or exposing any underwear. Make respectful choices about logos and symbols on clothing. Conference leadership as well as your own church leaders reserve the right to send participants back to their rooms to change if their clothing will prevent them from actively participating in the conference.
Schedule
Groups should arrive between 1:00-3:00 on the first day of the conference, with programming beginning at 4 and facilitated fun while churches are checking in. The conference concludes with worship with communion on the last day, usually ending by 11:30.
While the schedule varies slightly conference to conference, this is a typical full day:
7:45-8:30 Breakfast
9:00-10:15 Session (energizers, music, theme/keynote)
10:15-11:00 Encounter Groups & Travel Time
11:00-12:00 Workshops
12:00-12:45 Lunch
1:30-3:00 Large Group Recreation
3:00-5:00 Free Time
3:00-4:30 canoes and pool open
5:00-5:45 Dinner
6:00-7:15 Session (energizers, music, theme/keynote)
7:15-7:45 Encounter Groups & travel time
7:45-8:45 Workshops
9:00-9:45 Evening recreation
9:45-10:15 Back Home Group Devotions/QUIET TIME
10:30 Lights out
Frequently asked questions
What grades are included in “middle school”? Because middle school grades vary, as do the needs and configurations of every congregation and youth program, we try to be flexible about this; some churches bring students who have finished 8th grade, some only bring rising 7th and 8th graders. In general, we design the program for students who will be rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders when the conference happens.
Will a youth with special needs be able to attend? We have worked with youth groups and families to support individuals with autism, anxiety, mobility and other accessibility needs. This program might not be the right fit for everyone, but we’d be glad to talk through potential challenges and solutions! Contact the Program Director, Colleen Earp, with questions: colleen@massanettasprings.org or 540-434-3829.
What does the registration fee include? All programming, housing, meals (from dinner on the first day through breakfast on the last day), and conference t-shirts are included in the registration fee.
How many adult chaperones does my group need to include? You will need ONE adult advisor (21 years or older) for every SEVEN youth you bring of each gender. Adult advisors are expected to fully participate in the conference. This doesn’t mean they have to be playing the hardest and fastest; this does mean they have to show up to every part of the program and be supportive of the youth.
Can I bring an adult chaperone who is under 21 years old? Some churches have young adults serving as summer interns and leaders. We require a 1 to 7 ratio for adults over 21 to youth; you may bring trusted adults 18-20 if you still meet the ratio requirement.
How does registration and housing work for nonbinary and transgender participants? Massanetta Springs is a place for all people! Our CampWise registration system will force a binary option under “gender”, but then allow non-binary as an option under “sex”. While that’s not a perfect system, we trust people to know their gender, and will contact individual families and youth leaders to discuss housing options that best suit our non-binary participants. Colleen is happy to answer any questions about this—give her a call at 540-434-3829.
What is Massanetta’s refund policy? Groups that cancel before May 3 will receive a full refund less the credit card processing fee if applicable. After May 5 will receive a 50% refund up until 10 days prior to the start of your session start date. Generally, there are no refunds for cancellations within 10 days of the conference start date. Please remember, if you make a last minute change that is not a 1:1 swap (such as a female chaperone replacing another female chaperone), that counts as a cancellation.
Do you offer scholarships? Yes. At each Middle School Conference, an offering is collected at closing worship to support a scholarship fund for participants the following summer. To request a scholarship for a participant, the group leader should contact the Program Director (colleen@massanettasprings.org). We will ask for a name because a discount needs to be applied to an individual registration; no other information is needed. We will award scholarships as we are able until funds are exhausted for the year.
Each year Massanetta Springs invites up to 44 leadership-minded high school youth, called Advocates, to serve and lead within the Middle School Conferences. This program is pay-what-you-can. We suggest $250 for the two weeks, but whether you can offer $5 or $250 or more, we will do everything we can to make sure cost doesn’t keep anyone away.
This dynamic program provides a place where youth can lead alongside adults as mentors, facilitators, encouragers, and older siblings in faith. Advocates facilitate small groups, organize and lead recreation on the Activities Team (A-Team), plan and lead keynote sessions on the Theme Team (T-Team), as well as build their own community and faith behind the scenes on the J-Team (Jesus Team, which we’re all part of here!).
No experience required in any of these things, or even Massanetta Middle School Conferences— as long as you’re willing to love one another and learn a few things, we’ll be glad to teach you!
Current 10th, 11th, and 12th graders are eligible. The application involves a few short-answer questions as well as references (two supportive adults from outside of your family, at least one of whom you know from church like a pastor, youth leader, or Sunday school teacher).
June Advocates: 6/20-7/3
July Advocates: 7/4-7/17
application will open in november!
Natasha Taylor
June Co-Director
Midlothian, VA
Rev. Todd Davidson
June Co-Director
Richmond, VA
Rev. Dr. Aqueelah Ligonde, keynote
Aqueelah is the Director of Coaching at Ministry Architects. She is an enthusiastic speaker and leader with a passion for today’s generation of youth and women. Aqueelah holds an MDiv from McCormick Theological Seminary and DMin and a certificate in Black Church Studies from Louisville Seminary. She is a member of the Presbytery of New York City, ordained in 2011 as the Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Jamaica, Queens, NY. Since then, she has served and partnered with many organizations, including Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary, Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, Fuller Youth Institute, Urban Youth Workers Institute, Youth Specialties, Holmes Presbyterian Camp, PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer Program, and GenOn/Logos Ministries. International Coaching Federation (ICF)-certified coach through the Coach Approach Skills Training program. Aqueelah is excited for the opportunity to worship and learn with us here at Massanetta!
Rev. Annie Franklin Arvin
July Co-Director
Richmond, VA
Rev. Casey Carbone
July Co-Director
Lewes, DE
Rev. Nick Carson, keynote
Nick Carson is the Associate Pastor for Outreach and Congregational Life at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC. Originally from Laurel, MD, Nick attended college at North Carolina State University (Go Pack!) and seminary at Columbia Theological Seminary. Nick grew up coming to Massanetta Middle School Conference and is so excited to be back working with conference leadership. In his free time, Nick can be found playing guitar in the local bluegrass jam, trying out the best taco shop in town, walking his dog on a nearby trail, searching for thrifted treasures, or reading a good book!
Carolyn Gahan, music leader
Carolyn is a high school choir director in Nashville, TN. Originally from Knoxville, TN, Carolyn grew up in the Presbyterian Church and is no stranger to a Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center. She attended both Middle School Montreat and Montreat Youth Conference as a youth, worked on summer staff at Montreat for several summers, and has led music at the Presbytery of East Tennessee Youth Retreats. She has most recently led as a Small Group Leader at Montreat Youth Conference. This will be her second time at Massanetta, and she is so excited to witness the Middle School Conference for the first time! Carolyn is incredibly excited for this experience and is thankful for the opportunity to learn and lead.
Paige Bach and Rev. Diane Maloney, co-recreation leaders
Bios coming shortly!
We’ll post a folder below containing resources from the 2026 conferences including songs, workshop details, and more.
COMMUNION BREAD RECIPE
We share a common loaf for communion that is gluten free, nut free, soy free, and vegan (but the mix sometimes comes made with honey). Below is a link to the bread mix we use (we do not receive compensation for sharing this link!) as well as the recipe. We make a batch for every 100 people or so. The recipe below is shared by Union Presbyterian Seminary and Ginter Park Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia, where our Program Director attended seminary and church!
From the Pamela’s website
Ingredients
Sorghum Flour, Tapioca Flour, White Rice Flour, Sweet Rice Flour, Brown Rice Flour, Evaporated Cane Sugar, Inulin, Millet Flour, Honey, Rice Bran, Sea Salt, Xanthan Gum, Yeast Packet (active dry yeast).
Pamela's Products are manufactured in a Gluten-Free Certified Facility and peanut-free facility. Our products are produced on equipment that processes Tree Nuts, Coconut, Eggs, Soy, and Milk.