Overview
—2022 Dates—
Session 1 – June 16-19
Session 2 – June 21-24
Session 3 – July 7-10
Session 4 – July 12-15
Massanetta’s Middle School Conference transforms the faith journey of hundreds of middle schoolers from all around the country. Every aspect of this conference is crafted with middle schoolers in mind. Conference activities like keynote, recreation, encounter groups, and workshops are centered on the theme of the summer.
We promise it will be one of the best things your youth do all year!
Please see our Registration tab for pricing and registration information.
Countdown to Middle School Conference
Session 1 starts in . . .
Questions?
Call: 540-434-3829
Email: registrar@massanettasprings.org
Click on our registration tab for more info about registration.
Registration
Please follow the instructions below CAREFULLY.
Online Registration
Step 1: Your church/group leader must fill out this form with general group information and estimated numbers to reserve spaces for your group. We will then generate a “group hold code” and send it to your leader. If you have questions, please call 540-434-3829 to speak to our registrar.
Step 2: Your church/group leader will receive an information packet. The church/group leader and all adult participants and parents should read this information packet in FULL. It contains critical information about the conference and registration, and includes copies of a couple other forms we will need from you (the housing preference form that leaders will need to fill out and the 2022 scholarship form if there is financial need).
Step 3: Once your church/group leader has the “group hold code,” they will distribute it to your group. Parents/guardians will be able to register their youth (completed 5th - 8th) and adult advisors will be able to register themselves using that “group hold code.” They will not pay individually online. The church/group leader will pay for everyone registered at once through the separate leader account. (Note that forms from the info packet will also be available through online registration for download and upload on your ‘dashboard’).
When you have the code…
Step 4: For church/group leaders only. Leaders will be able to log into their separate account to view who has registered and the remaining bill for the group. This is where the full group payment will be made.
Offline Registration
Doing stuff online isn’t your thing? No worries, we have kept the “old way” of registering for Middle School Conference available. Everything you will need as church/group leader and participant is available in this packet:
FAQ
How much does Middle School Conference cost?
$435 per person for Hotel & Cottage style housing
$375 per person for Cabins
There is a $40 discount per person if everyone from your group hold is registered by April 18th.
What does the registration fee cover?
Programming, housing and meal costs are included in the registration fee! Each participant also gets a t-shirt with the theme logo.
Pricing includes meals from dinner on the first day of the conference to breakfast on the last day.
What ages are eligible to participate in Middle School Conference?
MSC is created for youth that have completed grades 6th through 8th. Some youth groups start to incorporate rising 6th graders into their youth program and bring them to the Middle School Conference. It is up to the youth leader to decide if youth just completing 5th grade can attend MSC. If you have any questions, please contact the Program Director, Colleen Earp at colleen@massanettasprings.org.
What are the arrival/departure times?
Arrive between 1:00 and 3:45 pm. If your group arrives after 3:45 pm, you will miss important opening activities. The conference will end around 11:30 a.m.
Does Massanetta offer scholarships?
Scholarships are provided from our 2021 worship offerings. If you need assistance for a youth, please complete and submit the Scholarship Form found below BEFORE registering your group. Funds will be distributed as requests are made and typically for $100.
What are the housing options available?
The Hotel consists of 2-room suites with 2 twin beds in each room (some have an additional trundle for a group of 3). A hall bathroom connects the 2 rooms. The Hotel is air-conditioned with all linens provided.
Wilson and Virginia Cottages sleep 20-24, have air conditioning, a meeting space, and linens provided. The cottages are for large groups and may be requested.
The Cabins in our wooded area are available at the reduced rate of $335/pp before April 18th. All cabins sleep 8 persons and are air-conditioned. Please bring your own linens. The bath house is a short walk from each cabin.
What is Massanetta’s Payment Policy?
50% of the total group balance is due by April 18th. If requesting a group hold after April 18th, 50% of the balance must be paid within 5 business days of the initial group hold request. The remaining balance will be due upon arrival.
What is Massanetta’s Refund Policy?
We know that this year might still look a little different than pre-pandemic conferences. We anticipate releasing our initial Covid procedures for MSC 2022 on May 1, 2022. Groups that have registered before the release of our policy will have until May 15 to request a full refund, no questions asked.
Groups that cancel after May 15 will receive a 50% refund up until 7 days prior to the start of your session start date.
Generally, there are no refunds for cancellations within 7 days of the conference start date.
Advocate Program
Building Leaders who Love God, the Church, and the World
Each year Massanetta Springs invites 44 ministry-minded high school youth, called Advocates to serve and lead within the Middle School Conferences. This dynamic leadership program provides a place where youth can lead alongside adults as mentors, facilitators, encouragers, older siblings, and faith friends.
Heralded as one of the strongest and most significant leadership tracks in the Church today, the Massanetta Springs Advocate Program changes the lives of younger youth who attend, empowers the faith of the older youth who serve, and creates for the Church a powerful witness to the work and faith of young people in the 21st century.
The Advocates are woven into the flow of every aspect of the conferences, unpacking the scripture in keynotes, organizing large group recreation activities, leading in worship, and building the conference community as they ARE the small group leaders.
The Advocate Program is entering its 30th year! It is with joy and thanksgiving that we acknowledge the hundreds of young adults who have been impacted by this program. Many continue in full time Christian ministry and a majority continue to worship, serve, and fellowship in faith communities around the nation.
June Leadership
June 16-19 and June 21-24
Co-Directors
Rev. Anna Owens
(she/her) Anna serves as an Associate Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton, OH, but she calls South Carolina home. She and her husband, Josh, have a one-year-old son and two spoiled rescue dogs. Her hobbies seem to change with the wind, but she will always love contemporary fiction, tacos, and oatmilk lattes. Anna is excited to be back at ‘Netta this summer!
Rev. Jonathan Moelker
(he/him) Jonathan is the pastor at Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church in Vinton, VA. He lives in Roanoke, VA where his fiance, Isabella, is also a pastor. He first found Massanetta through the Mission@Massanetta program and has also been the Advocate Coordinator for the Middle School Conference twice.
Jonathan loves the outdoors and tries to spend as much time in the sunlight as he can. Much of his free time is spent running or walking on the many sidewalks, greenways, and trails that cover Roanoke. He is excited to travel back to Massanetta for Middle School Conference this year.
KEYNOTE
Rev. Jayme Babczak
(she/her) Jayme is a United Church of Christ pastor with a passion for interfaith, ecumenical, and all-ages ministry. Originally from Reading, PA, she has served churches in Richmond, VA and Yarmouth, ME. She holds Masters degrees in Divinity and Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary. She also loves memorizing broadway soundtracks, coaching little league softball, and going on adventures with her beloved pup, Darby.
RECREATION
Hilary Lambert
(she/her) Hilary is thrilled to be returning to MSC! She is a Massanetta alum, having attended as a participant, advocate, and workshop director in the past. She grew up in the Presbytery of the James and made her way West after college. She has a BA in Geography from The University of Mary Washington and an M.Ed. In Curriculum and Instruction from Weber State University. She lives with her husband, two young children, and beloved dog in Salt Lake City, UT where she has worked as a teacher and children's ministry director, and currently works as an educator and outdoor professional, serving as an adjunct professor of education at Weber State and outdoor recreation and CEO of an outdoor education nonprofit, the Wasatch Mountain Institute.
MUSIC
Drew Wilmesherr
(he/him) Wilmesherr is a Top 40 Mashup of West Virginia and Mississippi. He was designed and made in Atlanta, Georgia. He's made of collard greens, guitar strings, and stories about Jesus. He went to Middle-Tennessee State University (Go Blue Raiders!), where he studied English and Recording Industry Management. In between classes and projects, he attended the Presbyterian Student Fellowship at MTSU, making lifelong friends, leading worship (the guitars and synthesizers kind), and discovered a passion for ministry and the person of Jesus. In 2016 he graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary with a Master's in Divinity, and has been assisting with UKirk Atlanta college ministries. When he isn’t trying to refine the perfect hot sauce recipe for pizza, he’s hammering out new ways to sing about God and all the stuff of being alive.
July Leadership
July 7-10 and July 12-15
CO-DIRECTORS
Caroline Janes
(she/her) Caroline currently lives in Concord, NC with her husband, daughter, and their two crazy dogs. When she is not at youth conferences she works full time as a nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Caroline first experienced Massanetta Springs as a middle schooler at the middle school conference. The wonderful experiences he had as a middler then led her to serve as an advocate, back home group leader, and Recreation leader at Massanetta. Caroline is thrilled to continue her journey as a Co-Director for the upcoming conference and she cannot wait for you to meet the amazing group of adult leaders and advocates working hard to make this an amazing experience for everyone.
Matt Hartley
(he/him) Matt Hartley is a proud Presbyterian and passionate promoter of Interfaith friendship. He is also a Florida Man who has been known to leap over Rattlesnakes. He loves Star Wars, Andy Capp’s Hot Fries, running Half-Marathons very slowly, and reading all the books. He takes joy in being Dad to his 11 year old son and 13 year old daughter (how is he already a parent of a middle schooler?!). Matt currently leads the Interfaith Center at University of North Florida in Jacksonville, and previously spent a decade as a Presbyterian youth minister, when he brought his youth to the Middle School Conference at Massanetta and served in leadership. He is a member of Palms Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville Beach. He is excited to be back at Massanetta with all y’all!
KEYNOTE
Rev. Whitney Fauntleroy
(she/her) Whitney lives in Arlington, Virginia but will always call the Triangle area of North Carolina home. Whitney is the Associate Pastor of youth and young adults at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria Virginia. She’s currently on medical leave as she recovers from a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed. She is a big fan of live music and has been to over 50 concerts. Whitney likes to read, watch mediocre reality TV and hang out with her friends. Whitney is super excited to be able to come to Massanetta this summer.
RECREATION
MUSIC
Rev. Alex Fischer
(he/him) Alex Fischer is an ordained PCUSA pastor and has been in love with music and playing guitar since he was 11 years old. For Alex, music and faith have always walked hand-in-hand. Music provides a way for us to explore spirituality in unique and meaningful ways. Born and raised in North Carolina, he now lives in Hillsborough, NC with his wife Lisa and their dog Banner. Alex currently serves as the pastor for Hillsborough Presbyterian Church. When he’s not pretending to be an adult, you can usually find him watching (Marvel) movies, eating cheeseburgers, day-dreaming about theme parks, or listening to his favorite bands (anything that’s loud and energetic).
Workshop Directors
Workshop Directors lead hands-on, experiential opportunities for middle school youth participants and their high school and adult leaders to engage with the conference theme. This year's theme is "Blessed be..." based on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-11). We're looking for caring, passionate, engaging church leaders to help guide participants and support the success of the Middle School Conference!
Decisions will be made by the Program Director and Conference Co-Directors. All applicants should be notified of decisions by the end of February.
Questions? Contact Colleen Earp, Program Director, at colleen@massanettasprings.org.
2021 MSC Resources
JUNE SESSIONS
JULY SESSIONS