College-aged adults transform summers at camp and conference center
‘Without them, we would not be able to run our summer programs,’ says staff ranger
MONTREAT, North Carolina — Every summer, more than 100 college-aged adults from across the country call Montreat Conference Center home as they help run its summer programming. This tradition has continued for nearly a century, forming lifelong bonds between staff members and the Montreat community.
This year’s summer staff filled a variety of roles, including A/V, Aud Crew, marketing assistant, rangers, Montreat Store staff, Huckleberry Café staff, clubs counselors, and lifeguards. Some were returning, but for others it was also their first time on staff.
Tyler Busch, a recent college graduate, was one of two summer staff interns in the development office. A year ago, Montreat wasn’t even on his radar. Busch grew up in the Episcopal Church in Atlanta and spent summers at the diocese’s camp in North Georgia.
That changed after attending Montreat’s College Conference in January 2025, held despite extensive damage from Hurricane Helene just three months earlier. At the conference, Busch learned about applying for summer staff and decided it would be a great way to spend his post-grad summer. “Being here and the many doors that have opened has truly been a blessing, but I’m not the only one,” he said.
John Curran, a student at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, served this summer on the ministry team, returning after a powerful experience the year before as a back home group leader for Week 6 of the Montreat Youth Conference. That year, Curran had a moving encounter with a conferee who had recently come out as transgender. “At the end of the week, the conferees wrote affirmations for each other, and that conferee wrote for me how they were really glad to meet someone in the LGBT+ community going to seminary,” Curran said. That moment shaped his understanding of Montreat’s acceptance of everyone and inspired him to return.
Maggie Reetz served as the music instructor, teaching “clubbies” all the nostalgic Montreat dances. She was introduced to Montreat through a friend at Elon University. Having attended a performing arts high school, Reetz loved reconnecting with music in her role as instructor.
Summer staff lived for 10 weeks in one of three designated lodges — Balsam, Lookout or Sylvan — each with a resident advisor. Balsam’s Lodge’s RA, Efe Egberi, learned about Montreat through her professor at Catawba College. Her responsibilities included ensuring residents enjoyed their living space and providing support. It was also a summer of firsts for Egberi. “I’ve never been to the mountains before, nor have I ever gone paddle boarding and rock climbing until now,” she said. She added that seeing a bear up close for the first time was both cool and a little nerve-racking.
“It’s not Montreat without the daily bear-sighting, that’s for sure,” said Busch. That sentiment was shared by summer staff coordinator Jason Nanz, affectionately known as “Ranger Jason,” who oversaw five summer rangers repairing hurricane-damaged trails, leading public hikes and building bridges, among other important tasks.
Summer staff is a welcome sight for the year-round employees, said Nanz, because it “fills in seasonal gaps in our employment, and without them we would not be to run the summer programs.”
While summer staff greatly supports operations, each member also brings new energy and love to Montreat. The experience offers opportunities to deepen their relationship with God and gain a greater appreciation of God’s Creation. Here, they leave an impact on all who walk through the hallowed gate, furthering the conference center’s mission “to gather people to experience God’s transforming power and inspire love for the world.”
If you are wondering what your next summer’s plans could be, consider a summer staff job at Montreat or at any of the camp and conference centers of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Originally from Atlanta, Tyler Busch graduated with his bachelors degree in public relations from Georgia Southern University this past May. He contributed this article as part of his work on summer staff with the development office at Montreat Conference Center.
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