Registered Participant information
You’re coming to the Great Gathering!
We can’t wait to welcome you to Lake Junaluska in November alongside hundreds of outdoor ministry professionals like you. We’ll keep this page updated with information you need to know as a registered participant. Not registered yet? Click the button above to get started.
Checked this page, but still have questions?
Email the Gathering Design Team at info@omcgreatgathering.com and your questions will be directed to the appropriate person.
Conference Schedule (as of May 15)
Sunday, November 9
8:30 a.m. – CampWell Training begins (register separately)
2:00 p.m. – Program check-in opens
4:00 p.m. – room registration opens (rooms may be available earlier)
6:00 p.m. – dinner
7:30 p.m. Welcome and Opening Worship
8:45 p.m. Welcome Reception and Swag Swap
Monday, November 10
7:30 – 9:30 a.m. Breakfast (extended hours Monday only)
10:00 a.m. Keynote and group photo
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:45 – 2:30 p.m. Affinity Groups
2:45 – 4:00 p.m. Workshop 1
4:30 – 5:45 p.m. Workshop 2
6:00 p.m Dinner
7:30 p.m. Evening Worship
8:30 p.m. Trivia Night and Swag Swap
Tuesday, November 11
7:30 a.m. Breakfast opens
9:00 a.m. Keynote
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Workshop 3
12:45 p.m. Association Meetings and boxed lunches
2:00 p.m. Choice of on-site activities and field trips
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Worship
8:30 p.m. Open Mic / Wine and Cheese hospitality
Wednesday, November 12
7:30 a.m. Breakfast opens
8:45 a.m. Keynote
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Workshop 4
12:30 – 1:45 p.m. Lunch
2:00 – 3:15 p.m. Affiniyt Groups
4:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall Closes
4:15 – 5:30 p.m. Workshop 5
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Closing Worship with Communion
Evening hospitality – S’mores and Sparklers
Thursday, November 13
7:00 a.m. Airport shuttle busses depart (breakfast to go)
7:30 a.m. Breakfast opens
11:00 a.m. Check-out deadline
SAFE TRAVELS HOME!
What to Expect
People Who Get It: You’ll meet attendees who live and breathe outdoor ministry – camp leaders, retreat directors, board members and ministry professionals who love camp. We’ll connect cross-denominationally, cross-generationally and around the cross. We hope you’ll leave inspired by one another.
Dynamic Keynote Speakers: We are pleased to welcome Rue Mapp, Dr. Deborah Gilboa, and Brian D. McLaren to the mainstage. Learn more on the speakers page.
Engaging Workshops: You be able to chose from an abundance of excellent learning opportunities across five workshop times. See below for more details.
Inspiring Worship: Isaiah 43:18-19 guides our worship and learning to “Reimagine: a Way in the Wilderness.”
Community & Hospitality: We are planning evening social events and Tuesday afternoon field trips and on-site activities that allow us to connect outside of the more structured activities of a conference.
Affinity Groups: Two opportunities to connect with people like you. One opportunity will connect us across denominational lines with our geogrpahical neighbors, and the other by our unique interests.
Generous Sponsors: It is the generosity of our major sponsors that make an event like the Great Gathering possible. Be sure to thank them.
Excellent Exhibitors: You’ll have an opportunity to interact with over 70 exhibitors who support outdoor ministries like yours. Sign up for give aways.
Interactive Conference App: We’re using the WhoVa app to share all the information you need to know. It will be available to participants in early October.
Workshops (more coming soon!)
You’ll find topics as diverse as supporting summer staff, fundraising, connecting with partner organizations, theology and spiritual development, great info from ACA, and connecting to diverse constituencies. Some highlights include:
Simone Gamble – OAAARS – Re-Imagining Camp: Exploring The Narrative to Build an Inclusive Space for All
Experts and Consultants who specialize in outdoor ministry: GSB , Run River, Sacred Playgrounds, the Sherry Group, Kaleidoscope
American Camp Association: Pursuing ACA Accreditation; Lessons from the ACA Crisis Hotline; The What & How of Character – Early Reflections from Findings from the ACA’s Character at Camp Initiative
Intriguing Topics: Maintenance for Non-Maintenance People – Matt Williams; Are Your Retreat Guests Eating Your Summer Campers? – Dave Sherry; Camp Song Sing Along – Reuben St. Louis; AI at Camp: Friend or Foe- Stephen Ward
Service Project: Packing Hygiene Kits and learning ways you can partner in your context with Church World Service
Compass Points Capstones!
All the Fundraising Angles: Peer-to-Peer Fundraising – Knute Ogren; Overcoming Emotional Obstacles to Fundraising – Tristin Griffin; Managing a Crisis into a Blessing – Mitzie Schafer from GSB; Build Your Bench: Unlock Major Gifts with Passionate, Trained Volunteers – Jennie Dickerson
Developing your summer staff: Yes, And!: Utilizing Improv in Programs – Jeff Wilson; The Power of Narrative Storytelling – Grace Crevier; Green Team Building: Play, Engage, and Lead Sustainability – Danny Sudman; Camp is for the Counselor: Centering Staff Development in Camp Ministry – Sara Tillema; Maximing Every Stage of the Summer Staff Journey – Jared Rendell, Sacred Playgrounds
For your board: Becoming an Effective Board President – Keith Johnson; A Practical Guide for Training New Board Members – Keith Johnson; Leading Through Transition: Ministry of an Intentional Interim Director -Lauri SoJourner; Why You (Or the Director You Supervise) Needs a
Sabbatical – Elise Bates Russell
Diversity: Reclaiming the Outdoors: Closing the Nature Gap – Rhonda Hill; Addressing Abelism and Supporting Neurodivergent Campers – Lisa Bergman; Rethinking Accessibility – Fern Johnson; Using a DEI Perspective on Your Hiring Process – Todd Bartlett; Open to Diversity/Resistant to Change – Melinda Trotti; Ashville Pride Board;
Connecting with partner organization: Building the Bridge Between Camp and Congregation – Drew Yoos; Engaging the Homeschool Community – Carmen O’Shea; Transform Your Camp into a Center for Mission and Ministry- Brain Frick; Land Stewardship: Get Help, Get Paid – Nick Yarde
Theology and Spiritual development: The Labyrinth as Spiritual Practice – Judy Smith; The Spirit in Character Development at Camp – David Berkey; The Spirit Framework for Outdoor Ministry – Eric Klein; Yoga & Faith – Brandy Brown; Theology of the Wilderness – Tony Loretti; Having Hard Conversations about the Bible with Youth (and Also Adults) – Rev. Dr. Matt Skinner Luther Seminary
BONUS OPPORTUNITY!
CampWell x OMC Great Gathering
Join the fastest-growing training program for camp leaders committed to cultivating care and well-being at every level.
Pre-gathering CampWell Training begins Sunday, November 9 at 8:30 am. Register today! Spots opens to the broader camp and youth development community beyond Great Gathering participants on June 30.
CampWell is a six-hour skills-based, in-person, multitiered, training course that guides participants to identify, understand, cultivate, and create a community of well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions
Transportation
The Gathering Team is pleased to offer Airport Shuttles from AVL (Ashville Regional) and GSP (Greenville - Spartanburg). You must reserve your seat.
Sunday November 9 - arrive to GSP by 2:30 p.m. or AVL by 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 13 - Do not schedule departures earier than 11:30 a.m. for GSP or 11:00 a.m. for AVL.
> Reserve Airport Shuttles from AVL or GSP here.
> Driving Directions & Other Transportation Options
> See the Carpool page to connect with a ride (or offer one!)
Lodging
Register for the Great Gathering Conference at this link and reserve a Room/Lodging through a special link with Lake Junaluska.
Checkin for lodging begins at the Welcome Center at 4pm. Be sure to include your cell phone number when registering, as the Lake Junaluska staff will text you if your room is ready before 4pm.
You are encouraged to pay your total lodging bill with Lake Junaluska before arrival, even the day before! This will shorten your wait when registering. You may pay over the phone directly to the Reservation Desk at 1-800-222-4930.
How much do meals cost if I'm staying at Junaluska?
All meals are added on to and billed with your lodging rate which is booked through the Lake Junaluska link specifically created for our Great Gathering conference. Meals are provided from Sunday night dinner through Thursday breakfast ($201.50) and are prorated should you be staying fewer nights.
What is the commuter meal fee?
This fee includes use of Lake Junaluska facilities and meals for those not staying onsite. Option 1 includes 4 dinners (S – W) and 3 lunches (M – W) for $170. Option 2 includes Sunday dinner and 3 lunches (M – W) for $102. Booked with your program registration.
What is the payment and cancellation policy?
When is check in?
Sunday, November 9, 2025: Program Registration begins at 2pm. Room check-in begins at 4pm. Room check-out is 11am.
Can I pay my lodging bill before checkin?
The Lake Junaluska reservation staff is delighted to accept full payment for your lodging bill ahead of time. This will save time for you at check-in. Guests that are sharing a room may also call directly to the reservation staff and pay their share of the bill. (1-800-222-4930) You must have already arranged for your roommate before calling.
May my spouse or another person share a room with me and attend the Great Gathering with me?
Yes. They will be required to register with the Great Gathering as a participant. Lodging and meals will be with your reservation through the Lake Junaluska Great Gathering link.
I have dietary questions or restrictions
Dietary Questions: The Lake Junaluska Food Service staff, under new management since 2019, is committed to meeting your special requests concerning meals. Please indicate your food requests on your Great Gathering registration form. Special request meals will be plated meals; please check in with any server or the dining room captain and give your name and your request. Menu items on the buffet will be clearly labeled with food content. Please remember that as a guest it is your responsibility to indicate your requests when registering. Please reach out to registration@omcgreatgathering.com with any updates.
Is childcare offered?
The Outdoor Ministries Connection is pleased to offer programming for the children and youth of those who want to make the 2025 Great Gathering a memorable family experience. Programming will utilize Lake Junaluska facilities and beautiful campus to provide activities and outdoor experiences.
Children and Youth programs will be offered during all workshop sessions and at other designated times in the daily schedule, freeing parents to fully enjoy the available learning opportunities while their children are enjoying age-appropriate activities and experiences. Childcare & Youth programs will be offered Sunday – Wednesday. In addition to Children & Youth program, parents of infants and toddlers will be provided with “wiggle space” adjacent to the worship auditorium.
Crafts and activities are being planned for the children and youth related to the daily themes or scriptures being used at the event to create connections and conversations for families. Daily outdoor exploration and playtime will be provided for your children to experience the beautiful campus at Lake Junaluska and amazing gifts that God has given us in nature. Depending on the ages and needs of the group, local field trips may be offered.
All volunteers and coordinators of the Children and Youth programs are Praesidium Ministry compliant. Your childcare coordinators have also been background checked and cleared through Ministry Safe protocols. The OMC understands the importance of making it possible for participants with children to attend the Great Gathering. Therefore, the children’s and youth programming is provided without a program fee. It is our hope that this will make the 2025 Great Gathering an awesome family experience. Should you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact the Childcare Coordinator, Becky Valenzuela at freedomtake2@gmail.com.
To register your children, simply provide the requested information about your children on the registration form. A more detailed registration packet will be sent to you prior to the event.
Roomate Finder
If you are looking for a roommate for the conference, please go to the Great Gathering Roommate Finding Form. It is not OMCGG’s responsibility to provide you with a roommate for the Event, and OMCGG only provides the Roommate Finding Form as a means to facilitate independent roommate arrangements for the duration of the Great Gathering. Users of the Roommate Finding Form are responsible for coordinating room payment plans for lodging at Lake Junaluska with each other. OMCGG takes no responsibility for payments or splitting thereof and will not intervene to settle agreements or issues that may arise. You do not need to let the registrar know if you have a roommate. (Each person attending the conference must register and pay the program fee.)
Once you have completed this form, you will be added to the list and will receive a link to the responses within a few days so that you can identify other folks on the list. The two (or more) of you will need to make arrangements for housing on your own, including how to make payment and how to split the bill. Please read the general release carefully to ensure you understand the process and policies.
I still have questions
For registrations-related questions and troubleshooting, contact the conference registration team.
We have a team ready to help with any registration issues or pressing questions. Contact the team below and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible.
