Start Marking Your Calendars for Midwinter 2011. No Matter How Far!

Check out these Assorted Midwinter 2010 Photos. And a few more....Midwinter 3 Pics

What is our Mission? Our mission is to "Reach Youth 4 Christ." Midwinter Retreats are sponsored by the Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, Council on Youth Ministry. Midwinter’s are 3-day retreats including spiritual renewal, awesome worship, inspiring speakers and a chance to meet new friends.

Midwinter 2011 | "No Matter How Far" | Southwest Texas Conference Council on Youth

Overview of the Midwinter Retreat experience: 

The Midwinter Plus includes Sr. High students  (9th to 12th grades) for an extended 4-day weekend. This is held at the HEB Foundation site "Echo Valley." This weekend will have more worship, more teaching, and longer than the traditional Midwinter - but at the same price. It will encourage students to grow deeper in Christ and continue their faithful discipleship in serving God and the Church. And don't forget to bring your cowboy boots and western wear for the Sunday night Square Dance! Midwinter 1 is the only PLUS weekend for 2011.

The Midwinter Classic is for students who want to experience the traditional and exciting experience of a Midwinter. The Jr. High Classic retreat will be at Mt. Wesley and serve as an introductory weekend to Midwinters, who Jesus Christ is, and how to join the movement of God in the United Methodist Church. The Sr. High Classic retreat will be over a regular weekend but is hosted at Echo Valley. Midwinter 2 and Midwinter 5 are CLASSIC weekends.

The Midwinter Mission is a brand new opportunity for Sr. High students who desire to be intentional about serving God as well as growing in their faith. It will be hosted at Blueprint Ministries in San Antonio, and will involve 4 awesome times of worship, and a day of service on Saturday with the homless of the city, and intentional exposure to poverty and how the Church can fight against it. Midwinter 3 is the MISSION weekend.

The Midwinter Mix is very popular concept including both Jr. and Sr. High students on the same weekend. Small groups and rooming assignments will be separated by age group, but meals, recreation time and worship will be together. The "Mix" weekends will be at Mt. Wesley and will encourage all ages to grow together, building excitement and enthusiam to be who Christ is calling us to be. MIdwinter 4 and Midwinter 6 are the MIX weekends.

Cost / Scholarships / Registration

Cost is $100 for students 18 years of age and under, $75 for Junior Counselors, and $50 for adults. Scholarships are available at the District or Conference offices or by contacting your local church pastor or youth leader. Deadline for registration is 7 working days prior to start of camp. Late registrations must pay an extra $10.  Refunds are for emergencies only and exclude a $30 processing fee. 

Age Requirement

Jr. High retreats include youths in 6th thru 8th grades. Sr. High retreats are for youths in 9th thru 12th grades. All retreats begin at 7 PM on start date (dinner not provided) & end at noon before lunch on Sunday, except for the Midwinter PLUS weekend which extends until noon Monday. (*Midwinter 1 is the only Sr. High PLUS weekend which begins at 7 PM on Friday, and extends to Monday at noon for those able to stay. This is over the MLK Weekend and participants may leave early if necessary.)

Adults Sponsors / Staff / Junior Counselors

Adults (college age and older) are welcome but not required to attend with youth from their church. All who wish to serve must 1) complete a SWTC background check, 2) contact the SWTC Director & camp director, 3) take the Child Protection Training (CPT is available on first night of retreat), 4) be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, and 5) complete a Midwinter Registration Form. Pre-approved Staff attend at $50 each. Junior Counselors attend at $75 each. (see below for JC Letter of Agreement.

Junior Counselors must be approved by camp director (and Rusty or Becky) and need to be 16 years and older. Each Midwinter is limited in the number of JC's allowed to 10. Students may only serve as a JC for up to 2 Midwinters unless the Director approves otherwise. Interesting in being a JC? Download this very simple JC Letter of Agreement.

What To/Not To Bring

Please bring bedding, personal toiletries, warm clothes, pennies for Youth Service Fund which this year will go towards "Imagine No Maleria." It is best not to bring iPODS, lots of money, jewelry, or candy.  If brought, cell phones must stay in cabins and remain off during the entire retreat. All students will receive a free retreat tshirt.

Contact Info

Patty Chebultz,Youth Ministry Assistant, pattyc@umcswtx.org, 210.408.4538, 888.349.4191 x538. SWTC Director of Youth Ministries, Rusty Freeman, 210.408.4510, rhf143@aol.com. The Southwest Texas Conference United Methodist Church Office of Youth Ministry, 16400 Huebner Rd, San AntonioTX78248.

Maps and Location

Three camps are at Mt.WesleyRetreatCenter in Kerrville, TX (www.mountwesley.org), two are at the HEB Foundation Camp near Leakey, TX, www.hebuttfoundation.org, and one will be at Blueprint Ministries in San Antonio.

Emergency Phone Numbers

SWTC Center 888.349.4191 / HEB Foundation Camp 830.232.6671

Mt. Wesley Retreat Center 830.895.5700 / Rev. Rusty Freeman, Dir. of YM, 210.382.4581University United Methodist Church / 210.696.1033

* Directors emails are intended for STAFF use only. All other inquires may go to Rusty Freeman at rhf143@aol.com or Cynthia Bedford at cynthiab@umcswtx.org.