2023 Leadership:

Rachel Watson — Small Group Coordinator

Rachel Watson is the Associate Pastor at University Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX. Ey grew up in Houston, but moved to Austin for seminary and decided that Austin was home. Ey loves reading (and decorating eir house with piles of new books to read next), playing board games with friends (especially Wingspan and Everdell), and hanging out with eir spouse and three daughters. Ey has two cats, a tiny black cat named Toothless (who bites!) and a 20 pound orange cat named Providence. Rachel taught Pre-K, first, and second grade for 17 years before going to seminary in 2018. Ey loves watching youth and children find their place in the story of the people of God and can’t wait to wonder and learn with the youth at Mo-Ranch this summer.

Kallie Pitcock — Keynote

Amy Sutherlun — Worship Leader

Amy loves Jesus and whole lot of other things, including, but not limited to: rivers tumbling over rocks, warm flour tortillas, Netflix shows with too many seasons, hiking high mountains and shady forests, traveling anywhere new, finding a good deal, strategy games, the perfect watermelon, beach sunrises, desert sunsets, a couple grumpy cats, a crazy puppy, her four amazing kids and one adequate husband.  She can most often be found folding laundry at her house on a hill in San Marcos, Texas, talking about/to God at the church she pastors, or driving her minivan while drinking Dr. Pepper.

Michael McDougal — Music Leader

Michael McDougal is the music and youth director at First Presbyterian Church in Huntsville Texas. He conducts the choir and leads worship every Sunday along with youth group meetings. Michael has played guitar and sang in worship bands since 2014 and recently leads music for the Presbytery of New Covenant’s Presbytery Youth Connection Council (PYCC). Michael looks forward to sharing God’s love through music this summer at Mo!

Hannah Cooley — Recreational Leader

Hannah was born and raised in Austin and graduated from UT in 2020. For the past 3 years, she’s been the Director of Youth Ministry at University Presbyterian Church San Antonio. She just graduated in May from Austin Seminary with a Master of Arts in Youth Ministry. In September, Hannah will move to London, England to pursue another Master’s degree. Hannah loves singing, reading, the Texas Longhorns, spending time with her family and friends, and every chance she gets to spend time at Mo!

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” – 1 John 3:2

Program Department COVID Protocols – June 1, 2022

COVID:

• At this time face masks are welcomed, however not required. 
• Please monitor symptoms of all participants in the days upcoming.
• Once your group arrives, we ask you do not leave the property unless for emergencies.
• Small Group’s will be outdoors, in shade, under pop-up tents, with cold drinking water at each space.
• We are still encouraging social distancing and effective hygiene. 
• Hand sanitization and disinfectant stations will be widely available. 
• Mo-Ranch Executives are continuing to monitor probable COVID cases in seventeen counties in Texas included in the major metro areas of Texas as well as the lower Valley.
• Protocols are subject to change and may be amended at any time.

JHJ 2023

Cost and Housing

$250 per registrant/adult sponsor for group lodging

$385 per registrant/adult sponsor for hotel lodging. 

Housing

Many of the buildings on our historic property were built as early as the 1950s.  We acknowledge that our buildings cannot accommodate all abilities and people yet and commit to making reasonable accommodations until all facilities are renovated.

Standard housing for youth conferences at Mo-Ranch is group housing. These spaces include, but are not limited to, Milk Barn, Milk Barn Bunkhouses, River Dorm, Guest Lodge, and Log Lodge.

Conference Housing Description – Shared space with other churches, youth groups, and conference attendees.

Sleeping quarters will vary from semi-private to dormitory style housing that can consist of 4- 20 beds in a shared communal living environment. These rooms can consist of single or double beds, and single bunk bed styles. For specific bed/room layouts, please visit Stay at Mo-Ranch • Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly (moranch.org).

Bathroom Facilities Description

Bathrooms in group housing are shared community spaces. Private showers and bathroom stalls are available. There are no designated private changing areas. Mo-Ranch encourages all guests/campers/staff to change clothes in private areas and discourages nudity or disrobing directly in front of others.

Mo-Ranch encourages all participants for youth conferences to reside in the community living environment. However, if this style of lodging does not meet your individual needs, please make us aware. We will make every effort to accommodate your housing needs. Changes in housing are subject to availability and additional fees.

Considerations

Housing Reservations: When booking your group for a conference at Mo, please be mindful of our limitations and our available housing. Conference participants will be housed on a first come, first serve basis, though we will do our best to honor your housing preference. To be good stewards of the housing facilities that we have available, your group may be housed with other youth groups in dorm/group housing. It is always a good idea to share this information with your group, including youth participants, parents, chaperones, and church leadership prior to booking so that we may partner with you and your group to try meet the needs of your participants.

Sponsors

You will need a sponsor to youth ratio of 1:5. Adult sponsors must also pay and register for the conference. The number of adult sponsors must correspond to the gender numbers in the group they are bringing.  Five boys and three girls would mean at least one male and one female sponsor. If your group chooses to stay in hotel-style accommodations, youth will be housed 3-4 youth per room and churches may be combined to accommodate this arrangement.

Questions? We’re happy to help! Contact us at 1.800.460.4401 ext. 246 or registrar@moranch.org.

Arrival & Departure

Arrive and check-in between 4 and 6 p.m. on the day the conference begins. One sponsor per group should check-in their group. Groups will be able to move into their housing facilities no earlier than 4 p.m. Conferences begin with dinner at 6 p.m. and end mid-morning on the day of departure.

Adult Sponsors

You will need a ratio of 1:5; 1 adult sponsor per 5 youth. Adult sponsors must also register and pay for the conference. The number of adult sponsors must correspond to the gender numbers in the group they are bringing. 5 boys and 3 girls would mean at least 1 male and 1 female sponsor.

Appropriate Dress

While we recognize clothing is one way young people express themselves, we expect them to do so in ways that honor themselves as well as the kind of community we are building during our youth conferences. We ask participants (both youth and adult sponsors) to dress comfortably for the weather, but also modestly. Please refrain from wearing clothing:

• that is too revealing like: short shorts, strapless tops or dresses, shirts that allow for a bare midriff, pants worn below the waist line. Dress should be appropriate for a youth conference. 
• that advertises alcohol or tobacco products
• that contains language demeaning or ridiculing someone’s gender, sexuality or ethnic origin

For recreation events, all participants are expected to wear shirts. Participants out of line with dress standards will be asked to change clothes or put on an over-layer that provides adequate coverage.

Swim Check

Youth will be asked to take a swim check at the pool during the check-in period. For easy access, youth should remember to pack swimsuits on top. Swimmer and non-swimmer wristbands will be issued to all participants. All youth participants must take the swim check even if they are 18 years of age. Participants not wishing to take the swim check must go to the pool to be given a non-swimmer wristband. Wristbands provide guest identification to our staff and act as meal tickets in the dining hall, and must be worn by guests at all times. Please note Mo-Ranch’s appropriate dress standards when packing swim suits.

Stuff to Bring

Water bottles! Bible, casual clothes, closed-toe shoes for ropes course, swim suit (swim trunks for males, no bikinis for females. “Tankinis” are acceptable so long as no midriff is showing), swim towel, river shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, flashlight, toiletries, notebook, spending money and a camera.

Personal Electronics

Electronic devices include, but are not limited to: cell phones, tablets, mp3 players and handheld games. The use of personal electronic devices affect not only the person using the device but others around them. Using an electronic device for activities unrelated to the conference can be disruptive and disrespectful. Mo-Ranch encourages groups to leave personal electronics at home. We ask that any electronic devices brought to the conference be kept on silent or turned off during all scheduled events (keynote, small group, worship, vespers, etc.) Distracting personal electronics may be collected by conference staff and turned in to a sponsor. Mo-Ranch or its representatives will not assume responsibility for devices that are lost, stolen, damaged and/or confiscated.

Transportation

Mo-Ranch is 90 miles one-way, or a 2-hour drive from the nearest airport (SAT), allow 3 hours travel/check-in time for departures. We recommend generally scheduling arriving flights before 3 p.m. and departing flights after 3 p.m. to be sure you do not miss any of your event. If you are in need of shuttle service to Mo-Ranch, call Kars for Hire in Kerrville at (830) 890-8200 at least 15 days in advance to arrange transportation from San Antonio International Airport. Directions to Mo.

Ropes Course

This conference will include a selection of our ropes course elements. To read a description of each element, click here.

Bookstore

Make sure to stop by the Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly bookstore during your conference to pick out a souvenir!

Questions

We’re happy to help! Contact us at 1.800.460.4401 ext. 246 or registrar@moranch.org.