Young Adult Residency

The residency program helps young adults navigate our shared world by providing space to reflect, build community, serve and pursue passions. Participants clarify their own sense of meaning and purpose and discover how to carry it into their relationships, work and life choices. Participants leave The Mountain with concrete skills and a lifelong thirst for greater awareness. They leave with the belief that they have the capacity and responsibility to work with others to bring peacebuilding, meaning, social justice, and environmental ethics to the center of their communities.

Residents participate in all aspects of the retreat and learning center, including housekeeping, maintenance, food service, finance, marketing, website management, program design and evaluation, and guest services. In addition, they undertake learning projects, community service and field trips. Due to the program’s intensity and schedule, participants are not able to have outside employment during the time of the residency. Residents share housing on The Mountain’s property and have the opportunity to experience building community, respecting differences, living simply and constructively resolving conflict. Internship credit may be available through your educational institution. Please let The Mountain know if we can help facilitate this.

Overview

  • 20-30 hours of Mountain service per week
  • 3-5 young adults ages 18-26
  • 15-week immersion program
  • stipend plus room and board provided at The Mountain 

Program Components

  • service in various aspects of Mountain Retreat & Learning Center
  • live in a learning community with a common purpose
  • volunteering with community organizations
  • develop an individual initiative to address a social or environmental issue
  • facilitate workshops for youth and young adults
  • garden management
  • intentional time in nature
  • individual meetings with Mountain staff mentor to monitor progress on personal goals
  • group meetings to process experience
  • outdoor education
  • artistic expression
  • visit social change organizations and/or individuals
  • book and film discussions
  • research issues of interest and present to fellow residents and Mountain staffattend public events (lectures, concerts, etc.) in surrounding area as possible
  • team-building
  • participate in collective action in surrounding cities (nonviolent protests, teach-ins, etc.) as possible

To inquire about the Young Adult Residency Program, email Beth Witte, YAR Program Coordinator Coordinator or call (828) 526-5838 ext. 252.
The next YAR session will be held from August 23 - December 6, 2011.
Click here for the application form.

 

"I hold the Young Adult Residency experience and the people I met in a very deep way, but also close to the surface, because I refer to things I've learned and draw strength from my experience on a daily basis." -Past Young Adult Resident