The South Carolina Upcountry is Calling!
See you at Anderson University in 2021!
Spend Two Full Weeks in South Carolina with Summit.
Students who choose this location will experience the vibrant city of Anderson, in the rapidly growing region of Upstate South Carolina. Anderson University is a selective, comprehensive Christian liberal arts university.
Session 1 June 27–July 10
Session 2 July 11 –July 24
Session 3 July 25 –August 7
Student Conferences provide a two-week experience for students aged 16-25. The conference will explore relevant cultural topics and help students think deeper about their personal faith and convictions. Students will grow spiritually as they engage with like-minded peers on faith, purpose, and identity with world-class faculty.
What To Expect Each Day
Every morning starts with morning traditions: morning devotional, prayer, and amazing grace.
Every afternoon students enjoy a few hours of free time. After dinner, each evening session begins with live worship and ends with a classroom session or small groups.
Activities will include on and off-campus options for students. Keep scrolling for a full list of activities. Students will choose and pay for each activity when they arrive for their session. Prices will be updated closer to the session dates.
Activities
Don’t worry, a Summit Conference is not all work! On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoons we’ll have an organized “Sports Time”. We’ll go to a huge grassy park nearby and have all sorts of outdoor recreation for you to join in on including soccer, volleyball, flag football, basketball, tennis, and ultimate Frisbee along with all the students and staff! There are also nice hiking or running trails there and great shade trees if you’d just like to relax and read a book, take a nap, spend time talking with friends, etc. (here’s one of those times the guitar comes in handy). We will also have two cookouts at this same park.
There will also be a wide range of fun (optional) activities for you to choose from. Students will sign up for additional off-site activities once they arrive at our conference. Some of these activities require permission waivers to be signed by a parent. Please download and sign waivers for any activities you think you might want to do. Bring your signed waivers with you at check-in.
Summit is a “cashless program.” Please bring a credit, debit, or VISA gift card to pay for activities, books, apparel, and other incidentals. $50-$100 is recommended for bookstore purchases. $100-$150 is recommended for optional off-site activities.
Bike along the Swamp Rabbit trail
The Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 22-mile multi-use (walking and bicycling) greenway that traverses along the Reedy River, an old railroad corridor, and City parks to connect Travelers Rest with the City of Greenville, South Carolina.
This is a limited capacity activity
Tour the Biltmore Estate
Enjoy extraordinary experiences and peace of mind in one spectacular setting: George Vanderbilt’s magnificent estate. Join us where acres of wondrous gardens, miles of hiking trails, the spacious halls of America’s Largest Home®, and so much more await your exploration.
Estimated Cost $70
This is a limited capacity activity
Take a Leap at MountainTop Zipline tours
Navitat’s Mountaintop Tour – a totally unprecedented mountaintop adventure – will take you soaring higher, faster, and longer than ever before! Huge side-by-side ziplines and jaw-dropping speeds make this an experience unlike any other. Nowhere else will you find ziplines this high, fast, and long fully integrated into a spectacular natural setting. Suitable for first-timers and experienced thrill-seekers alike and guaranteed to be a truly unforgettable adventure. There’s no better way to experience the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains!
This is a limited capacity activity
Float on at the National Whitewater Center
The Whitewater Center provides a foundation for this growth through active and engaged lifestyles. In every tree, through every rapid, and on every trail…the innate desire to play outside pushes us to grow through experience and genuine connection.
$80/Student
Print and Sign Waiver, click here.
This is a limited capacity activity
Anderson University
Located in the vibrant city of Anderson, in the rapidly growing region of Upstate South Carolina, Anderson University is a selective, comprehensive Christian liberal arts university offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees on campus, online, and at the University Center in Greenville.
Students will be lodged in dorm housing with 1-3 roommates with a shared bathroom. Laundry facilities are available within the dorm.
Students will have access to an on-campus Chick Fil A and Coffee shop. As well as, an outdoor pool, gym, sports fields, and running trails.
Click here for the latest Anderson University COVID-19 information.
Travel Plans
Flight Information
The Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) is the closest airport to Anderson, South Carolina. To learn more about the airport and the six airlines that fly into this location, click here. Summit will provide shuttles from the GSP airport.
Transportation Options from Atlanta, GA or Charlotte, SC
If you are unable to fly directly into the GSP airport, you will be responsible for making travel arrangements to Anderson University. If you fly into a different airport you can see what third-party shuttles are available to you to travel by bus.
Arrival Times
Please make reservations to arrive at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) on the first Sunday of your session between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM (check-in hours on campus are from noon to 5 PM.) If arriving earlier or later at the airport, students may have to wait longer for a Summit shuttle. If your flight is delayed or if you arrive after 5:00 PM, please call the front desk at 719-685-2875.
Departure Times
Please make arrangements to be checked out of your room by 8 am on the morning of the second Saturday of the session. Shuttle service will be provided on this day from 4:00 AM-10:00 AM.
Phone Number
Driving Information
Thinking of driving to Anderson?
Session Information
The Program Director of Summit reserves the right to dismiss any student whose influence and/or conduct becomes in any way detrimental to the best interest of the other students.
No refund will be made for absences, dismissals, or withdrawals before the end of your session, except in cases on doctor’s orders, in which the remaining tuition may be refunded.
If you need to contact staff on-site call 719-685-2875 to directly connect with our team.
What to Wear
The way we dress is a reflection of our personality, culture, and background. At Summit, we encourage individual expression and creativity. However, we also have found that the following guidelines help set an atmosphere of respect for all of our faculty, staff, and fellow students.
Shirts and tops
- Please do not wear halter tops or tops that show midriff or cleavage
- Please make sure all undergarments are covered
- Please only wear clothes without offensive words and images
Shorts & pants
- Shorts are welcome as long as they have at least a 4-inch inseam
- All dresses or skirts must fall no shorter than 4inches above the knee
Helpful suggestions
- Classroom: bring casual or dress casual clothes acceptable for an educational setting
- Recreation time: make sure to bring shorts, t-shirts, and a swimsuit for outdoor
- Swimwear: Men please wear swim shorts, and women please wear a one-piece or two-piece swimsuit that covers your midsection and cleavage
- Graduation: wear semi-formal clothes (i.e. khakis, ties, blazers, dresses)
What to Pack
- Bring all bedding and linens
- Bible and devotional materials
- Classroom and graduation attire
- Sports clothes and swimsuit
- Closed toed shoes for some of our activities
- Copy of your insurance card
- Hat, sunscreen, and bug spray
- Water bottle
- Toiletries
- Performance night props and instruments (optional)
- Laundry detergent
- Something plaid to wear (optional)
- Towels, washcloths, bedding (twin bed XL), and pillow
- ENO type Hammock (optional)
- Rain Jacket
Summit is a “cashless program.” Please bring a credit, debit, or VISA gift card to pay for activities, books, apparel, and other incidentals. $50-$100-$150 is recommended for bookstore purchases. $100- is recommended for optional off-site activities.
What to Leave at Home
-
- Weapons of any kind
- Tobacco
- Alcohol
- Vaping and marijuana products
- Valuables — rooms can be locked, but you are responsible for your belongings
- Laptop — A notebook will be provided so we ask that you leave your personal computers at home
Communication & Technology
Cellphones are permitted, though no texting or talking is allowed during classroom time. We also have an 11 pm curfew, so no use of phones is permitted after curfew.
To receive letters or boxes while at Summit, use the following address:
Food Allergies
Anderson University dining services staff can accommodate most food allergies including gluten, dairy, soy, and nuts. Please contact us if you have special dietary needs.
Housing
Located close to the Summit classroom, each room is equipped to house two students with a shared bathroom with the adjacent room. The bathroom has one toilet, one shower, and two sinks and mirrors.
There are laundry facilities on campus for students to use. Plan to bring your own laundry detergent.
Graduation Day: View Ceremony Here
Conferences conclude on Friday night of the second week. Our graduation schedule is as follows:
4:45 PM–Parents’ Meeting
Parents and families of students are invited to join a brief review of what their student has experienced over the last two weeks.
5:30 PM–Dinner
Parents and guests are welcome to join us for dinner. If you would like to attend, please have your student sign you up by Thursday of the second week. We will give Anderson’s kitchen staff a headcount for dinner. You may pay Summit for your meal when you arrive on Friday afternoon.
7:00 PM–Graduation
For those who are unable to attend, the Parents Meeting and Graduation are live-streamed. Students may depart after graduation, although most students leave on Saturday morning.