Join us for the 2026 Summer Guild
July 12-17, 2026
About the Summer Guild
The 16th annual Summer Guild is designed to invite you into the presence and power of God through the arts, guest lectures, fellowship, worship, and prayer.
The Lamplighter Guild consists of six days of life-transforming inspiration and instruction in the arts. Surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation, master teachers from around the world present instruction in story creation, scriptwriting, stage and voice acting, sound design, digital music composition, photography, filmmaking, painting, and biblical theology. Mornings open with scripture, prayer, and insights from world-class speakers, followed by intensive sessions in each discipline. Students receive hands-on instruction and discipleship in their chosen field of study throughout the day, along with inspiration from keynote speakers. The Guild is an awakening—a renaissance of creative excellence framed by the Word of God and demonstrated by faith.
Our Mission
Know God intimately with compelling early morning devotions, inspiring keynote speakers, and master teachers from around the world.
Proclaim Him passionately with fellow creatives ages 16+
Enjoy Him infinitely with Bible-infused mentoring, exquisite meals, and a glimpse of the Divine.
Watch the 2025 Summer Guild Recap!
Schedule
July 12-17, 2026 in Mount Morris, New York
Arrival
Sunday, July 12
Registration from 12:30-1:45 PM
Orientation begins at 2:00 PM
Departure
Friday, July 17
By Car: No earlier than 1:30 PM
By Plane: No earlier than 3:30 PM (the airport is 40 min. away)
Space is Limited
Click below to register today or contact us at 1(888) 246-7735.
Main Classes
Creative Writing
Kathy Buchanan
Course Description
Course description coming soon!
Biblical Theology
Dr. Daniel Schwabauer & Dr. Mark Hamby
Course Description
Visual Arts
Mark Baral
Course Description
In this course, students will gain an introductory understanding of painting the landscape from life in oil paint with a special emphasis on color and light. The course will focus on learning how to see like a painter when approaching a subject, and how to apply the fundamentals of value, atmosphere, and color to create compelling representations of lighting effects from direct observation. Students will have the opportunity to observe the instructor’s demo, paint outdoors themselves to gain hands-on experience, and receive one on one feedback throughout the week while painting.
Stage Acting
Noah and Nicole Stratton from Logos Theatre
Course Description
Through hands-on instruction in acting, vocal delivery, stage movement, listening and reacting on stage, and other essential performance skills, students will discover how the whole body communicates truth and emotion. Participants will learn these principles while preparing select scenes from the Logos Theatre’s stage production of “The Sanctity of Life.” This production emphasizes the value of life, the moral weight of personal choices, God’s mercy and love as He faithfully fashions our lives for His glory, and the lasting consequences that decisions can have on individuals and families. Come ready for an amazing, immersive experience!
Sound Design
Allen Hurley
Course Description
Course Description coming soon!
Timber Framing
Josh Coleman
Course Description
Timber Framing is an ancient craft using traditional wooden joinery to build structures that combine carpentry, engineering, and art. Hand-chiseled mortise and tenon joinery, held together with wooden pegs, create structural sculpture which can serve to span greater distances than each individual member could on its own. With the use of hand tools, students will learn the basics of chisel and mallet, drilling for wooden pegs, fitting joinery together and raising a completed timber frame.
Working shoulder to shoulder, we will emphasize the value of teamwork, cooperation, and communication to create something new that would not be possible for each of us on our own. Our lessons will be from the Bible and our guide will be historical architectural designs from around the world.
Plan to work hard, have fun, share wisdom, and learn new carpentry skills.
Music Design
Steve Rosen
Course Description
Course description coming soon!
Electives
Timber Framing
Josh Coleman
Course Description
Timber Framing is an ancient craft using traditional wooden joinery to build structures that combine carpentry, engineering, and art. Hand-chiseled mortise and tenon joinery, held together with wooden pegs, create structural sculpture which can serve to span greater distances than each individual member could on its own. With the use of hand tools, students will learn the basics of chisel and mallet, drilling for wooden pegs, fitting joinery together and raising a completed timber frame.
Working shoulder to shoulder, we will emphasize the value of teamwork, cooperation, and communication to create something new that would not be possible for each of us on our own. Our lessons will be from the Bible and our guide will be historical architectural designs from around the world.
Plan to work hard, have fun, share wisdom, and learn new carpentry skills.
Biblical Theology
Dr. Daniel Schwabauer & Dr. Mark Hamby
Course Description
Visual Arts
Mark Baral
Course Description
In this course, students will gain an introductory understanding of painting the landscape from life in oil paint with a special emphasis on color and light. The course will focus on learning how to see like a painter when approaching a subject, and how to apply the fundamentals of value, atmosphere, and color to create compelling representations of lighting effects from direct observation. Students will have the opportunity to observe the instructor’s demo, paint outdoors themselves to gain hands-on experience, and receive one on one feedback throughout the week while painting.
Choreography
Emily Pierce and Josh Tribble
Course Description
In this elective, students will explore the art of storytelling through both stage acting and choreography. They will learn how movement, expression, and Christ-centered performance work together to bring a production to life in a way that inspires, challenges, and resonates with an audience.
Through acting exercises, choreography, and live performance, students will experience the creative process of building a drama from start to finish while gaining valuable stage experience alongside fellow believers.
From the creators of Unseen, Josh Tribble and Emily Pierce are excited to bring a new drama to life this summer!
Photography
Shad Eash
Course Description
Are you passionate about capturing the beauty of our Father’s world? Do you dream of helping businesses showcase their work? Join us for the commercial photography elective focused on the art and the business of photography for the glory of God. Unlike typical courses that focus on wedding and portrait photography, this niche elective will teach you the secrets of landscape photography, high-end architectural photography, product photography, and the business skills needed to make it a career. We’ll start with the fundamentals of worldview, camera settings, and composition, then expand into the advanced capture and editing techniques the professionals use to create a masterpiece. So charge your batteries, pack your gear, and come for a mix of instruction and hands-on training in one of the most demanding and rewarding photography disciplines.
It's an investment, not a cost.
Individual Student Pricing
$2495.00 per person
-$295.00 scholarship (automatically applied at registration)
$2200.00 final total cost
This includes housing, meals, and tuition.
*Family Pricing
A family must consist of 4 or more immediate family members registering together to receive the family rate.
Ages 4 and under – FREE
Ages 5-11 – $375/person
Ages 12+ $1620/person
Pricing covers meals, classes, and all general sessions Sunday afternoon through Friday lunch.
*You are responsible for your own overnight accommodations and transportation. Children under the age of 16 must remain with a parent at all times.
Registration Deposit
A non-refundable registration deposit of $495 is due upon registration. Payment may be made by credit card or check. The full tuition balance is due no later than June 12, 2026. Payments made by credit card will incur a 3% credit card fee.
Housing
Guild staff will assign rooms and housing locations in Mount Morris Sunday through Thursday nights. Most locations are within easy walking distance of the Lamplighter campus. Transportation will be available where needed.
Additional Nights' Lodging in Mt. Morris
Lamplighter will have limited guest housing available for anyone wishing to arrive in Mount Morris and stay overnight Saturday, July 11. This housing is also an option for anyone needing to remain in Mount Morris Friday night, July 17. Guest housing is first come, first served. When these rooms are full, anyone else requesting lodging for those nights will need to make their own hotel arrangements. Each additional night of lodging is $75/person, and extra meals are included in the cost.
Shuttle Service — $40
Lamplighter provides shuttle service to and from Rochester International Airport (ROC). Attendees flying in or out of alternate airports will need to arrange their own transportation to and from the Guild.
Refund Policy
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January 1-May 14: full refund, less $495 deposit.
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May 15-June 12: 50% refund, less $495 deposit.
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No refunds will be issued after June 12, 2026.
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Those who are unable to attend due to an unexpected illness or health crisis may have their tuition applied to the following year’s Guild event.
Where:
23 State Street, Mt. Morris, NY 14510
When:
July 12-17, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How old do you have to be to attend the guild?
16 and up. However, students younger than 16 can attend the event if accompanied by an adult chaperone (chaperones must also register as student, but may take a different course than their student).
What should i bring?
- Bible, notebook, and pens: please be sure to bring a hard copy of the Bible. (We ask that you do not use smartphone or digital Bibles during the Guild.)
- An umbrella.
- A water bottle.
- Bug spray (organic is recommended).
- Resort casual clothing (slacks, jeans, T-shirts or button-ups, dresses, skirts, modest shorts, etc). Please note that some classroom and guest house spaces may not have air conditioning. Be prepared to dress light but modest.
- Clothing for a more formal dinner on Wednesday evening.
- Clothing and shoes to participate in ropes course, volleyball, or other athletic activities.
- Sweater/Jacket in case of cooler weather.
- NON-SLIP tennis shoes for walking between classes, hiking, and leadership activities.
- Shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, and other toiletries.
- Backpack or bag for carrying your class materials and personal items.
- Discipline-specific requirements. (You will receive an email with these requirements.)
- Please consider bringing any musical instruments you play as there may be an opportunity to use them!
Can I change which course I'm taking?
You may change your course during the first days of the Guild. However, some courses require specific materials, so come prepared with the required items for the course you choose in your registration.
How do I apply for a scholarship?
Scholarships are awared based on a students eligibility and on availability of funds. You can apply for a scholarship after registering for the Summer Guild. We recognize that attending the Guild often requires taking steps of faith. Keep moving forward with faith, and may you see God continue to provide in ways you never would have imagined!
Help a Student Attend the Summer Guild
If God has given you the desire and the ability to enable His work through others, please consider making a contribution to the Lamplighter Guild Scholarship Fund.
Generous contributions for the first Lamplighter Guild made it possible for many students to attend who would have otherwise not been able. Because of your gifts, these students encountered God in a life-altering way that many have not yet been able to put into words.
