Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What’s new for 2025?
There are some important changes for Summer School 2025. We encourage all attendees to read over these changes carefully to ensure you know how things will run this year.
- Changes to parking and transport for morning sessions, which includes changes to disabled parking and Shuttle stops.
- Changes to morning session timings.
- Changes to our Youth & Children’s Check-In and Check-Out processes.
New to CMS Summer School?
Welcome! Find out what happens at Summer School here.
When and where is Summer School held?
CMS Summer School 2025 will run from 4-10 January 2025. The opening session begins at 7:15pm on Saturday 4 January.
Summer School is held at Katoomba Christian Convention, 119 Cliff Dr, Katoomba NSW.
How will Summer School run in 2025?
Summer School is an in-person conference. There will be the option of watching an online livestream of the morning and evening sessions held in the Auditorium, including those missionary sessions. All Youth & Children’s programs will run in-person only.
How do I register for Summer School?
Registration for Summer School 2025 is now open. This will be communicated via an email and through our social media channels.
Online registrations will be through the MyCMS portal, an online platform to keep your essential details in one place and allow easier registration for all CMS events, including Summer School. Find more information on the Register page.
Registration for Youth & Children’s programs at Summer School is limited and some programs reach capacity shortly after registration opens. Families are strongly encouraged to register as soon as possible. All registration for Youth & Children’s programs will close as soon as they become full.
Early Bird registration – Available online until 30 November 2024.
Standard registration (for the adult program only) – Available online after 30 November 2024 until Summer School 2025, however attendees will not receive printed name tags and will incur the standard registration fee.
On-site registration (for the adult program only) – Available during Summer School until 10 January 2025.
Note: Adults and children within your registration who are not living at your residential address should be registered as ‘guests’.
Please contact the CMS office on (02) 9267 3711 if you would like assistance with registering online.
What is the cost of Summer School?
Registration costs for Summer School have remained at 2024 prices and are as follows. These costs do not include any accommodation or meals (other than morning tea).
Early Bird prices (available online until 30 November 2024)
For the week: $205 per person ($145 for concession)
Day attendance: $60 per person ($40 for concession) per day
Families with multiple children* will not be charged more than $580 for the week
*Family members must be living at the same residential address and are limited to 8 delegates
Standard prices
For the week: $250 per person ($170 for concession)
Day attendance: $65 per person ($45 for concession) per day
Youth & Children’s programs
For the week: $95 per child
Please note that families must register for the whole conference as children are allocated a spot in their program for the full week. Day attendance rates apply for adult attendees only.
Online livestream-only option
$100 per person ($50 for concession)
Livestream-only registration gives one person access to video livestreams and the recordings of these, which can be rewatched during January 2025. Please note, there will be no online Youth & Children’s program. If you would like to watch the livestream with a group or you are running a group, we will advise how to go about this closer to the event – please watch this space for updates.
Can I watch the sessions after livestream times?
Yes, the session recordings will be made available to watch after the livestream times via an online showcase. They will be posted as soon as possible but please allow up to one day for the content to become available. Please note that these sessions may only be rewatched during January 2025, after which they will be taken down prior to the talks being released to the general public in March 2025.
Will CMS provide accommodation?
Accommodation is not included in registration for Summer School. In order to accommodate our missionaries, speakers, Youth & Children’s team leaders and staff, there will be no attendee accommodation at the CMS Conference Centre or KCC venues, except for limited KCC Campsite accommodation.
KCC Campsite accommodation
Please note that campsite bookings are no longer available as site allocations are now exhausted.
For enquiries regarding camping accommodation please contact the CMS Summer School team at [email protected].
Can I access the program and session line-up ahead of Summer School?
Yes, the program (including session information) will be made available on the Program page.
Can I access talk outlines?
Yes, a digital booklet with talk outlines will be available to download on the Summer School 2025 conference webpage in late 2024. Registered delegates will receive an Info Pack email in December (or upon registration, if they register after December) with a link to this conference page.
Will I receive more information after I register?
Registered delegates will receive an Info Pack email in December (or upon registration, if they register after December) with detailed information about Summer School.
What happens when I arrive at Summer School?
If you haven’t registered for Summer School, follow the signs to register on site before heading to Check-In.
If you have registered, please head to the Check-In locations at the times listed below to pick up your conference material. Due to the changes in transport, the best time to check in is on Saturday afternoon at Katoomba High School. You only need to check in once for adult registration.
Katoomba High School – Early Saturday Check-In (Recommended)
Please park on Martin Street and enter the High School
Saturday, 2pm – 4:30pm
Overflow Tent (outside the Auditorium)
Saturday, 6:15pm – 7:15pm
Sunday – Monday, 8:15am – 9am & 6:15pm – 7:15pm
Tuesday, 8:15am – 9am
Inside the Auditorium
Tuesday, 6:15pm – 7:15pm
Wednesday – Thursday, 8:15am – 9am & 6:15pm – 7:15pm
Friday, 8:15am – 9am
How will Youth & Children’s Check-In and Check-Out run?
This year sees a major change to the Youth & Children’s Check-In and Check-Out process. We are hoping that with the change in our parking and transport plan, this will bring improvements to the whole process. We do understand that this is a major change and thank you in advance for your patience as we implement this change and seek to care for your youth and children.
Your Check-In and Check-Out location (either KCC site, Katoomba Primary School or Katoomba High School) will be determined by which program your YOUNGEST CHILD attends, and this location will be the same for the whole of Summer School.
1. If your youngest child is in Crèche or Preschool:
Your Check-In and Check-Out will be ON THE KCC SITE.
- Check in your child at their Crèche or Preschool program. Creche Check-In will be at the Plaza (0-24 months) or lodge (25-36 months) and Preschool Check-In will be at Clairvaux. Check-Out will be at the same locations. The Preschool program concludes at 12:15pm. However, Crèche finishes at 10:45am in time for morning tea.
- Check in your children who are in school programs (Kindy to Year 12) at the Clairvaux tent. Siblings who are in programs at either of the schools will be bused to those locations and back. Check-Out will be at 12:15pm at the same location.
Parking will be available (weather permitting) on the KCC Oval car park for families in this category.
2. If your youngest child is in Kindy, Year 1-5, or Year 11-12:
Your Check-In and Check-Out will be at Katoomba HIGH SCHOOL (even if you have older children in the programs at Katoomba Primary School). Siblings in programs at Katoomba Primary School will be bused to that location and back.
3. If your youngest child is in Year 6-10:
Your Check-In and Check-Out will be at Katoomba PRIMARY SCHOOL (even if you have older children in Year 11-12).
Parking will not be available on the KCC Oval for families in categories 2 and 3 above. There is ample parking available around the schools. Please park and be bused to the main KCC site from the Primary or High school. Buses will return to Katoomba Primary and High Schools from Oak Street after missionary sessions, at 12:15pm. We appreciate your promptness in getting to buses to ensure your children are picked up in a timely manner.
If your child becomes sick during their program, CMS will organise a shuttle to drop your child back to you at the KCC site. Parents are asked to head to the information desk at the rear of the Auditorium where the team will arrange this.
Do I really need another tote bag?
We hear you! So, in 2025 we’re encouraging delegates to BYO Bag to Summer School. If you’ve attended Summer School previously, why not bring your favourite bag? A conference book, pen, and other resources, will be provided to attendees in paper bags at Check-In. For those who would still like a tote bag, a limited number of calico bags will be available at Summer School. You might like to make an appropriate donation toward the cost of these bags.
Are t-shirts available this year?
T-shirts for Summer School 2025 can be purchased online. A link to the online shop will be shared in the Summer School Info Pack email in December.
What should I do if I am sick?
If you or your children are unwell on any day of Summer School, for the safety of all attendees we ask that you please consider others and stay at home. In-person registration includes access to the livestream from the Auditorium, so you can watch Summer School online.
Are refunds available if I am no longer able to attend Summer School?
CMS understands that, for reasons beyond your control, you may be unable to attend some or all of Summer School. Requests for refunds will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the CMS office before Summer School commences, by emailing [email protected] or phoning (02) 9267 3711 if you wish to request a refund.
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