Faculty Profiles


Rachael Botting Headshot

Rachael Botting, Ph.D.

Adjunct Faculty and Program Assistant

On Faculty since 2015
630-752-6034


rachael.botting@wheaton.edu

I grew up in northeastern New York state and spent two summers at HoneyRock while a student at Wheaton. I graduated from Wheaton College in 2014 with a degree in Biology and then received my MA in Christian Formation and Ministry/Outdoor Adventure Leadership in 2015. I am married to Tim, who is from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and we have two young boys.

 

After graduating, I began oversight of the Wheaton Passage Program and continued in that role for 7 years before transitioning to an adjunct faculty and part-time program administration role. Currently, I teach several classes in the Outdoor & Adventure Leadership master’s program and oversee HoneyRock’s program evaluation efforts. I love the transformation that occurs as people experience God through the outdoors, authentic communities, and daily learning opportunities. I consider it a privilege to train others as they seek to provide those transformational experiences worldwide.

 

In December of 2023, I will complete my Ph.D. in Christian Education at Biola University with a dissertation on the unique faith formation impacts of multi-year evangelical Christian camp experiences during adolescence. I am passionate about the intersection of faith, ministry, and scholarship, and I love the opportunity that I have to share that with students and fellow staff members while serving at HoneyRock. I feel a strong sense of calling to help camps and churches work together to cultivate faith in the next generation, and I am excited to be a part of what God is doing through Wheaton College and Christian camping. 

Biola University - Talbot School of Theology
Ph.D. Education Studies, December 2023; Dissertation: The Faith Formation Impacts of Multi-Year Christian Camp Experiences During Adolescence

Wheaton College Graduate School
M.A., Christian Formation and Ministry, Outdoor Adventure Leadership, 2015

Wheaton College
B.S., Biology, 2014

  • Young adult ministry
  • Outdoor orientation programs
  • Vocation and work
  • Stewardship and sustainability
  • Research and evaluation
  • Training and equipping
  • Leadership development
  • Women in ministry

Christian Camp and Conference Association National Conference 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022

Christian Camp and Conference Wisconsin Sectional Conference 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

Christian Camp and Conference Sierra Nevada Sectional 2018

Association for Christians in Student Development 2019

Presentations have included topics covering: women in ministry, research and evaluation, philosophy and theology of Christian camping, spiritual formation, vocation and calling, and staff training/development

Rachael Cyrus Photo 1

  • Personal Spiritual Formation
  • Program Philosophy and Planning
  • Philosophy of Ministry
  • Research and Evaluation in Ministry
  • Women in Outdoor Ministry 
  • Theology and Practice of Outdoor Ministry  

Impact of summer camp employment on camp staff - 3-year study

Outdoor orientation programs and adaptation to college

Botting, R. G., Ribbe Jr., R. E., & Robinson, G. (2021). Assessing the Impact of Summer Camp Employment on the Development of Workplace Skills. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education & Leadership, 13(1), 82–95.

Ribbe, R., Cyrus, R., & Langan, E. (2016). Exploring the Impact of an Outdoor Orientation Program on Adaptation to College. Journal of Experiential Education, 39(4), 355–369. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053825916668900