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Rachael Botting, Ph.D.Adjunct Faculty and Program Assistant
On Faculty since 2015
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- Biography
- Education
- Areas of Expertise
- Links
- Presentations
- Books
- Media
- Classes Taught
- Research
- Published Research
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
- 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