Northern Light Fall 2023

Listening and learning have characterized my first month as Executive Director. I have been focused on getting to know each member of the HoneyRock team. As I prepared to step into the position, I knew I would need to set up and initiate a structured planning process to use as a guide as we define our priorities. That process started with the Professional Staff Retreat, which proved to be a gold mine of valuable input and insight. In the months leading up to officially starting this position, I had the opportunity to meet many HoneyRock camper parents, students, alumni, donors, and Wheaton College faculty. Through all this listening and learning, it has been made very clear to me that HoneyRock holds a very special place in many people's hearts, and it has an incredible network of support!

As I consider where we are as a team, community, and organization, I am particularly grateful to Dr. Rob Ribbe for all the work he has done to build into HoneyRock over the last 30 years. Most recently, I am grateful to have benefited from his thoughtful planning and preparation for this transition in leadership. The team and I are pleased that he will be staying with HoneyRock in a key role as our Academic Programs Director.

As I look forward to the coming months, I am excited to see our staff serve campers, students, families, and ultimately, Christ through the important but challenging call that HoneyRock has set out for it. We have critical work in front of us. Critical work that will require us to strengthen and re-invest in HoneyRock in order to advance its incredible mission, one person at a time. I look forward to sharing more as we progress in our planning!

God Bless,

Matt Erickson, Executive Director

During the school year, Vanguards and Fellows live in an intentional community while at HoneyRock. Over the course of the year, they have the opportunity to engage with a number of practices and habits that are designed to help explore the value of work and service. This happens naturally in the communal responsibilities like dishes, chores, and all-community work days. These practices and habits happen purposefully as well through vocational tracks, local ministry involvements, and coursework that Vanguards participate in.  

In vocational tracks specifically, Vanguards learn the value of working and serving alongside one another and our Fellows in various operational areas of HoneyRock, ranging from working the barn to guest services to the kitchen. Through these experiences, we hope that students and staff see the value of working and serving one another and how that improves our community and the work we seek to accomplish. 

Our Fellows program is designed to give individuals interested in relational ministry the opportunity to mentor and coach Vanguards.  Over the course of the year, Fellows work alongside Vanguards in vocational tracks, serve as residential staff in community life, and help facilitate programming over the course of the Vanguard year.  Through these experiences, Fellows develop deep meaningful relationships that create space for mentoring and coaching to happen as the live and work side by side with one another.  The conditions created by the school year at HoneyRock are a valuable learning ground for both Fellows and Vanguards to grow. 

Charlie Goeke, School Year Program Director

The HoneyRock year-round staff team takes time to pause every fall. The focus this year related to slowing down to speed up. 

With Matt Erickson's transition into the executive director role, the team reviewed HoneyRock's mission, vision, and culture. The team celebrated ministry highlights from the past year, strengths of the organization, key challenges, and the related opportunities the team looks to overcome or capitalize on. The input from the collective team is important, it kicks off a strategic planning process that is now well underway.

This year the team gathered at Expeditions Unlimited in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The fall colors around Devil's Lake State Park were stunning, and, per usual, the Expeditions staff were wonderful hosts for our short 3-day, 2-night retreat!