Northern Light Spring 22

A Note from the Executive Director | Our New Phone Number | Hiring for Summer Staff  | Vanguard Trips | A New Book authored by Rob Ribbe and Greg Robinson |  HoneyRock Staff Share Their Expertise | Equestrian Center Update! | Northwoods Adventure Week  | Vanguard Closing  | Equestrian Event | 

A Note from the Executive Director

The season is changing, the snow is melting, and HoneyRock is filled with a renewed sense of energy as we finish out the school year. Like the transition from winter to spring, we are also preparing for a transition of our own: our school-year programs are coming to their end. While we are sad to see these students leave, we are so proud of the work the Lord has done in their lives and in this entire community. The end of the school year means that we are transitioning to our summer programming.

This summer is going to be our biggest ever, as our camper registrations have filled like never before. We have an amazing team of summer staff joining us, but we are still hiring for crucial positions. Please join us in praying for God’s provision as we continue to hire for the summer. If you know any college-aged people who would be interested in spending their summer at HoneyRock, please send us referrals! We would love to share about the available opportunities to join our team.

This edition of the Northern Light is filled with exciting updates about all that is happening around HoneyRock. I hope you enjoy!

Rob Ribbe, Ph. D., Executive Director 

Here at HoneyRock, the snow is melting, the ground is thawing, and summer is coming! We are getting excited for all that God has planned for this summer. 

The demand for summer camp has risen nationwide, but many camps are struggling to find the staff to account for the rising number of registrations. At HoneyRock, we have crucial summer staff positions that remain open. If you know anyone who may be interested in working at HoneyRock this summer, please send us those referrals. We are looking for cabin leaders and activity instructors in areas such as kayaking,  wilderness skills, and drama. We are also looking for kitchen team members, photographers, and wilderness trip leaders! 

If you have any questions about working at HoneyRock, email Ashley Kiley at ashley.kiley@wheaton.edu. 

A significant part of the Vanguard Gap Year Program is the cultural immersion trip. This year, our Vanguards traveled to either Costa Rica or Mississippi. Read about the experiences on each trip below:

Congratulations to our Executive Director, Rob Ribbe, for co-authoring a book, Leaders Yet Discovered: Experiential Development for Emerging Leaders! This book is written for someone who works with emerging generations to help mold and shape them into leaders. Rob and Greg use their years of expertise and knowledge to teach readers how to create the culture, processes, and relationships that foster leader identity and contribution. This book leads the reader to discover and define their own approach, grounded in solid theory and reflective practices, to help the next generation thrive and contribute much. Find Leaders Yet Discovered: Experiential Development for Emerging Leaders on Amazon today. 

This spring, four of our HoneyRock professional staff traveled across the Midwest to speak at sectional meetings for the Christian Camping and Conference Association (CCCA). The purpose of CCCA Sectionals is for camp ministries from around the region to meet together and be encouraged and equipped in their work. Learn more about what each of our staff shared below: 

We are so excited to continue one of our annual traditions at HoneyRock: Northwoods Adventure! Each fall, we invite Wheaton alumni (and friends!) ages 55+ to join us for a week of fun at HoneyRock. Participants get the chance to rekindle old friendships and build new ones while enjoying pontoon rides, swimming, fishing, canoeing, and more on our beautiful property. We are planning for a week of relaxation that will show how HoneyRock has grown over the years.  

Gary and Becky Beebe, long-time attenders of Northwoods Adventure, had this to say, “We began coming to HoneyRock and Northwoods Adventure 21 years ago.  We came with a curiosity for HoneyRock, never having been there before.  Now we come for the deep and lasting relationships we have made over those years and for new ones we continue to make.  We come to be challenged in our faith, to learn new things in nature and to share with others.  We come for the quiet, beauty and solitude of the north woods of Wisconsin.”  

Registration opens May 6. We can’t wait to welcome our friends back to the Northwoods! 

The Vanguards and Fellows are preparing to finish their time here at HoneyRock, and what a year it has been! These students have spent the last 9 months engaging in Christ-centered community, growing in their understanding of leadership and service, and becoming closer to God. To see the change that has taken place in the minds and hearts of these students is truly incredible. We have loved our time together as a school-year community and look forward to seeing what these students will do next!

Our Equestrian Program Manager, Melissa Hougas, recently took her team and traveled to Madision, WI for the Midwest Horse Fair. This is one of the largest equestrian events in the country, and HoneyRock's first time attending as an exhibitor. 

"It was an exciting opportunity to represent HoneyRock at the Midwest Horse Fair, sharing what God is doing at HoneyRock and the recent updates to programming with the larger equine community. We promoted the Equestrian Track for Vanguards, Fellows, and Graduate students and shared about our new Equestrian Center being built."