Over the past month we have made the big transition from school year to summer. We had a wonderful opportunity in May to celebrate our graduating Vanguard Gap Year students as well as our graduate students who have earned their master’s degree in Outdoor Adventure Leadership. Many of these students are now working and serving as we prepare for the arrival of campers.
Also, through a very big team effort over the past 6+ months, we have recruited a wonderful group of college students to work and serve this summer. Given the number of campers coming (over 1,000!), we targeted 156 high-character student leaders, and we just recently filled the last position to get to 100% staffing! This includes the largest number of returning students which will be very helpful as we train and invest in this group. I’ve had the great pleasure of meeting with and speaking to these student leaders as they start training, and I am really impressed with the Christ-centered character of this team and their commitment to serve a bigger purpose than themselves.
Our summer staff theme is Psalm 95:6-7. “Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!
Please pray for our summer program teams, our activity staff, along with our Kitchen, Health Center, Guest Services, Site & Facilities, Media teams, etc., as they complete their training and preparation, and move into this very busy season, knowing they are the flock under his care. Please pray for the work that God has planned for them, being the hands and feet of Christ!
God Bless, Matt Erickson, ‘95 Executive Director
Prayers for Summer 2025
Our summer staff will be rooted in Psalm 95, focused on worshipping the greatness of our God as the reigning King and our Good Shepherd.
First, you can pray for our staff. We pray that our staff teams will accept the invitation to "come, let us worship and bow down" as we seek to partner with the Spirit in fulfilling our vision of seeing generations alive in Christ.
Second, pray for our campers. As Matt mentioned, 1,000+ youth and young adults will be coming onto HoneyRock's grounds this summer, and while we are confident the Lord has blessed and set this space a part - we are still seeking His protection and expectant that His name will be known and worshiped this summer. While praying for our campers, please pray for camper's families and those who care for and send their campers to HoneyRock.
Finally, please pray for our 27 international Christian camping leaders serving with us this summer. Our international staff leaders have traveled from around the world to partner with us in ministry this summer, we are thankful for the ways they are already influencing HoneyRock's ministry!
Ashley Paige Kiley, Camp Programs Director
Summer Staff Openings!
With Summer ‘25 just around the corner we are still in need of a few more cabin leaders, kitchen staff, activity leaders, and a videographer.
Do you know any college-age or recent college-graduates seeking summer employment? If so, our team would love to connect with your recommendations or answer any questions a potential applicant may have before they apply.
Contact RJ Boyle at rj.boyle@wheaton.edu for more info, or share the link below!
Get a head start on summer with our new exclusive online store! We now have limited stock from the Beehive available for you to order online. From t-shirts and classic baseball hats to cozy hoodies, we have everything you need to start your summer in HoneyRock style.
Our 10th Vanguard cohort has come to a close, and it has been a year of adventure and growth! Vanguards traveled to Costa Rica, Chicago, and the Twin Cities (MN), had a full winter of outdoor engagement, finished their spring coursework, and made the most of their remaining time in the community. One characteristic of this year’s cohort that has stood out and impressed me was their engagement and desire to learn and grow through every aspect of the program. As a cohort, they embodied what we hope a full Vanguard year would look like and the learning and development we hope to see in Vanguards. They will be greatly missed!
This summer, rent one of our cozy waterfront guest cabins! Step away for a week of rest, revitalization, and quality time at HoneyRock! Are you coming for Family Day? Why not come up early and let us host you for the week? Experience HoneyRock for yourself when you stay in our guest cabins, which provide access to beautiful views of Long Lake, hiking trails, and other HoneyRock activities like participating in Wrangler Dinner!
Secure your rental for Summer 2025 now while limited spots remain.
Outdoor and Adventure Leadership M.A. Class of '25
We have 14 Outdoor and Adventure Leadership M.A. graduates completing the program this spring. Three of our graduates are from the Emerging Leadership Program at SpringHill Camps, our partner ministry in Michigan and Indiana, and another is from our neighbor, Fort Wilderness. The remaining ten have been graduate assistants at HoneyRock, serving as leaders in Passage, Summer Camp Programs, and our School Year programs like Vanguard Gap Year and Retreat ministry. These incredible students plan to serve in churches, camps, and colleges across the United States and worldwide.
In the last edition of the Northern Light , we announced that a very generous donor offered to match every gift-dollar for dollar- up to $100,000 until April 30th.
We are a month into the campaign and have already raised $xxxx of our $100,000 goal.
Together, we have an incredible opportunity to serve more campers while maintaining the high quality of our summer camp programs.
There are only 2.5 weeks left to Double Your Impact, so donate today!
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In the last edition of the