Advance Camp Update

Craig Miller--Advance Camp Manager

The boys in Advance Camp are currently out on their wilderness trips.  We are really excited about the 5-day wilderness trips which involve both sea kayaking and hiking through the Nicolet National Forest Preserve.  Pray for the guys to have a great time of bonding and learning more about each other and about their Creator.

The girls in Advance Camp have been enjoying HoneyRock activities and time with their cabin mates while the boys have been out of camp.  They have also spent time on the Stillwaters Challenge Course participating in some bog elements which can involve getting pretty wet and muddy!  Yesterday the girls spent half of the day 35 feet up in the air on the high ropes course (pictured below).

Camp is abuzz today with all the excitement of our first Family Day of the summer!

Nordic Fest

Liz Henderson--Program Team Assistant

Nordic Fest began with a parade led by Hochenroch (Dan Elsen, Residential Camp Manager who is pictured below in his Viking costume.)  Hochenroch was closely followed by the Unit Leaders, also in full Viking gear.  The Activity Staff and Service Team were right on their heels distributing candy to all the happy campers!

Then all the campers participated in a variety of outdoor events including water jousting, greased watermelon, slip-n-slide, bean bag toss, and water balloon toss.  The games culminated with a giant tug-of-war between the campers and counselors.  The campers (aided by Service Team) won 2-1.  Everyone had a fantastic afternoon!

Family Day is TOMORROW!  Check-in begins at 1:30pm.  Please remember that pets are not allowed at HoneyRock.  If you need directions to HoneyRock, click here.  We look forward to seeing you tomorrow afternoon!

Camp has officially begun!

Liz Henderson--Program Team Assistant

We are so excited that campers have arrived at HoneyRock!  On Monday afternoon 160 6-Day Residential Campers arrived.  They are the youngest group of campers we will have all summer and they are entering 3rd-5th grade.  It has been fun to see them walking around camp in little groups with their counselors and participating in activities and Bible studies together.  They have so much excitement and energy for their week at camp! 

This afternoon we will have Nordic Fest at HoneyRock!  It is a
celebration of the summer theme for Res Camp.  Check the blog
tomorrow to see some pictures from Nordic Fest.

The first session of Advance Camp has also started.  The Advance Campers will be entering 9th grade in the fall and are here for 3 weeks doing activities and various adventure trips.

Pictured below are some of our 6-day campers during their first two days at HoneyRock.

Graduate Psychology Week

Todd Pinckney--Graduate Psychology Student and Long-Time HoneyRocker

Each summer students from Wheaton’s graduate psychology
programs have the opportunity to take part in HoneyRock’s Psych Week.  This year 28 students made the trek up to the
Northwoods for a break from the busyness of everyday life to take classes,
enjoy community around the campfire, and indulge in HoneyRock’s many
recreational camp activities.  The
psychology classes offered at HoneyRock provide a break in the mold of the
typical classroom environment by emphasizing hands-on techniques and
experiential learning.  Many students
have noted finding the respite of this experience incredibly refreshing and a
much needed rejuvenation from the rigors of graduate school.

Psych Week also provides the unique opportunity to get to
know professors and their families outside the normal classroom setting.  This year’s HoneyRock professors include Dr.
Rich Butman, Dr. Terri Watson, Dr. Derek McNeil, Dr. Michael Mangis, and Dr.
Kelly Flanagan.  The graduate psychology
department was also thrilled to have their newest professor, Dr. Jamie Aten,
and his family at HoneyRock before he begins his first semester of teaching in
the fall. 

Photos provided by Todd James Photography    

The Sun Is Out!

Liz Henderson--Program Team Assistant

Today is an important day at HoneyRock.  After two straight weeks of clouds and rain, the sun has finally appeared.

Brayden (8) and Jamie (6) Cutchie are here at HoneyRock for two months this summer with their parents, Mark and Sharon.  The Cutchie family lives in Australia but are here volunteering and helping in many areas around camp.  Mark and Sharon have spent other summers at HoneyRock beginning in the late 90's when Mark was a student.  We are thankful to have them here this summer and greatly appreciate the work they have been doing. 

Brayden and Jamie were so excited to see the sun this morning that they made the sign you can see pictured below.  While we need all the rain we have been having since it is helping the water level in the lakes to rise, we sure do enjoy seeing the sun and blue sky!

Service Team Has Arrived!

Liz Henderson--Program Team Assistant

Service Team is one of our longest-running programs at HoneyRock.  While the name has changed over the years from "Engineers and Hostesses" to "Service Team" the mission remains the same: training young men and women to serve others and serve God.  Others-oriented service is one of the core values of HoneyRock, and Service Team exemplifies this core value.

Service Teamers live and work at HoneyRock for either 4 or 8 weeks during the summer.  They spend their days serving various areas around camp, often working under the direction of the Site and Facilities Team to build cabins, split wood, paint, and maintain the grounds.  They also spend time working with the Housekeepers and assisting Residential Camp in their many activities.

Yesterday I had the privilege of spending some time with the female Service Teamers while they did the Pamper Pole.  It was fun to see them challenge themselves and work together as a group.  We are excited about the team God has assembled this summer.  God has collected these students from around the country and around the world to be here.  Please pray for unity and growth among this group as they serve together this summer.