Water Safety Training

Liz Henderson--Program Team Assistant

HoneyRock is unique compared to many camps because our staff training lasts for five weeks before any campers arrive.  This provides plenty of time for group formation and skill acquisition as well as giving students the opportunity to take several classes for credit.

Part of that training involves all of the counseling staff, Activity Staff and wranglers becoming certified in First Aid, CPR, and AED .  Additionally, all of our counseling staff are trained and tested in Water Safety in the Wilderness/Basic Water Rescue.  The course is designed to equip counselors to safely lead campers on short wilderness trips on or near the water and teaches basic techniques about how to use the materials around them to help someone who is in distress.

This afternoon almost 100 staff will be boarding buses to go to the pool in Antigo, WI so they can be trained in water safety.  Scott Eppler, Charlie Goeke, Mike Fick (and the rest of the Activity Staff team) organize, teach and train all the staff.  We are thankful for them and their willingness to serve HoneyRock in this way so we can have a safe and fun summer both on the HoneyRock waterfront and our trips out of camp.

Charlie has dubbed Water Safety training as "the best 5 hours of the summer" so we are confident they will all have a great time at the pool tonight!

The video contest ends TOMORROW, so please send in your submissions!  Email Liz if you have questions.

Where the Blacktop Ends...

Liz Henderson--Program Team Assistant

Today is a historic day at HoneyRock:  HoneyRock Road is being paved!  We are in the final stages of a year-long process initiated by the Town of Three Lakes.  The town decided for the sake of maintenance and safety they wanted to pave HoneyRock Road.  The Site and Facilities Team (Scott, Bill and Don) has worked closely with Pitlik & Wick Road Contractors who are paving the road.  Last summer, many trees were cut down to widen the road and make a small turnaround area by the Rifle Range.  After the trees were cut, the road was graded and gravel was put down.   After the road settled throughout the winter, the road was re-graded this spring.  Today marks the pavement hitting the gravel.  Now that the road is wider, it is much safer for cars coming from opposite directions to be able to pass each other without needing to drive off the road.  We are excited about having a paved road into camp and are thankful all will have a smoother and less dusty ride down the road. 

Reminder:  Tomorrow is the last day to enter your submission for the camper video contest.  Please send your entries to Liz.  

(The master of the steam roller smoothing the new pavement after it was put down.)

 

(The two men from Pitlik & Wick who operate the machine that paves the road.)

 

(The paving process)

 

(The blacktop ends right below the HoneyRock sign by the Rifle Range)

High School Staff Training

Liz Henderson--Program Team Assistant

High School Staff began training on Monday and we are excited about the team that will be running the Discipleship Training Program (DTP) and Service Team Program (STP) this summer.  Both DTP and STP are pillars of HoneyRock camper programming.  DTP is a 6-week program that involves a 2-week wilderness trip in the Upper Peninsula, a week of ministry in Minneapolis running a day camp, a week at White Buck Lodge, and a week doing service in the local community.  Service Teamers can come for either 4 weeks or 8 weeks and will spend their summer living at and serving camp by doing work ranging from raking to cleaning to painting to mowing to splitting wood and just about everything in between! 

Please pray for our high school staff: Candi, Amy, Kim, Karina, Luis, Colin, Ami and Steven.  The staff who run these programs are in a significant leadership position and will be spending extensive time living with, serving and investing in their campers.  

(High school staff praying together before starting low ropes yesterday)

 

(High school staff on the Frenchmen's Traverse)

 

(High school staff planning and scaling the 14-foot wall)

Packing for camp

John Vandervelde - Program Director   

During this time of year we get a lot of questions about packing for camp so we thought we'd make a funny, yet important instructional video to help families as they begin the packing process.

You can find the video here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8ishojxFHs

ENJOY!

Thanks to Luis Cadena, who made this video, and to Heather, Haley, Jackson and Jacob Ledbetter, our amazing actors. 

The Adventure Begins...

Liz Henderson--Program Team Assistant

This morning all of our Summer Leadership School (SLS) students will depart HoneyRock to begin their wilderness training trips.  All of the students are divided up into units of 8-10 and are led by a unit leader throughout the summer.  They will spend the next few days with their unit out on the trail (or in the canoe).  SLSers will take their campers on short wilderness trips throughout this summer and their training trips will help to prepare them.

The Adventure Ministry Program staff (who will lead Adventure Camp and wilderness trips this summer) left early this morning to head up to Lake Superior for one of their training trips. 

The SLSers who will be counseling Advance Camp this summer have been hard at work for the past week (taking advantage of the warm and sunny Northwoods weather!) and have been learning all about sea kayaking.  They now know how to transport, clean, care for, and paddle sea kayaks.  Advance Campers will get to use sea kayaks on some of their adventure trips.  

Please pray for all these staff and students as they spend several days in the wilderness this week getting trained.  Pray for safety, skill acquisition, group bonding, and a great time of vision casting for the summer.

REMINDER:  This is the final week to enter your submission for the video contest!  If you have any questions, please email Liz.  

WIN (Wheaton in the Northwoods)

Liz Henderson--Program Team Asst.

There are currently 49 students up at HoneyRock participating in WIN (Wheaton in the Northwoods).  WIN was started 3 years ago to provide Wheaton College students with the opportunity to take classes in an intensive format in a non-traditional setting.  Students live and eat their meals at HoneyRock and can participate in activities during their free time. 

The five classes offered during Session One of WIN are New Testament, Modern Global Literature, Introduction to Philosophy, Wellness, and Backpacking & Orienteering.  Most of the classes meet in the morning and also two evenings a week.  The Backpacking & Orienteering class has an afternoon schedule and will be taking an overnight trip with Professor Bud Williams this weekend to put all their new skills into practice.

We are delighted to have so many students and professors here over the next few weeks and we are enjoying the chance to get to know them.

Dr. Bob O'Connor took advantage of the beautiful weather and taught his class out on Chrouser lawn this morning.

 

Dr. Nick Perrin teaching New Testament in the Ribbe Room

 

Dr. Tiffany Kriner teaching her Modern Global Literature class in the HoneyRock library.