Flying By!

Wow - a whole week has passed by since updating! We're sorry about the wait, the days are just flying by...can you believe that Family Day is just around the corner for Res and Advance Camp? We can't! While this page might have gotten a little quiet over the past week, our photo page is hoppin'! We have over 700 pictures capturing Res Camp, and that again for high school programs. Look to the right of your screen for the links to the various galleries. 

Here are some quick updates for you on what our different programs are up to - this Thursday you'll get an in-depth look if you come to Family Day!

Res: All of our girls will be out on trip by 2 o'clock this afternoon - until then, the boys are getting pumped for MAN CAMP tonight (we'll let them fill you in on what that means!). Campers have been busy learning new skills in our different activity areas, spending time in the Word, and playing fun cabin games in the time between.

Advance: All Advance Campers are back on camp for the final week of activities. Their trips were great - they will certainly have stories to tell! Currently (11am today) they're in the middle of Cabin Impacts - learning about encountering, journeying, and abiding with Christ. Incredible lessons for this time of life. During activity periods, the campers are finishing up their Basic/Intermediate/Masters awards - it looks like we'll have a couple of Masters tests this session! It's been awesome to watch how their cabin dynamics have grown over the past couple of weeks.

2:22: Will be back in camp tomorrow afternoon! We're so excited to welcome them back, hear their stories, and have them on camp. We'll have some trip recaps on the blog within a week.

Fuzzy van photo after being drenched in Eagle River. Still had fun!Service Team: Service Teamers keep chuggin' along - they're doing some awesome work, from rebuilding the horse "loafing" shelter to helping out with a HoneyRock neighbor's yard work to working in the Three Lakes community garden to turning cabins over for new guests. Anywhere you look, there's a Service Teamer!

AC's: This past weekend, Sarah (this summer's photographer & AC'09) got the chance to take the ACs into town for their night off. There were lots of Triggs snacks purchased, laughs had, and ice cream and cookies eaten to top off the night. In her words: "laundry with no quarters, torrential downpour, a Pizza Hut and a power outage later we called it a night...they're good for me."  We're blessed by their energy, and desire to love, serve, and lead Res campers.

That about covers the updates of different areas of camp - stay tuned for more on 2:22! We're pumped to welcome families to Family Day this Thursday. If you haven't already, please register. If you have questions, make your way to our info page, then feel free to give us a call!

Encountering God

Every weekday morning, the HoneyRock community gathers at 7:45, sharp. You see, we start our days together with a time of devotion: listening to the Word, hearing testimonies, and praying for the day. Lately, "encountering God" has been our theme - and we've heard some incredible stories. 

Muhia shared one of his encounters on Sunday, at church. While in Nigeria earlier this spring, he woke up very early and walked to a beach on the Indian Ocean. Though behind him dark clouds threatened rain, the sunrise before him was as if God had "sent him a kiss" from above.

Mariel, one of our Res Camp Unit Leaders, spoke to her experience encountering God through her community at Wheaton College. Though her year was tough, she was able to repeatedly see God through the women on her floor as they gathered to celebrate the good.

Ashley, our Advance Camp Coordinator, began Wednesday's devotion shouting the questions, "Have you not heard, do you not know?" She continued preaching the good news of the Gospel, and how in the past, the present, and the future, it is our constant. Even through times of change, we have the Gospel. 

SLS, AMP and STP counselors continue to prepare for campers (Intro Camp, Advance Camp & Service Team come this Monday!). Today is a staff favorite, Water Safety Day! A couple weeks ago, staffers visited Antigo's pool for training and today is test day. At 1:00, they began a written test which then transitions to the Waterfront, where they are tested on all of their skills. Wondering what other kind of training our staff goes through? Click here!

We're so excited to witness the ways God encounters us at HoneyRock this summer - through experiencing creation, serving others, engaging with the community, preparing Bible Studies or answering camper questions, and so many other ways. God is in this place!

Disciplined Reflection: Challenge & Growth

Today we're hearing from Jake Roop, an Elementary Education major who just graduated from Wheaton College. After visiting camp last weekend, we asked him to reflect on his time at HoneyRock - he had a lot to say! We were blessed to have Jake on staff, not only leading campers in 2011 but also counselors in 2012. We're thankful for what God does through our counselors, the lessons they teach and learn in the summer. Read on to hear Jake's reflections:

Hello everyone, today I get to share with you part of my HoneyRock testimony. I have been blessed to spend the last two summers as part of the HoneyRock community. These two summers were by far the best summers of my life. To me, HoneyRock is, and always has been, a place that is conducive to spiritual growth and challenge.

This is the first summer in three years that I have not been part of the HoneyRock summer staff. But like many former staffers, I find it difficult to stay away from HoneyRock for an extended period of time. I have been very intentional about visiting camp this summer so that I can come back and experience the unique atmosphere that only HRC can offer. This summer, I am working in the Wheaton College admissions office giving all of the summer tours of campus. You can bet that I give all of the prospective students an extensive representation of HoneyRock during the tour. But I always want to give them more than just a basic description of HoneyRock, I want them to know about the challenges and growth that occurs there.

My biggest growing experience at camp occurred as a counselor in the summer of 2011 when I was counseling a group of 6th and 7th grade boys. My energy level was minimal and I felt as though none of my efforts were getting through to the boys. But God redeemed so many things within the span of just a few days and it wound up being the best session of the summer. I learned that no matter how empty I may feel, God is still using me according to his good purposes. Even when I felt that my efforts had been wasted, God was still using me to plant seeds in the hearts of those boys.

It can be difficult for counselors because they are only allowed to counsel for one summer, and few are lucky enough to come back and invest in those same campers in the roles of unit leaders, activity staff, or other staff positions. Therefore counselors hardly ever get to see the campers grow up and see their efforts come to fruition. This weekend, I was able to visit HoneyRock for the last time this summer. I was already feeling a little bit emotional because the trip may have been my last visit during a summer to HoneyRock for quite some time, when something unexpected happened.

Jake (sunglasses) with his campers at the Wagon Circle in 2011

I was able to see some of the Advance Camp boys come back from their wilderness trips. In my short time spent with them, I was overcome with emotion. The same goofy and crazy campers that I was able to mentor as a counselor, uncle, and unit leader are now young and polite men who have matured so much in the short span of two years and will be heading into high school. I spent so much time during my two summers planting the seeds and trusting in The Lord that He will bear that fruit.

This weekend, I was blessed to see that fruit. I am overcome with emotion when I think that I had the slightest meaningful impact on those kids' lives. What a wonderful feeling it has been to be rewarded with tangible signs of God's everlasting faithfulness and knowing that He is still perfecting what I did years ago. I hope that this story conveys the absolute joy that The Lord has given me. HoneyRock is a place that changes lives and I am blessed beyond all measure to have been associated with this wonderful place.

Jake (far right) and the 2012 Unit Leader Men

Campers are Coming!

But before we talk about Res campers coming, we want to highlight a tool that will help those campers who have left. Transitioning back home can be tough, especially for those who have spent a longer time at camp, like our 2:22ers who were with us for almost one month. That's why we have put together this post to help navigate that change from a temporary community, camp, to a permanent community, home.

For those of you with campers in Advance Camp, the men made it safely back from their wilderness trip. The women will leave tomorrow after lunch and plan to return this Saturday. Look for updated pictures of Advance Camp in our photo gallery tomorrow!

Today, we welcome our final session of Res campers! This morning, SLS continued preparing for campers while Activity Staff was busy reviewing lifeguarding skills.

If you are the loved one of a Res camper, you're probably wondering what they do on their first day to adjust to camp. Here's a peak at their schedule for the first night!

3:30/4:00 - Arrive
4:15 - Intro Skit by Unit Leaders, introducing the camp theme
4:30 - Girls begin swim test while boys play large group games
5:00 - Boys make their way to the swim test
5:50 - Zacco begins (Wondering what Zacco is? Stay tuned this week!)
6:00 - Dinner
6:45 - Dinner clean-up & head to waterfront for Activity Area Opening Show
7:45 - Cabin introductions at tent
9:00 - Back to cabin, get ready for bed
9:30 - Cabin Reflection
10:00 - Lights Out! 

It's a full first day, but one that works to ensure camper safety and familiarity with faces at camp. We're as excited today as we were on day one to share this experience with them for the next two weeks!

Remember, beginning this Wednesday, we update our photo gallery for Res Camp every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - check in to see what your child is up to! Forgot to sign up for our camper {e}mail option? You still can, click here!

Advance Campers, Get Pumped!

This Monday we will welcome nearly 60 Advance campers to HoneyRock! We're excited to have these high school freshmen on camp, living and learning in community. Our Advance Camp program exists to build meaningful relationships and provide challenging experiences that ultimatlely encourage students as they "advance" to make Christ the foundation of their lives.

We thought that today we could introduce you to five of our Advance Camp counseling staff, giving you a little idea of where they're from and why they're here. But, before you take a couple minutes to meet Korey, Tana, Nate, Emily, & Kathryn, visit this page to read about preparing for camp, packing list included.

To start off the introductions, say hi to Korey Gregornick! He's originally from Lake Geneva, but is now pursuing music and youth ministry at Wheaton College. While not in class, Korey loves longboarding, drumming, and sports. He participated in Passage before his freshman year and was ready to return for a full summer. We asked Korey about his favorite part of working at HoneyRock, and he replied, "The community and wilderness. Everywhere you go there are people to love and beautiful things to see...I love the outdoors and chillin with bros and doing adventurous things."

Tana Schendel, from Shoreview, Minnesota, shares Korey's love for adventures. When asked about her favorite part of HoneyRock, Tana answered, "incredible food and going on adventures!" She's excited to "hang out with high schoolers and grow in relationships with each other and Christ." Tana will return to Wheaton this Fall to study Psychology and Christian Ed.

Nate Mulder comes to us from Grand Rapids, Michigan where we lived and worked at a camp for nine years before coming to HoneyRock. He has really apprecaited HoneyRock as a place to "help others discover God's love for them through time out of their comfort zones and in his creation." Nate is an Education major who loves frisbee, juggling, and tall-bike riding.

Emily Korzeniewski, like Nate, sees HoneyRock as a place grow closer to God. Emily studies music composition at Wheaton and in her free time, loves creating. This includes crafting, sewing, and knitting, not to mention music. Emily has been up at HoneyRock for Wilderness Passage as well as her SLS winter retreat. She loves HoneyRock, saying, "The community here is so srong and it's a beautiful place to see God in people and nature." She is really excited to work with students going into high school and thinks HoneyRock is a great place to grow closer to God.

Finally, let us introduce you to Kathryn Brightly from Clinton, New Jersey. She's been up to HoneyRock a few times, first for Passage, then a work/play weekend, and finally the SLS winter retreat. Emily is a English/Secondary Education major who loves playing piano, reading, & writing. When asked about her favorite part of HoneyRock, Kathryn answered, "I love the community. We can be absolutely crazy together, but also vulnerable and open about our lives..." she continued "I wanted to challenge myself in my relationship with others and God as well as have an AMAZING time with incredible high schoolers! Get pumped!"

10 o'clock, Tuesday

It's the first day our Res campers are in camp! Last night they already had so much fun getting in the water for their swim test, meeting Activity Staff, and introducing themselves to camp through skits. This morning, they began their first full day here...and what a great first day we're having!

But, because of the title you're probably wondering What happens at 10 o'clock?

Ten o'clock means we have been awake for at least three hours, if not four for those Solid Rockers. Breakfast has been eaten, "Cabin Impacts" finished, quiet times taken, and Res campers are almost ready to make their way to activities. But first, 10 o'clock rolls around and everyone heads to the big blue and white tent.  

 

Once the campers arrive at the tent, it breaks out into craziness! Four or five of or SLS'ers and Unit Leaders are on stage, playing the drums, guitar, and piano while leading motions to our favorite worship songs like Marvelous Light, Days of Elijah, Every Move I Make, Prince of Peace, I Saw the Light...the list goes on!

 

It's so much fun to see smiling faces joining to praise God for all he has blessed us with!

If you would like, we invite you to join with us in this time through prayer from wherever you are. We pray daily that each and every camper would find God and learn what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, that eyes are opened and hearts are softened, for cabin unity and for safety. So, join us for the next two weeks at 10 o'clock, supporting campers and counselors in prayer!

For those who may be new to this blog, we invite you to also look at our Photo Gallery! We update Res Camp every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Advance Camp and 2:22 are updated every Tuesday and Thursday. You can also use the links to your right to make your way to the page.