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

Unpacking Time at Camp

We'll admit, it is a little early in the summer to start talking about unpacking camp, but since we just had our first Intro campers return home, it's an important topic to cover. We want to share some ways to connect with your children after they have had a powerful camp experience.

Look at Pictures

We just launched our photo website where you can browse pictures of the session of camp your child attended, as well as purchase prints. Look through the pictures and let them tell you the "who, what, where, when, and why". While they won't know all of the details of every picture, catching a glimpse of an activity instructor or a place on camp can spark their memory of more details and start more conversations. Hopefully through these conversations you will gain a greater glimpse into their time at HoneyRock. 

Use Conversation Starters and Links

Below you will find two separate conversation starters that you can use to connect with your child on their camp experience. The first was created by HoneyRock parents while the second by HoneyRock staff. Click on the following conversation starters to begin great conversations with your children.

• Reflections on My Time at Camp (PDF)
• HoneyRock Camp Transition Home (PDF)

Do something active and/or let them teach you.

Maybe your child learned how to make a campfire or how to kayak for the first time. Allow them to show you what they learned by engaging in that particular activity. This will show them that you are interested in what they learned at camp. This method is particularly useful for children who have a hard time talking about things.

If possible, plan on coming to Family Day.

Parents and caregivers are the primary transfer agents for the campers. It is your role to help your children figure out how to bring the learning and life change from the temporary community back home (the "permanent" community). Coming to Family Day will help you experience what has happened in the life of your child(ren). 

What happens?

• Eat at a cook-out on the front lawn
• Participate in one-on-ones with your child's counselor
• Go to a meeting for parents to get to know the director and other staff
• Visit "open house" style activities for campers to show their parents activity areas
• Watch the Rodeo & Waterski show featuring campers who have worked in these areas

Why come?

• Learn firsthand what happened in your child's life this summer as you experience HoneyRock for a day
• Meet one-on-one with your child’s counselors, allowing you to hear about the specific ways that your child was challenged and grew while at HoneyRock
• Begin the process of connecting with your child’s experience and applying it to life back home

We pray the day will also deepen relationships with the Lord as experiences and stories are shared that glorify Him for what He has done in the lives of people through HoneyRock. Interested? Register here for your Family Day.