Carol: "I find it interesting to be looking back now, in 2022, on the 50 year anniversary of Title IX . . ."(Carol notes that the Girls Camp Senior Staff were all involved at their various colleges, schools, and jobs in encouraging the changes that needed to come for women.)
"On one hand, as Girl’s Camp Director, I was given an amazing amount of freedom in hiring staff, planning all activities, programs and schedules. And I believe we earned the support and respect of the men. On the other hand, it was clear that the Boy’s Camp and Wheaton College men would have more resources and first shot especially at any Adventure programs ie. Canadians, Explorers and College Vanguards. Eventually we were able to push for changes and equality. Mary Wetzel and Penny Nickel Hagaman were especially helpful in making our case - to Coach Chrouser’s credit, we were heard."
Q: "We just did what came naturally and what was needed at the time. I don’t remember thinking that it was uncommon."
"Given the responsibility to lead in this setting was a great opportunity, leading small groups of campers and staff in various settings increased my confidence in my leadership ability. I applied that in my future teaching, coaching, and higher ed leadership positions (Career Director at Huntington University and Assoc. Dean of Residence Life at Moody)."
Jennifer: "Growing female leaders was not by happenstance, it was planned and practiced. I did not experience “you can’t do this", or “this is not your place”. What I heard was “yes, you can”, “thank you", and “let’s go". In all of us working together (men and women) there was this integrating attitude of needing each other."
"We were empowered to be creative, do things not done before; it was about learning to lead, trust, and working together. I believe that HoneyRock is one platform from which I was pushed and encouraged and challenged to be the woman that God was calling me to be -- not in spite of being a woman, but because I am a woman."
Lisa: "I only realized how outside the norm it was when I was looking at some historical records from the original *Vanguard program (previously High Road, now called Passage). It was only a few years before I started as a camper that they approved a *Vanguard program for women. I can say that I am very grateful for those women like Dot Chrouser, Carol Morgan, Penny Nickel Hagaman, Lin Peterson, Patty Bullmore, Jennifer King, and others who modeled leadership and made it seem normal. Those women opened the possibilities for what women could do and how God uses women to teach and train other."
* The name "Vanguard" was retired for several years but has now been repurposed and resurrected. It now serves as the name for Wheaton College's Vanguard Gap Year Program at HoneyRock.