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Life as a Fellow

A glimpse into the life and work of the HoneyRock Fellows Program

By HoneyRock Center for Leadership Development

July 20^th, 2022

What & Who Are Fellows?

Fellows are team of discipleship-minded individuals who have recently completed college (or an equivalent program/work experience) and have a strong interest in ministering to emerging adults. Fellows spend 9 months at HoneyRock engaging in personal spiritual formation, intentional exploration of vocational discernment, and leadership identity development. While doing so they are diving into community life at HoneyRock, facilitating outdoor/adventure education, and serving in specific areas around HoneyRock through paid employment.

The most significant part of a Fellows position involves leading, mentoring, and providing support to Vanguard Gap Year students. Each Fellow has a primary work area in which they spend 4 days per week, 3 of those days they are working alongside Vanguard students in these areas. This working relationship provides fertile ground for authentic, teachable moments and the formation of life-long skills. These work areas in which Fellows are employed include: the Auto Shop, Construction, Equestrian (Barn), Grounds, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Beehive (coffee and retail), Media, and Programming.

The most significant part of a Fellow's position involves leading, mentoring, and providing daily support to Vanguard Gap Year students throughout the year.

Grace (Grounds Fellow 2019-2020) plays djembe for a worship service.

Chris (Program Fellow 20-21) enjoys some down time on Chrouser Lawn.

Thomas (Kitchen Fellow 21-22) takes a tube down Ski Hill.

Olivia (Guest Services Fellow 18-19) (M.A. OAL '21) instructs a session on belaying at the outdoor climbing wall.

Emerson (Media Fellow 21-22) enjoys an all camp ski day at Big Powderhorn!

Tim (Construction Fellow 21-22) works with a Vanguard in the woodshop.

Who has done Fellows?

We got in touch with a handful of our Fellow alumni to get some of their thoughts on the significant aspects of the Fellows Program. We asked them to describe how the experience impacted them and what kind of work they did while at HoneyRock.

Interested in pursuing Fellows? apply today

Emerson (Media Fellow 21-22) on the job.

Chris (Program Fellow 20-21) killing it in a game of pickle ball.

Tori (Equestrian Fellow 21-22) is in full character for the annual HoneyRock Flugtag Sled Competition.

Tim (Construction Fellow 21-22) helps plant the inaugural apple tree at the start of the 21-22 Vanguard year.

Weston (Media Fellow 20-21) enjoys card games on a weeknight with the Vanguard and grad student community.

Laura (left) & Jack (center) (Guest Services & Program Fellows 19-20) pose for a photo on the Vanguard Pictured Rocks backpacking trip.

Joel (Program Fellow 21-22) leads an impromptu worship session in Base Camp lounge.

Kitchen Fellow

Thomas Eddy, 2021-2022

As the Kitchen Fellow, Thomas worked alongside HoneyRock's Head Chef (also named Thomas!) to prepare and serve 3 meals a day for a community that can range in size from 30-300 per meal shift. Thomas led Vanguard students working in the Kitchen in meal prep, food service, and stewardship of the kitchen facilities. Thomas reflected on his time as a Fellow, expressing that he had never lived in a Christian community like this before, and he enjoyed the spiritually enriching environment that HoneyRock offers. Thomas was invited to keep serving in the Kitchen for the 2022 summer season where he continued to lead summer staff in forming an engaging and welcoming culture in the Kitchen.

Guest Services Fellow

Laura Sattler, 2019-2020

Laura served as the Guest Services Fellow during the 2019-2020 school year. As a Fellow in Guest Services she was responsible for leading Vanguard students through the work day, as they completed housekeeping projects and routine cleanings. The Guest Services Fellow plays a major role in creating hospitable and welcoming spaces for guests of HoneyRock. "I swept floors and cleaned toilets with Vanguards on a daily basis. But really... doing that kind of work with these gap year students is all about retraining them to see the mundane tasks, like cleaning windows and making beds, as holy and sacred acts, exercises that create order, steward our material goods, and maintain hospitality for others." After Fellows, Laura decided to pursue her MA in Outdoor Adventure Leadership with Wheaton College at HoneyRock.

Tim (Construction Fellow 21-22) works with Vanguards on a project in the new hay storage facility.

Josie (Guest Services Fellow 20-21) enjoys a well roasted marshmallow at a weekly Fellows hang out.

Kenyan (Kitchen Fellow 20-21), who also has experience and training with equestrian programs, helps out at the barn.

Brian (Auto Shop Fellow 21-22) works with Vanguard students in the shop.

Olivia (Guest Services Fellow 18-19) enjoys free time on a Saturday working in the ceramics studio with Vanguards and grad students.

Grace (Guest Services & Program Fellow 21-22) says goodbye to Vanguards during their closing service.

Grace (Left) (Grounds Fellow 19-20) on the job, observes the replacement of a chainsaw chain.

Construction Fellow

Alex Cole, 2019-2020

Alex shared his top 3 reflections from his experience as a Construction Fellow:

"Fellows is a great thing to pursue if you need more time to discern what's next. It's a productive way to live a year of life that can give an individual the time they need to explore options for what comes next."
"The power in working with Vanguards comes from the fact that they are in a similar season of discernment. They're just a few steps behind you as a Fellow, but you still get to enter into a day-to-day partnership with these students where you can explore, discuss, and dream together."
"Fellows yielded some of my closest friends and most impactful mentors. Working with George Polcaster (Facilities Manager) and Korey Gregornik (Transportation & Equipment Supervisor) on the Operations team changed my life. The technical skills I learned, paired with the mentorship from them, that is where the most powerful moments occurred."

Equestrian Fellow

Tori MacDonald, 2021-2022

Tori came to Fellows six months after graduating college. Tori is also a longtime HoneyRock summer staffer and camper. She was excited to step into the role as an Equestrian Fellow and invest in the school year community at HoneyRock. As an Equestrian Fellow, Tori helped in the training of and caring for horses, leading trail rides, and doing maintenance of the barn facility and related equipment. Tori points out, "working alongside Vanguards in this setting (both at the Barn and living life alongside them at HoneyRock) was a very rewarding and developmental experience". After Fellows, Tori decided to continue her education through Wheaton College Graduate School, at HoneyRock, in the Outdoor Adventure Leadership masters program.

"The work and presence of a Fellow in Vanguard's lives doesn't end in the work area at the completion of a work day. Fellows play an integral role in the lives of Vanguards throughout the entire year. Fellows model what a life with Christ is like in the day-to-day routines and rhythms."

Laura Sattler

Mariah (Grounds Fellow 20-22) on the job in Grounds, moving and splitting firewood is a continual chore that the Grounds Crew is responsible to do.

Weston (Media Fellow 2020-2021) enjoys an afternoon game of broomball with Vanguards.

Grace (Guest Services & Program Fellow 2021-2022) enjoys quality time with Vanguards at a community art event.

Alex (Construction, '20, front left) "supervises" the installment of a new basketball hoop and backboard.

Abbey (Program Fellow 20-21) enjoys a fall day at HoneyRock.

Tim (Construction Fellow 21-22) works on a van shelter building project with a Vanguard.

Auto Shop Fellow

Brian Keller, 2021-2022

Brian is a former Vanguard (2018-2019) who returned to HoneyRock to serve as the Auto Shop Fellow. In this role, he led Vanguards in a variety of skills and projects related to equipment repair and maintenance, also servicing the many vehicles around HoneyRock, which range from pick-up trucks to 12-passenger vans. Brian's ability to be both an intentional leader and friend had an impact on the community of Vanguards and Fellows he lived alongside. At the end of his Fellows year, Brian was still figuring out what's next, but he named, "my time at HoneyRock has helped me hone my skills and develop my strengths as I discern my calling".

Grounds Fellow

Mariah (Perrigo) Cody, 2020-2022

Mariah serves as the Grounds Fellow, leading Vanguards in the care for HoneyRock's 900+ acres of property, maintenance of facilities, and upkeep of activity areas. This involves training her team in forestry, sustainability, and year-round trail maintenance tasks, as well as proper use of power tools and gear. Mariah enjoys fostering a positive team environment with her grounds crew and inviting Vanguards to tea on the weekends. After Fellows, Mariah chose to pursue her MA in Divinity, and she looks forward to using what she's learned about faith-infused work and community here at HoneyRock to assist the spiritual formation of others.

Mariah on the job, taking a break from chainsawing.

"Fellows is a great way to set a trajectory for the future. After college I felt unsure about where I was going, but Fellows provided a place where I could learn important life lessons, which remain as guides to me, as I continue to navigate life after college."

Chris Eaker

Kenyan (Kitchen Fellow 20-21) takes an afternoon skate on the lake.

Joel (front foreground) (Program Fellow 21-22) helps lead the Vanguard Pictured Rocks trip.

Emerson (Media Fellow 21-22) reviews work with a Vanguard in the Media office.

Josh (left, Construction 20-21), Betsy (middle, Beehive 20-21), Hannah (right, Auto Shop 20-21) partake in some slack-lining on a beautiful fall afternoon.

Mariah (center, Grounds Fellow 20-22) pauses for a photo at the annual HoneyRock Christmas Party.

Program Fellow

Chris Eaker, 2020-2021

As a Program Fellow, Chris's role was particularly focused on student care, facilitating learning for Vanguards, and helping plan and execute the core experiences of the Vanguard year. There are typically two Program Fellows (male and female), and a major area of their work is oriented towards serving as resident assistants for the Vanguard Gap Year program. Program Fellows also play a key role in the planning, executing, and facilitation of the programming and classes offered during the Vanguard year. Additionally, Program Fellows have administrative responsibilities. They often will have a hand in preparing materials for class or trips, helping with ongoing projects that relate to the Vanguard Program, and managing logistics for student travel.

Chris facilitates a wilderness skills session with Vanguards.

Beehive Fellow

Betsy Oda, 2020-2021

Betsy reflects on her time as a Fellow in the Beehive (HoneyRock's camp store and Honey Bean Café), "My time as a Fellow was transformative and healing. It provided much needed direction for my future and vocation. In the midst of great personal growth, I was also blessed by the relationships formed with my peers, graduate students, and the Vanguards I worked with and lived alongside. I grew so much from my time in the Beehive, which was a work area that pushed me to find creative solutions, build on my previous experiences, and invest in the vocational skill development of the Vanguards. I highly recommend the Fellows experience to anyone who is committed to pursuing Christ in community, passionate about investing in emerging adults, and seeking clarity in vocation and a deeper sense of calling." After Fellows, Betsy decided to pursue her MA in Outdoor Adventure Leadership with Wheaton College at HoneyRock.

Betsy partakes in a game of pickleball in her down time.

Media Fellow

Weston Poling, 2020-2021

The Media Fellow is responsible for leading and supervising 1-2 Vanguards in the Media work area. The Media Fellow works alongside the Vanguards to produce written and digital content for HoneyRock's Explore Stories, website, and social media. The Media Fellow works closely with the Marketing Specialist for HoneyRock, being guided by them throughout the year, creating developmental projects that allow Vanguards to improve their storytelling and marketing skills through writing, photography, and videography. Weston came into the Fellows Program a few months after graduating from Taylor University with a degree in Graphic Design. Prior to Fellows he served on summer staff with HoneyRock. Weston's interests in adventure programming and his training in design, combined with his heart for cultivating community, drew him to the Fellows Program.

Weston taking control of the table in game of ping-pong.

"My time as a Fellow was transformative and healing. It provided much needed direction for my future and vocation. In the midst of great personal growth, I was blessed by the relationships I formed within the HoneyRock community."