Thanksgiving at HoneyRock

A Vanguard Photo Story

By HoneyRock Center for Leadership Development

December 13^th, 2022

A Very Vanguard Thanksgiving

Each year, Vanguard Gap Year students host Thanksgiving at HoneyRock for their families, which provides a set of unique opportunities and challenges. Planning a Thanksgiving dinner for upwards of ninety some people each year, after all, is no small feat! Nevertheless, with help from members of the HoneyRock school year community (Fellows, a handful of our graduate students and professional staff) Vanguards are able to facilitate and celebrate Thanksgiving with rousing success year after year. The result of the diligent planning and attentive execution is always splendid, giving Vanguards the invaluable gift of space and time to share the place and people of HoneyRock with their family.

Learn more about Vanguard Gap Year

Vanguards and Tetiana Levchuk (Fellow '23) gather to prepare food in the kitchen.

Kenyan Gustafson (OAL '23) and Josiah Masvero (Fellow '23) making gravy.

Savannah and Sharlotte White (Vanguard '23), posing in the kitchen window.

Sharlotte White (Vanguard '23) and Josie Schultz (OAL '23) prepare salads.

Sharlotte White, Olivia Sanchez Moreno, and Caroline Houseworth (Vanguards '23) pose with HoneyRock butter.

Landon and Ava Wentworth (Vanguard '23) preparing green bean casserole.

Caroline Houseworth loading a speedrack.

A Shared Experience

As per the seven year tradition preceding this year's Vanguards, the cohort of 2023 had the opportunity to show their families the various aspects of HoneyRock they live out day-by-day. Vanguards in the Equestrian Track led trail rides at the barn, Vanguards in the Adventure Track facilitated climbing at the indoor rock wall, and a worship team held a vespers evening worship service: each of these afforded visiting families a better picture of what life at HoneyRock looks like. Furthermore, by visiting HoneyRock for Thanksgiving, student's families were able to meet other Vanguards, gaining a better understanding of what this cohort's experience is like.

Tetiana Levchuk (Fellow '23) and Cole Nelson (OAL '23)

Siblings of Vanguards enjoying snow at HoneyRock.

Olivia Sanchez Moreno and Susanna Wensel (Vanguards '23) being taught to carve a turkey by Charlie Goeke (School Year Program Director).e,

Caroline Housworth (Vanguard '23), Josie Schultz (OAL '23), Becca Gamlin (Vanguard '23) and Libby Gerhart (Vanguard '23) preparing to glaze rolls.

Vanguards and their families after playing football on Chrouser lawn.

Ava Wentworth (left, Vanguard '23) in the kitchen with her brother and father.

Fellowship

Authentic community, one of HoneyRock’s core values, was thoroughly prevalent in Thanksgiving this year. Thanksgiving dinner, like all meals at HoneyRock, was eaten family style in Chrouser—a format which is conducive to genuine conversation and fellowship. There’s something remarkable about being present at a meal, enjoying well made food and face-to-face fellowship others.

A Vanguard's family posing with miniature horses.

Olivia Sanchez Moreno and Libby Gerhart (Vanguards '23), pose in the kitchen.

Ava Wentworth, Joseph Kruse, and Ryan Tsai (Vanguards '23) preparing food in the kitchen.

Katie Rieger (Fellow '23) working in the dishroom.

OAL students, Vanguards, and Charlie Goeke (School Year Program Director) carving turkeys.

Joe Thar (Vanguard '23) carving a turkey.

Jocalyn Erbele (Vanguard '23), Pippin and Peter Ledbetter, Kenyan Gustafson (OAL '23), and Kate Pesile (OAL '23) go for a walk with HoneyRock's miniature horses, Early and Charming.

Balance

This year, it was a lot of work to plan and execute Thanksgiving - but in hindsight, it was a blessing and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The effort that Vanguards pour into the planning and preparation translates into a unique time of fellowship at HoneyRock. The time to prepare was clearly scheduled and facilitated, taking a balanced approach to the effort and work that goes into hosting this event. Choosing to work with diligence and a spirit of hospitality, rather than an attitude of efficiency and business, was perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Thanksgiving at HoneyRock. The hope is that Vanguards are able to both serve their families while enjoying this special time of year.

Vanguards carving turkey for Thanksgiving.

Walker Lucas and Davis Dunlap (Vanguards '23) working in the dishroom

Megan Merimonte and Ryan Tsai (Vanguards '23) preparing food in the kitchen.

Tetiana Levchuk (Fellow '23) and Ru Sheng Hiestand (Vanguard '23) pose in the kitchen.

Olivia Sanchez Moreno (Vanguard '23), Charlie Goeke (School Year Program Director), and Joseph Kruse (Vanguard '23) carving turkeys.

Caroline Housworth (Vanguard '23) working in the bakery.

Joseph Thar and Ava Wentworth (Vanguards '23) pause in the kitchen.

Hospitality

By facilitating Thanksgiving, Vanguards were able to share their gap year experience with their families, practice genuine hospitality, and work wisely while inviting others into the authentic community of HoneyRock. Indeed, the Vanguard year would not be the same without our Vanguard Thanksgiving!