What I Learned During My Summer at HoneyRock

3 Summer Staff Stories

By HoneyRock Center for Leadership Development

April 19^th, 2022

There are so many possibilities for summer work at HoneyRock. We are hiring cabin leaders, kitchen crew members, media team, and activity staff, among many other important roles, and the opportunities for spiritual growth and leadership development are abundant in each of them. We also welcome those seeking internships or leadership experiences relevant to their college major or vocational aspirations.

CHECK OUT OUR SUMMER STAFF POSITIONS

Read on to learn how three summer staff members grew in their faith and leadership skills over the course of the summer in three unique types of roles at HoneyRock.

As a HoneyRock cabin leader,

Jeff Root made lifelong connections and learned how to be still before the Lord.

Now a pastor in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Root says the summers he spent working at HoneyRock made a huge impact on his life. As a counselor and boat driver, he made lifelong connections with other HoneyRock staff and grew in transformational ways. In addition to gaining life skills, Root grew in spiritual disciplines such as slowing down to be still before the Lord. He remembers a moment on Chrouser porch as a college student, wrestling with questions about his vocation and future. It was there that the Lord put "pastor" on his heart...fast fast forward 10 years and Root is back at HoneyRock as the camp pastor! This place is special in that way, he said. “It’s sacred air,” he said. “People talk about ‘thin places,’ where heaven and earth feel really close, and HoneyRock has been that for me.”

Returning to HoneyRock as the camp pastor in 2021 brought all of these memories back. Root preached, led devotionals, and was available to meet with staff, supporting them and listening to their stories. He remembers his days as a summer staff member well, and was honored to pour into them. His daughter will be a camper this coming summer, and it is amazing for Root to look back and see his progression at HoneyRock. As a camper, summer staff member, camp pastor, and now a soon-to-be camp parent, he's seen the power of God working through this place at every stage.

Read His Feature Story!

What I Learned During My Summer at HoneyRock

“There’s an understanding that you’re going to reflect on your life—your past, your present, your future, and how God intersects with those things. At HoneyRock, there’s a lot going on, you’re learning new skills, you’re doing all of these things, but HoneyRock is the first place where I learned to just stop and set aside time to reflect.” - Jeff Root

As the HoneyRock summer retail manager,

Isaac Kim learned how to lead by example and find opportunities for ministry.

As the '21 summer retail manager for HoneyRock’s camp store, Isaac Kim, a business major at Wheaton College, learned how to lead by example. Running the Beehive was a big job, which involved everything from budgeting to managing inventory. He sold and designed merchandise, analyzed sales, maintained the online Beehive store, worked as a barista, and collaborated with the rest of the Beehive staff and other HoneyRock staff teams. The job related to almost every business or economics class he'd taken so far, so it was cool to put what he's learned into practice.

Coming into the role, Kim already knew how to work hard, but over the course of the summer he also learned the importance of rest. “I realized that there’s a balance you need between work and rest,” he said. Learning this enabled him to be a better manager to his staff members, who looked to him for direction on when to work hard and when to enjoy the HoneyRock waterfront, read, or connect with friends.

Kim also gained more knowledge and confidence in what it takes to be a good leader - the openness to serving and learning from others, the willingness to take risks, and the value of being decisive. His experience managing the Beehive assured and clarified for him that he is on the right track, professionally and in ministry. As he looks to a future of work in business, Kim was encouraged to find that “ministry can happen anywhere.” Whether it’s in a camp store or a bank in the future, Kim said, “Any environment or workforce that I’m in, there are going to be opportunities where I can speak up, I can share the gospel, and show love.”

"There are endless opportunities for service in a place like this, and it really prepares you for the time when you leave HoneyRock." - Isaac Kim

As the HoneyRock IT intern,

Christiana Hannam learned how to find rest in spiritual disciplines.

Wheaton College sophomore Christiana Hannam, a Computer Science major, spent last summer at HoneyRock serving as the IT intern. In this role, she helped with various administrative projects in the office, worked in the Beehive store, and activated her computer science knowledge as she worked on networking and Internet connectivity issues around HoneyRock. Initially, her goals for the summer were more related to professional development, because this internship would give her work experience in the IT field. As the summer progressed, she did gain valuable work experience, but she also started to recognize the ways she was developing on a more holistic level. She found herself growing as a leader through communication and collaboration with others, and she also developed a deeper appreciation for the opportunity to serve others in practical, behind-the-scenes ways.

When she looks back on her summer, Hannam is especially grateful for HoneyRock’s emphasis on spiritual disciplines. During “Morning Watch,” HoneyRock’s name for a quiet time with the Lord, Hannam enjoyed reading the Word and praying: “Thank you Lord for waking me up this morning, thank you for this beautiful day, thank you that you will be at work in this day.” She says, “this allowed me to intentionally open my hands to God, releasing the worries of the day, and, with the Lord at the front of my mind, let my work flow from his strength rather than my own.”

Read her feature story!

"The community, the fun and games outside, the skills I learned with John Welsh (HoneyRock’s Business Operations Director) in IT were all wonderful, undeserved blessings from the Lord, but what I really was hoping for was deep rest in God. I’ve found peace amidst the work I’m doing." - Christiana Hannam

Be Transformed

These are just three examples of the many summer roles available at HoneyRock and the ways they can develop staff members spiritually, personally, and vocationally. There are countless opportunities for transformation in one summer - ways you can expect, and ways you can't imagine. We would love to find the right job for you this summer at HoneyRock and witness how the Lord will work in your life!