Who Leads Summer Camp Programs at HoneyRock?

The Wheaton College Graduate Students Leading HoneyRock's 2023 Summer Camp Programs

By HoneyRock Center for Leadership Development

April 19^th, 2023

While HoneyRock is known for summer camp programs, many don’t realize the layers of leadership development that happen year-round. “We have camp programs and we do them well—but the point is not camp for camp’s sake,” says Dr. Rob Ribbe, Executive Director of HoneyRock. He continues, “We use the camp environment to develop leaders at all levels—the campers, summer staff, and graduate students.”

We have summer camp programs and we run them well—but the point is not camp for camp’s sake.

HoneyRock is home to two graduate programs of the Wheaton College Graduate School: the M.A. in Outdoor and Adventure Leadership (OAL) and the M.A. in Global Leadership – Outdoor Ministry (GLOM).

In addition to their schoolwork, residential graduate students at HoneyRock have the responsibility of leading a significant amount of HoneyRock’s year-round programming under the guidance and coaching of expert professional staff.

These areas include eight summer camp programs, Vanguard Gap Year, and specialty areas including Operations, Business, Activities, Guest Services, Kitchen, and our Equestrian Center. These graduates are learning to lead by integrating the theory from their coursework into their immediate leadership experiences.

Below, you’ll meet eight graduate students who will lead our 2023 summer camper programs at HoneyRock under the direction of Ashley Paige Kiley, Summer Programs Director and Mike Odberg, Wilderness Program Manager.

Elementary Residential Camp Coordinator

Luke Smith

Luke is from Plymouth, Minnesota and studied Applied Physics at Wheaton College. When asked what he loves about HoneyRock, Luke says, “I love that it’s a place where God meets us. God can meet us anywhere, but HoneyRock programs are designed for staff and campers to know and trust the Lord in new ways. As I have taken on more responsibility here, I have felt more and more grateful for the leadership and supportive community. It is one of the few places on earth where I know I can ask anyone to pray with me and they will be comfortable doing so.

Luke continues, “I chose the Residential Camp program because I saw an opportunity to instill in people the same passion for Christ that HoneyRock has ignited in me. In my role, I plan programs, recruit counselors, support campers and staff, and help maintain community among folks who have finished their time at HoneyRock. My favorite part about my role is that I get to meet with so many awesome people! I love interviewing new people, checking in on them, and seeing them randomly around Wheaton’s campus.”

Who Leads Summer Camp Programs at HoneyRock?

Junior High Residential Camp Coordinator

Em Lovell

Em is from Mulberry, Ohio, and studied therapeutic recreation at Eastern Michigan University. Em recalls how she first came across HoneyRock via social media.

“I stumbled across the Outdoor Adventure Leadership program through an ad on Instagram. After working a summer at SpringHill, I realized how powerful camp ministry is in the lives of campers and staff alike. It was then that I realized HoneyRock would give me the opportunity to learn what camp can do for people as a ministry and what the outdoors provide in a Christ-centered context."

Em continues, explaining, "Through my role as a Res Middle Coordinator, there’s so much potential to speak Truth into the unique experiences of middle school. My hope is that summer can be a time that they can feel the love of the Lord. It’s such a privilege to walk alongside counselors and unit leaders as they pour into the lives of their campers. It’s incredible to witness campers coming to Christ and understanding His purpose in their lives. "

Advance Camp Coordinator

Tori MacDonald

Tori is originally from Wheaton, IL. She attended Taylor University and studied Global Studies with World Politics and Economics.

Tori has a long history with HoneyRock: “I grew up as a camper and spent three years on summer staff during college. My first year at camp was in 2008! HoneyRock is a second home to me; over the many years I have come to the Northwoods, the Lord has used the people and place of HoneyRock to shape me and draw me closer to Himself. I was led to the Outdoor and Adventure Leadership Masters program at HoneyRock because I knew it would stretch me in new ways personally and professionally while equipping me for a life of ministry and leadership."

When asked why she chose to lead the Advance Camp Program at HoneyRock, Tori explained, “When I was a camper, my time in Advance camp was a huge turning point in my walk with the Lord and really changed my life before I began high school. I can trace where I am today back to the transformation that occurred that summer! I also served as an Advance Camp counselor in 2018, which played a huge role in my personal development. I have seen the Lord be so faithful to me and countless others through Advance camp. This program sits at a pivotal time in campers’ lives, and the opportunity to create space for campers to encounter the Living God before they enter the important years of High School is a privilege.”

2:22 Coordinator

Rosie Marshall

Rosie joins us from Tallahassee, Florida. She attended Montreat College, a small, Christian college in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. There she studied Outdoor Ministry. Rosie explains her role this summer, “2:22 is one of our high school summer programs, which is named from 2 Timothy 2:22, ‘Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.’ We challenge high schoolers to take this call. The camper program is a 4-week session with an eight-day wilderness trip, activities, service opportunities, and incredible community.”

Rosie continued, “As much as I love wilderness trips and the excitement of camp, I love seeing staff and campers grow as they participate in the challenges and adventures that are a part of the HoneyRock experience. When a lesson clicks, a friendship is built, a realization of the goodness of God is had… these are the highlights of my role here. It is encouraging and a privilege to witness or be involved in someone’s growth as a leader.”

Voyageur Program Coordinator

Hannah Eshenaur

Hannah is from the Twin Cities in Minnesota, where she attended Bethel University and studied Physics and Science Education with a Physics emphasis (and a minor in math, too!) When asked why she chose HoneyRock, she said, “After teaching high school Physics and Physical Education for 6 years, I knew that I wanted to get a Masters, particularly one that included my passion for outdoor recreation and teaching.”

Her position at HoneyRock is unique, “I am the Wilderness Tripping Coordinator for HoneyRock. This means that I’m in charge of the trip locker and the trip kitchen. I make sure everyone going on wilderness trips have functional gear and good food, and that the gear is well taken care of so that more people can continue to enjoy the outdoors. I am also in charge of the Voyageur Camper program, which is the most wilderness immersive camper program that HoneyRock has to offer. I create the program and equip the guides to lead the campers in the wilderness. Wilderness trips are a great experience that build character, leadership and allow participants to see God in His creation.”

Catalyst 1 Coordinator

Tucker Wood

Tucker is from Hollis, New Hampshire and before pursuing his M.A., he received his bachelor's with Wheaton College in Christian Formation and Ministry.

"I heard about this program for the first time when I came to HoneyRock for my fall break Freshman year. I chose the OAL program because I wanted to continue my education and receive real-world experience at the same time. This degree provides a mixture of classroom learning with the hands-on aspect of coordinating a summer camper program. Add to that the Christ-centered learning and the development of people in a holistic manner and this program was a no-brainer!"

Tucker elaborates, saying, "I think what I enjoy most about my role is how it challenges me. It forces me to think on my feet and provide creative solutions to problems as they arise. Additionally, this role is highly relational and I love the opportunity to encounter new people and discover the ways that the Lord has equipped them to fulfill the mission of the Kingdom."

Catalyst 2 Coordinator

Kaylee Kooyman

Kaylee joins us from Santa Barbara, CA. She studied at Wheaton College, where she received a degree in Communications (with a concentration in theater), Christian Formation and Ministry, and a certificate in Leadership. She first experienced HoneyRock at Wheaton Passage. “A close friend in my Passage group had been a HoneyRocker for a long time and invited me to work with her at camp that summer. Since I enjoyed Wilderness Passage so much, I agreed, and I loved working with the campers that summer!”

When asked about her role at HoneyRock, she said, “I oversee a program that is deeply relational. Most of these students have gone through many years of camp at HoneyRock; Catalyst 2 provides them an opportunity to utilize the skills they have learned as a camper to step into service, love on other campers, and take responsibility to steward HoneyRock as their own. Because the program is so multifaceted, we have Catalyst 2’s in almost every area of camp, taking on leadership roles and being mentored, trained, and encouraged by HoneyRock staff. Catalyst 2 seeks to send these students into their senior year of high school (and the rest of their lives) fully equipped to be lights in the world, using their giftings, spiritual formation, and leadership experience to live as committed disciples of Christ, ready to inspire change in others.

Activity Coordinator

Walker Tuttle

Walker is from Lebanon, New Hampshire. Before coming to the OAL program he was at Gordon College studying Christian Ministries.

When asked what led him to this program, Walker recalled, “A large part of the college academic career that ultimately influenced me to be here was working with Gordon’s La Vida program. I got to guide 12-day wilderness trips with incoming freshmen and lead them on their onboarding process through the outdoors. After taking some much-needed soul care in the mountains of Colorado I decided to pursue this program after hearing about it through a classmate of mine, Mariah Cody, who participated in the Fellows program here at HoneyRock. I decided that I truly wanted to do something with a career in ministry. So I connected with Will and Mariah Cody, looked into the program some more, and loved it.

As the summer activities coordinator, I get to oversee what we call Facilitative Leadership School which is made up of activity staff, wranglers (Equestrian), and the challenge course staff. I think my absolute favorite part of my role is the ability to communicate the gospel through my own footsteps, actions, and words, and ultimately, to serve our co-workers, to serve campers, and to serve HoneyRock in that manner."

"We use the camp environment to develop leaders at all levels—the campers, summer staff, and graduate students."

The M.A. in Outdoor Adventure Leadership program focuses on the leadership development of our graduate students, but leadership development is happening at every level of HoneyRock. The camp environment invites campers to practice age-appropriate self-leadership skills while our college-aged summer staff learns team leadership through their cabin group.

“Through this progression” Rob says, “HoneyRock’s ultimate goal is to help youth and emerging adults learn who they are, discover their callings in the world, and help them grow the skills and competencies it takes to go out and live those callings with and for Christ.”