Expand your vision #3

John Vandervelde - Program Director   

When I was a student Wheaton College in the late 90's, HoneyRock was perceived by many students as a place reserved for either P.E. majors (or Kinesiology or Applied Health Science) or granola eating tree-hugger types who didn't shower very regularly.  There was also a perception that HoneyRock was very rustic, had no heat or running water, and that everyone slept in tents on the ground. 

When I finally came to HoneyRock in 1999 I was shocked by how wrong many of those perceptions were.  Yes, there were a lot of P.E. majors here and I must admit I might have been a bit of a granola eating guy with long hair who preferred a swim in the lake over a shower, but HoneyRock was much more than that.  There were students taking education classes, ecology classes, and Bible Classes, and students and faculty from all different departments on campus.

Over the years HoneyRock has continued to work hard to involve students, faculty, and staff from all over Wheaton's campus in what we are doing here.  Not only has the involvement of the greater Wheaton community helped shape the current perception of HoneyRock, but it has also offered a rich diversity to our culture and our programming. 

Some examples:  Last year we had 241 students participate in our Wheaton Passage program.  These students represented every major offered on campus.  32 faculty representing 15 different academic departments were also involved in the Passage program.  In the summer we offer courses in 11 different departments.  During the school year we host retreats for departments such as HNGR, the Conservatory of Music, Education, Urban Studies, Athletics, Admissions (Diakoni), and Residential Life.  Each August 200 student leaders and staff from Student Development meet here for a week of planning and preparation before the start of the school year.  For nearly 30 years we've hosted the annual Wheaton College Fish Camp which involves faculty and staff from all over campus who come here for a weekend to fish on our Northwood's lakes.  On the Graduate School side of things we have strategic partnerships with the Christian Formation and Ministry Department and the Evangelism and Leadership Program.  Perhaps now more than ever before in our history HoneyRock is embraced and utilized by more students and more departments.  Click here to read more about our partnerships with Wheaton College departments. 

Personally, I feel like my vision for what HoneyRock can be in and for Wheaton College is continually expanding.  Academic departments continue to work with us to see how HoneyRock can enhance what they are doing.  There is a new depth and richness to what is going on at HoneyRock due to the diversity of the the groups and departments we serve.  We are excited about what God is doing in and through HoneyRock, and we look forward to what He has planned for our future.