New PFDs

John Vandervelde - Program Director

This year we made a strategic investment in our waterfront programs.  For years campers and students used the traditional orange "horse-collar" life vests (or Personal Flotation Devices - PFDs) for just about every activity on our waterfront.  This spring we purchased 160 new PFDs to replace all the orange ones.  The new vests have been labeled and are ready to go for the summer. In fact, they've been used all this week for the canoe and kayak courses the SLS students are involved in. 

These new PFDs are the NRS "Vista" and are a high-performance piece of safety equipment.  They are safer and much more comfortable than our old life vests and can be used in all our different waterfront activities: sailing, canoeing, kayaking, etc.

I'm looking forward to seeing thousands of students, staff and campers wearing these new PFDs this summer and for years to come! 

Special thanks to Bud Williams (and others) who helped update the Canoe Shack to be able to store these new PFDs on hangers.

 

Progress in Creativity...

John Vandervelde - Program Director

This past fall we made the decision to add a new activity area: a ceramics studio.  In an effort to enhance our creativity program we've been working on moving our traditional camp craft area to a new space and are using the building formerly known as the "Craft Shop" as the new ceramics studio.  Progress is being made as we prepare for a busy summer ahead. 

1) 
We've moved into the new craft shop and are setting it up for camper use.

2)  We're beginning to move the new ceramics studio into the old craft shop.  Tables and shelving are being built, sinks are soon to be installed, and the electric kiln is on its way.  There is still much to do, but we are on track to be ready before camper arrival.  Campers will be able to do Ceramics as an activity area this summer!

3)  All the pieces and parts for the wood kiln have arrived, including the clay.  The kiln will be built by Wheaton College students who are enrolled in the ART 350 - Wood Kiln Building.  David Hooker from the Wheaton Art Department will be teaching the course.  The wood kiln will be used by students and campers this summer and for years to come.  It's a very unique program area and we're looking forward to having it at HoneyRock.

Exciting things are
happening in the area of creativity here at HoneyRock!  It will be
wonderful to see young people grow and learn in new and creative ways
this summer. 

Stuff moved in to the "New Craft Shop" - now it just needs to be organized. 

The old craft shop is ready to become the new ceramics studio.

The bricks and other supplies for building the wood kiln have arrived.

Future site of the wood kiln.

The new ceramics studio with the wood kiln site next to it.

The special "woodfire clay."  We ordered about 700 lbs of it! 

This is what the finished wood kiln will look like. 

Pottery fired in a wood kiln.  

Why Go?

Why go on a wilderness trip at HoneyRock this summer?

1)  It's fun!  Sea Kayaking the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore, Backpacking in the Sawtooth Mountains, Canoeing in the Boundary Waters... sounds like a blast to me!  

2)  It's a great way to meet new people and gain some amazing friends.  Traveling, living, eating, and doing virtually everything together with your group make for plenty of time to get to make deep friendships.  Yeah, we're not just talking about getting more Facebook Friends!

3)  Everyone needs to unplug now and then.  A wilderness trip allows you to ditch your cell phone, computer, MP3 player, and TV for a few days and plug into God, His creation, and real relationships.

4)  Many people in the Bible spent time in the wilderness--even Jesus did...for 40 days!

5)  Learning new wilderness skills like canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and orienteering is pretty cool.

6)  You'll get some sweet photos on your trip.

7)  We promise you'll do things you've never done before, you'll grow in your confidence about who God is and how he made you, you'll learn a ton, you'll grow closer to God and others, you'll laugh a lot, and you'll make memories that will last forever.

We still have space available for high school students on Wilderness Trips this summer.  Don't miss out on this opportunity--sign up today!

Click Here for more information or to register  (financial assistance is still available)

Run for Hungry Children

Liz Henderson--Program Team Assistant

HoneyRock connections seem to be everywhere I go, and this weekend the 5K Run for Hungry Children at Wheaton Academy (West Chicago, IL) was no exception.  Wheaton Academy sponsors the 5K run every year in partnership with Bright Hope, which seeks to bring hope and holistic help to the many around the world who survive on less than $1 per day. 

The 5K was a fun event and I was delighted to find some HoneyRock friends there.  Jonathan Heidengren (SLS Unit Leader 2009 and AMP 2008) was there with friends to participate in the 5K.  Aimee Daniels (a former SLSer and current Wheaton Academy teacher who brought a group of girls up to HoneyRock for a wilderness trip this winter) also ran in the event.  Kent Smith (Wheaton Academy senior who spent his Winterim at HoneyRock doing an internship with our operations staff and is excited to attend Wheaton College this fall) ran the race with his little brother.  Alyssa Linnane (a senior at  Wheaton Academy who is already registered for Wheaton Passage Wilderness Track this August) ran with Aimee and me.  We were happy to be a part of the 5K and to support the ministry of Bright Hope, and we took advantage of the opportunity to get a group photo.

(Kent Smith, Jonathan Heidengren, Liz Henderson, Aimee Daniels, Alyssa Linnane)

HoneyRock Camper Video Contest

HoneyRock is having a
camper video contest

from May 13 - May 29, 2010.  Entries will be
accepted

for the next two weeks and the winner will be

announced
in the June E-newsletter. 

Contest
Rules:  Create a HoneyRock promotional video that is 60 seconds
or less explaining why you love HoneyRock and/or why you come to
HoneyRock.

If
your video is less than 10MB you can email it to Liz. 
If it's larger than 10MB you can put it on a CD and mail it to
HoneyRock (Attn: Video Contest) or post it on YouTube and email the link
to  us.

1st Prize:  A new sleeping bag from the Beehive

2nd
Prize: A fleece, sweatshirt or sweatpants from the Beehive

3rd
Prize:  A free t-shirt or hat from the Beehive

For questions about the contest, feel free
to
email Liz
or call 715.479.7474 ext. 240.  This contest is specifically designed
for campers enrolled in a 2010 Summer Program at HoneyRock and is
non-transferable.  The prize cannot be exchanged for a cash refund at
the Beehive.  Only one
entry can be submitted per person.  Offer
is not valid for the children of HoneyRock staff.

One spot to fill...

Pete Sailhamer - Business Manager

Summer is right around the corner, and just about every staff position
has been filled.  The one opening left is the second Housekeeping
position, so if you or anyone you know might be interested, please contact me:  psailhamer@honeyrockcamp.org or 715-479-7474   

Housekeeping is a very
rewarding position here at camp in which you will be able to serve your
fellow staff as well as the campers.  The two Housekeepers are responsible for the overall cleanliness of the
camp facilities, mainly to include the Chrouser dining hall and the two
camper bath houses, among various other smaller buildings.  This role provides an
excellent way to be a part of a summer camp ministry, and I am
confident that a summer here will stretch you and help you grow in your
spiritual walk with Christ.  As needed, you would
also help out in the camp store during the busy hours when they need an
extra hand which gives you good interaction with campers as well. 
In the past we have had both men and women apply for this position,
and the flexibility of the job allows you to have evenings and weekends off to enjoy other
experiences here at camp.  Summers at HoneyRock
are very memorable-- most would say they are some of the best summers of their lives
because of the friends made and experiences had here.