Overview:
HoneyRock has been the camp-based leadership development center of Wheaton College, Wheaton Illinois for over 50 years. We train and develop over 250 undergraduate and graduate students annually. Building off of our previously offered Graduate Certificate in Outdoor Ministry the Graduate Program Assistantship (GPA) positions are designed specially for people who have a Bachelors degree and desire hands-on training for leadership in camp or youth related ministries. These paid assistantship roles provide training and experience in outdoor ministry and are a great opportunity to refine skills, clarify calling, and be equipped for leadership personally and professionally. This experience will prepare you for graduate studies or open the door for roles in the field. The skills and lessons are learned by doing camp ministry. You will lead programs under the supervision of HoneyRock’s professional staff and be developed personally along the way. Specifically designed training sessions and educational opportunities led by HoneyRock’s faculty and staff will focus on different aspects of camp ministry and on the heart and character of a leader. At the end of the year GPA’s will be well-equipped to minister in a variety of camp or adventure based youth ministries.
Specific Goals:
1) Provide participants with hands-on training and experience in a variety of camp ministry areas in preparation for ministry or graduate study.
2) Give biblical and spiritual guidance and training, helping participants grow closer to God and understand His calling and giftedness for their life.
3) Challenge participants physically, mentally and spiritually through different means, thus helping develop them into whole and effective Christians who are ready to serve.
4) Develop participants’ leadership skills by giving them real opportunities to be in leadership roles in camp or retreat programs.
5) Develop participants’ value for and capacity in Christian community and authentic relationships.
6) Help students see the role of Christian camping in the mission of the church and how Christian camping can help the Church achieve its mission.
What You Can Expect:
1) You can expect to work very hard. You will be stretched physically, mentally, relationally, and spiritually. There will be long days and long weeks. We definitely value times of Sabbath and we work to provide you with regular times of rest, but often it is less than what you may feel you need or desire.
2) You can expect to be exposed to many different opportunities to learn. These times will be formal and informal. Like any Graduate-level program, most of initiative to learn and grow comes from you, the student. Your attitude and your initiative will be key in getting the most out of this experience. Your growth, success, and enjoyment of this program will be determined by your own motivation and by what you desire to gain from the experience.
3) For most of your time at HoneyRock you can expect to work on weekends and then have time off during the week. This makes it difficult to be involved in a local church, but not impossible.
4) You can expect to be involved in the "front lines of ministry." You will work directly with people, teaching and showing them the truth.
5) You can expect to be assigned to work in areas all over camp. At times you will be a retreat host, ops worker, housekeeper, wrangler, kitchen worker, dish washer, program leader, etc. You will learn and gain exposure to different areas of camp by DOING. This time allows HoneyRock to complete many projects around camp and it gives you the opportunity to see how a camp works and serve this ministry. There is a lot to be learned through these experiences, if you are up for it.
6) You can expect to live in close quarters with other students. You will be sharing a dorm room and a bathroom with several people.
7) You can expect to connect with the HoneyRock permanent staff and build relationship with them and their families.
8) You can expect to receive regular feedback on your performance, both from your direct supervisor and also from other HoneyRock permanent staff.
9) You can expect to be involved in regular times of small group Bible study and prayer.
10) HoneyRock is in a beautiful location. You can expect to see God's beauty all around you in the different seasons.
11) In the winter, you can expect to work in a very cold and snowy environment. You will become an expert in the art of layering!
12) You can expect to have a lot of fun.
13) You can expect to learn a lot of new skills as well as refine skills you already have.
14) You can expect to have the opportunity interact with professionals in camp ministry and education.
15) HoneyRock is in a remote environment. You can expect to drive 20 minutes to get to the nearest grocery store and 45 minutes to get to the nearest Walmart.
16) You won’t be making a lot of money during the nine months. The salary is designed to pay off your tuition bill and cover a few other costs you may have. You will earn $350/week minus $130 for Room & Board that will be taken out of each paycheck..
Application Requirements:
1) Applicants must have a bachelors degree.
2) Applicants must have a desire to serve in Christian ministry to young people.
3) Applicants must meet the requirements to be a "Special Student" in the Wheaton College Graduate School.
4) Each applicant must be a mature, growing Christian of sound character.
5) Applicants must demonstrate some capacity for leadership in adventure-based youth ministry.
Application Process:
1) We begin accepting applications after January 1 for the following November program start. We accept applications from January 1 to September 30.
2) We use a rolling admission process. Typically it takes 3-4 weeks to review your application and references, complete interviews, and gain admittance into the Wheaton College Graduate School as a Special Student.
Step 1: Complete the employment application and essay questions, and all 3 references. They are available at the link below.
Step 2: Once we have received all your application paperwork, we will notify you by email.
Step 3: Once we have reviewed your applicaton paperwork, we will call or email you to set up an interview. Typically you will interview with 2 different HoneyRock staff members.
Step 4: You will be notified of your provisional acceptance into the program.
Step 5: Once you are provisionally accepted by HoneyRock (pending acceptance as a special student by the Wheaton College Graduate School), you must submit a Graduate School Special Student Application to the Graduate Admissions Office in order to be accepted as a non-degree student and register for CFM 662 Theology and Practice of Outdoor Ministry. Students will take this class for credit as a Spring term course. Full acceptance into the GPA program is dependent on acceptance into the Wheaton College Graduate School as a special student. Once you have been accepted as a Special Student you will be notified and officially hired as a GPA. Wheaton College does not accept special student applications after October 1.
Click here for the Special Student Application
Step 6: You must also pass a criminal backgroup check to be hired as a GPA.
To download an application please click here.
To download the necessary reference form (you will need 3 copies) click here.
Dates:
November 29, 2010 - August 20, 2011.
Financial Information:
GPAs receive a weekly salary throughout their time at HoneyRock, paid every two weeks. There are several times throughout the program when GPAs will not recieve a salary. This includes breaks and during the end of March and through April when GPAs will be taking a class and doing other training. The salary you receive as a GPA is designed to provide you with funds to pay your tuition bill for the course in April, and provide you will some funds to pay some living expenses. GPAs have the option to take two additional courses (see Optional Course section below) but will pay for the credit and not receive a salary while they are in class.
Pay Period 1: November 29 - December 19 ($350/week of which $130 for room and board is subtracted)
Pay Period 2: December 27 - March 19 ($350/week of which $130 for room and board is subtracted)
Pay Period 3: May 2 - August 20, if not enrolled in a summer student program ($350/week of which $130 for room and board is subtracted).
Course:
All GPAs will take CFM 662 Theology and Practice of Outdoor Ministry: The exploration of educational principles and theological perspectives related to outdoor ministry. Various approaches and program planning models of outdoor ministry will be discussed. Various principles and skills necessary for leadership and practice in outdoor ministry. This 4-hour course will be charged at a rate of $630 per credit hour ($2520).
Optional Courses:
GPAs will have the option to take additional courses while at HoneyRock.
CFM 663: Leadership Development in Outdoor Ministry will be offered from November 29-December 4, 2010. Instructor: Rob Ribbe. Course Description: Developing leaders is a core component of outdoor ministry. Various applications will be studied, including ministries to children, teens, young adults, and families. Principles, competencies and dynamics of leadership, and leadership development will be applied. Special emphasis is placed on using outdoor ministries to develop leaders for the church and society worldwide.
CFM 563: The Church and Outdoor Ministry (4) will be offered during A-Quad (January - March 2011). Instructor: Rob Ribbe. Course Description: Studying the mission and nature of the Church and how the temporary system can be utilized to impact renewal and development in the Church. Overview of the historical and theological expressions of the church. Special emphasis is placed on the church/parachurch dynamic. Study of the biblical principles of renewal, hospitality, and service. Students will apply learning to the development, leading, support, and evaluation of short-term retreat experiences for a variety of churches and groups.
CFM 564: Adventure Challenge Education will be offered May 4 -14, 2011. Instructors: Greg Robinson Ph.D. and Rob Ribbe. Course Description: Applies theories and principles of leadership and experiential education to programs and groups utilizing ropes courses, team initiatives, climbing, and other outdoor adventure activities. Allows students to develop, lead, and evaluate short-term adventure education experiences for a variety of groups.
GPAs who take these courses must pay tuition ($650 per hour - $2600) and will not be paid their salary during this time. CFM 564 from May 4-14 is offered at the HoneyRock summer tuition rate of $495/hour.
Room and Board:
GPAs will be housed in a HoneyRock lodge in dorm like housing with 3 other singles or a studio apartment for married couples. Three family-style meals are served daily in the HoneyRock dining hall when guests are in camp. The $130 room and board fee (per person) is deducted each week.
Basic Schedule (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
November 29 - December 4
All GPAs need to arrive at HoneyRock on Sunday, November 28. GPAs will have the option of paying tuition to take CFM 663: Leadership in Camp Ministry (4) during their first week at HoneyRock. GPAs are not required to take this course, but all students will be involved in the course as a part of training.
December 5 - December 19 (paid)
Introduction to HoneyRock! This time is about getting to know each other, while preparing for a season of ministry. GPAs will be trained in group-retreat programming and will be preparing the facility for winter ministry to youth and school groups. Skills training in winter sports such as cross-country skiing, broomball, ice-skating, and snowshoeing will take place.
December 20 - 26 (not paid)
Christmas Break
December 27 - March 19 (paid)
The winter months will be spent working with and leading a variety of church and school groups participating in retreats or educational programs. GPAs will design and implement 3- to 15-day programs. Days when groups are not present will be spent in training, program design, and readying the camp facility. When not working or preparing for groups GPAs will be assigned to different areas of camp to do special projects. GPAs will work in the barn, on operations crews, in the kitchen, in the office, and in housekeeping.
March 20 - April 2 (not paid)
Spring Break
April 3 - May 1 (class session - not paid)
CFM 662 - Theology and Practice of Outdoor Ministry. This course is taught by Rob Ribbe, HoneyRock's Director. Tuition will be charged by Wheaton College for this course at $630 per credit hour ($2520). Students will not be charged room and board during this time. This modular course will offically run April 11-16. The time before and after this is set aside for reading, paper writing, and preparing for the course. GPAs will also go on a tour of camps throughout Ilinois and Wisconsin and will visit Wheaton College during this time.
May 2- August 20 (paid)
During the summer HoneyRock will serve about 1,000 college students and campers through a variety of different programs. GPAs will be assigned based on their learning desires and skills and areas of need within HoneyRock. Multiple supervisory roles with significant leadership responsibility are available to qualified individuals.
