Sharpen your skills and equip yourself to become an exceptional leader in experiential formational ministry to youth and young adults in camps, colleges and churches, by being a Graduate Assistant at HoneyRock, Center for Leadership Development of Wheaton College.
All residential graduate students at HoneyRock learn and serve in teams as program and support role coordinators in this “leadership laboratory.” They also lead and facilitate the “place apart” experience as retreat staff for our guests at HoneyRock. They are guided and mentored by experienced professional staff and faculty in these roles, and are industry leaders in bridging theory and practice.
Apply now for a Graduate Assistant position at HoneyRock. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, and must be preceded by completed applications to the graduate program.
Summer Programs Graduate Assistantships
This position will work under the supervision of the Adventure Program Manager to coordinate the 2:22 High School program. This position requires previous wilderness experience, as it is one of the more wilderness intensive programs at HoneyRock. This position includes the hiring and training of staff, program-planning for the camper session, coordination with other programs, logistics, maintaining wilderness trip protocols, and securing routes and permits. This position assists the Manager in staff training both in wilderness areas and in the camp setting at HoneyRock through the School of Adventure Leadership Training (S.A.L.T.). This position is based at HoneyRock year-round. Applicants must be willing to commit to appropriate understudying roles from mid-May.
This position will work under the supervision of the Camp Programs Director to coordinate summer Residential Camps. They will also assist the Director with the hiring, planning and training of staff in the Summer Leadership School (SLS) Program. This position is based in Wheaton during the school year and at HoneyRock in the summer. The GA will assist with Wheaton-based student and camper recruitment efforts during the school year. Applicants must be willing to commit to appropriate understudying roles from early May.
The Middle School Track GA works in partnership with the Residential Camp Program Manager and Residential Camp: Elementary Track GA to plan, prepare, execute and evaluate all aspects of the Residential Camps program at HoneyRock. This role is responsible for continually developing, executing, and critiquing robust, theoretically grounded, and developmentally-appropriate HoneyRock programming; recruiting, hiring, training, and supervising a team of 20+ staff across multiple levels of leadership; hosting and/or supporting various retreats at HoneyRock over the course of the school year; and serving as a collaborative member of the Summer Program Team.
This position will work under the supervision of the Camp Programs Director to coordinate the Advance Camp program. They will also assist the Director with the hiring, planning and training of staff in the Summer Leadership School (SLS) Program. It is based in Wheaton or at HoneyRock during the school year and at HoneyRock in the summer. This GA will assist with hosting retreats and staff and camper recruitment efforts. Applicants must be willing to commit to appropriate understudying roles from early May.
Under the supervision of the Camp Programs Director and in collaboration with the Catalyst 2 Program Coordinator, this GA will coordinate the Catalyst 1 Program at HoneyRock during the summer. They will also assist the Director with the hiring, planning and training of staff in the Summer Leadership School (SLS) Program. This GA will also work with the Site and Facilities staff to help coordinate all camp-based service projects during the year (Work-Play weekends, Wheaton Passage service projects, etc.). This role is based at HoneyRock year-round. Applicants must be willing to commit to appropriate understudying roles from mid-May.
Under the supervision of the Camp Programs Director and in collaboration with the Catalyst 1 Program Coordinator, this GA will coordinate the Catalyst 2 Program at HoneyRock during the summer. They will also assist the Director with the hiring, planning and training of staff in the Summer Leadership School (SLS) Program. This position is based in Wheaton or at HoneyRock during the school year and at HoneyRock in the summer Applicants must be willing to commit to appropriate understudying roles from mid-May.
This position will work under the supervision of the Transportation & Program Equipment Supervisor to coordinate all of summer activity areas at HoneyRock and assist with school year activity programming with the School Year Activity Coordinator. This also involves hiring, training and supervising the 20 summer activity areas staff who serve all programs of camp each summer. This role is based at HoneyRock year-round. Applicants must be willing to commit to appropriate understudying roles from early May.
This position will work under the supervision of the High School Adventure Program Manager. The Wilderness Tripping Coordinator (WTC) helps coordinate wilderness trips and provides trip-related support throughout the summer and the school year. They manage our Trip Locker (all camping and tripping-related gear) and oversee pack-out processes in the Trip Kitchen. This role recruits, hires, designs the Voyageur camper sessions, and manages the Wilderness Tripping Staff. The WTC assists the Adventure Program Manager in wilderness training for their staff. The role includes program planning, logistics, maintaining wilderness trip protocols, securing routes and permits and managing trip equipment and food rations for trips throughout the year. The GA may facilitate some wilderness trips during the school year and will help supervise Vanguards in related projects. Applicants must be willing to commit to appropriate understudying roles from early May.
This position will work under the supervision of the Adventure Program Manager to coordinate all school year activity areas and the Challenge Course at HoneyRock. They also assist with summer activity programming with the Summer Activity Area Coordinator. The Challenge Course serves all areas of camp programs in the summer and has light use during the school year for resident programs such as with Vanguards and graduate students, guests from visiting schools, churches and other organizations. School year responsibilities may include hosting guest retreats, school year activity coordination and other duties as assigned.
This position also assists in updates of the Challenge Course protocols and manuals, summer staff recruitment, hiring and coordination with camper programs for the summer season. This position will also work with Vanguard Gap Year students to set up, maintain, and take down winter activities while seeking to serve our school year community with activity experiences on and off site. Dependent on the qualifications of the applicant, this position may also include leadership of our indoor and outdoor rock-climbing experiences at HoneyRock. This role is based at HoneyRock year-round. Applicants must be willing to commit to appropriate understudying roles from late July.
This position will work under the supervision of the Guest Group Program Manager to lead the coordination and facilitation of all Wheaton, student, church, and family group retreats at HoneyRock throughout the year. The role involves training and coaching all retreat staff, which includes all graduate students, Fellows and Vanguards in the Adventure Programming Track. During the summer this GA will spend time recruiting, promoting, and developing the September to April retreat ministry and will assist with additional summer roles as assigned. This role is based at HoneyRock year-round. Applicants must be willing to commit to appropriate understudying roles from early-May.
This position oversees the management and growth of the Beehive, our camp store, as well as Guest Services at HoneyRock under the direction of the Guest Group Program Manager. The GA is responsible for sustaining a business plan for the store that includes growing the coffee shop, maintaining a dynamic stock, related procurement, and management of our online store. In addition, the GA is responsible for leading and developing the Fellows and Adventure Programming Vanguards that serve in the Beehive. The GA also oversees various school-year committees to foster engagement and community development among the Vanguards, Fellows, and other GAs. This is a school year position that oversees various staff positions during the summer.
This position will co-lead the Vanguard GAP Year Program under the supervision of the School Year Program Director. The GA will be responsible for program planning, program execution, ongoing discipleship of Vanguard students, and working within a collaborative team of Vanguard Coordinators and Seasonal Program staff. Additionally, Vanguard Coordinators will assist in the recruitment of future Vanguard students. Applicants must be willing to participate in appropriate understudying roles from early May.
This graduate assistantship is based primarily at Wheaton College’s main campus, leading Wheaton Passage: Wheaton College’s Outdoor and Adventure Orientation Program (OOP). This dynamic orientation program welcomes 550 incoming Wheaton College undergraduates each year and works with over 100 student leaders for their growth and development. Expect to organize and implement large portions of Passage in August, when you will be on-site at one of the Passage locations. Throughout the academic year, graduate students working in the Passage office operate with direct guidance from Student Engagement professionals as part of a team to recruit, train, and invest in undergraduate student leaders. In addition, Passage GAs may serve as Teaching Assistants working with Wheaton Faculty, develop practical facilitation and leadership skills while leading intensive activities at HoneyRock, weekend retreats, and day-long excursions in the city of Chicago and beyond.This role aspires to prepare a graduate assistant for a role in Higher Education or similar sector working in orientation programs, outdoor programs, or student development programs.
This role will assist the HoneyRock Marketing Specialist with marketing programs, recruiting staff, gathering information and sharing stories with our various audiences. The role is flexible depending on the applicant's area(s) of strengths and could include photography, videography, writing and/or managing social media platforms.
This position will work under the supervision of the Equestrian Supervisor to assist in all aspects of the HoneyRock equestrian program. This person will help select, train, supervise and disciple summer staff wranglers. The position will be attached to a second listed assistantship that suits the bearer and best serves the needs of HoneyRock. Previous equestrian experience is preferred. Applicants must be willing to commit to appropriate understudying roles from early-May.
This position will work under the supervision of the Site Manager to perform facility maintenance, assist with grounds care, trail maintenance, activity area support, and snow removal. The GA will coordinate the growing HoneyRock sustainability initiative. They will supervise Vanguard Gap Year students during the school year. Applicants must be willing to commit to appropriate understudying roles from early-May.
This position will work under the supervision of the Facilities Manager to coordinate and implement various construction projects. This includes capital projects, building renovations and on-going facility and maintenance endeavors. This GA works closely with the Facilities Manager to assist with overall project management and coordination needs, while also filling a strong hands-on role by assisting with various construction and facility related tasks within the Site and Facilities Department. This position is based at HoneyRock year-round. Applicants must be willing to commit to appropriate understudying roles from mid-May.
The best way to experience our Outdoor Adventure Leadership Master's program is to visit HoneyRock Center for Leadership Development where you get the chance to be immersed in creation while learning.
