Graduate Assistantships


Graduate Assistantships at HoneyRock

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. 

Positions Available in 2024-2025: 1

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.

Positions Available for 2024-2025: 1

 

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. The 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.

Positions Available for 2024-2025: 0

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. 

Positions Available for 2024-2025: 1

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. 

Positions Available for 2024-2025: 0    |    Positions Available for 2025-2026: 1

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. 

Positions Available for 2024-2025: 1

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. 

Positions Available in 2024-2025: 0    |    Positions Available in 2025-2026: 1

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. 

Positions available for 2024-2025: 1    

School Year Ministries Team

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.

Positions Available in 2024-2025: 0  |    Positions Available in 2025-2026: 1

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. 

Positions Available for 2024-2025: 0    |    Positions Available for 2025-2026: 1

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.

Positions Available for 2024-2025: 1  

Gap Year Graduate Assistantships

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.

Positions Available for 2024-2025: 2  

College Orientation Graduate Assistantships

This graduate assistantship works at Wheaton College’s main campus, leading Wheaton Passage: Wheaton College’s Outdoor and Adventure Orientation Program (OOP) that welcomes 550 incoming Wheaton College undergraduates each year in August. Throughout the academic year, this assistantship continues supporting Passage by facilitating campus outdoor and adventure recreation activities as a platform for student leader recruitment and development. Wheaton Campus Adventure Coordinators recruit, train, and invest in the lives of over 100 student leaders. Expect to organize and carry out large portions of Passage, intensive activities at HoneyRock, weekend retreats, and day-long excursions. Activities offered include climbing, canoeing, gravel biking, paddle boarding, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, and ice climbing. In this role, you can expect to visit HoneyRock and Chicago on a routine and sometimes extended basis. This role aspires to prepare a graduate assistant for a role in Higher Education as an Outdoor Orientation Program Leader, an Outdoor Recreation Coordinator, or a similar outdoor and adventure education leader in the outdoor industry. 

 

Business & Operations Program Team Graduate Assistantships

This position reports to the HoneyRock Business Operations Director to assist in improving business processes and analysis.  This role will engage in managerial accounting work that organizes, evaluates and reports financial information in light of HoneyRock goals. This includes identifying key financial data trends with the goal of creating management reports and recommending process improvement for strategic decision-making and implementation. Depending on the applicant's area(s) of strengths, exposure to retail sales, purchasing, vendor relations and Human Resources may be included as aspects of the role. A Business degree is preferred. 

Positions Available for 2022-2023: 1

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 is a HoneyRock based role. 

Openings for 2022-2023: 1

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. 

Positions Available for 2022-2023: 1    

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.

Positions Available for 2022-2023: 1

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. 

Positions Available in 2022-2023: 1

This position reports to the HoneyRock Business Operations Director and provides IT and AV assistance to students, staff and guests. Responsibilities include support and management of workstations, staff IT needs, videoconference technology, Wi-Fi management, networking and all audiovisual support. This position will be attached to a listed coordinator role that suits the bearer and best serves the needs of HoneyRock.

Positions Available for 2022-2023: 1