Northern Light Spring '26

Enduring Themes of HoneyRock for our 75th Summer! 

As we wrap up our school-year programs and prepare for our 75th summer of serving students and campers, our HoneyRock Leadership Team took some time to reflect on the themes that have been key to HoneyRock's life-changing impact.   

While program names and details have evolved, these core themes remain at the heart of everything we do: 

Creation Engagement: Students and campers experience God in His creation, responding in awe and wonder at His power and creativity while developing a larger sense of who God is.   

Stewardship & Service: Campers engage in stewarding equipment and spaces while learning to serve each other in simple and challenging ways. As campers and students grow older, they develop a heart for service through meaningful work.  

Authentic Community: Students and campers separately learn to establish and maintain healthy relationships, including handling differences and conflict. Knowing the love of God allows each person to be fully themselves as we seek to follow Him.   

Spiritual Formation: Purposeful 24/7 curriculum, ranging from personal quiet time and worship to wilderness trips, activities, and rest, creates the conditions for spiritual transformation. All of this is infused with the Holy Spirit, who is the teacher and guide for all of us.    

Leadership Development: Learning self-leadership is the starting point for younger campers, along with contributing to a cabin group. For older campers and college students, we believe the best way to learn leadership is to lead. As our founder, Harve Chrouser, often said: “Responsibility is the great developer of people!”   

These enduring themes are woven into every HoneyRock experience. As we celebrate 75 years, we’re grateful for God’s faithfulness and excited for what’s ahead. Please join me in prayer for another summer of God’s faithfulness and presence to be known at HoneyRock. 

God Bless, 

Matt Erickson, ‘95  
Executive Director 

Our spiritual theme for our college student leaders this summer draws from Zephaniah 3:9-20, especially verses 16-17 (ESV): 

“...Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save...”  

My prayer for our staff is that they will enter this summer open-handedly, ready to be transformed by our living hope in Christ, and that we will walk confidently, reassured that his presence goes before us, calling us to faith, hope, and love.  

We invite you to pray for our summer staff who will arrive in a few weeks to begin their training, as well as our campers, who begin arriving June 14th. As you pray, please join us in celebrating how God is already moving, along with some specific prayer requests for His continued mercy.    

Praises   

• Our summer leadership team is strong; each of our coordinators and Unit Leaders brings a wide variety of experiences and has a deep passion for the ministry of HoneyRock.   
• We are thankful for our international staff this summer and for the 15 student visas that were approved.    
• This summer will be our largest camper season to date!  We are blessed to serve approximately 1,100 campers this summer.    

Prayer Requests 

• For the Lord to call more college students to our summer staff team. We are specifically looking for a few more male cabin leaders and kitchen members to round out the team. 
• Travel mercies for our staff as they travel from across the country and globe. 
• For great community formation and leadership training for our summer staff, so that they will be filled with joy and ready to lean into the mission of their work. 
• Protection over wilderness trips and for our staff and campers to delight in creation. 
• For all the families and campers awaiting camp arrival, may the Lord meet each camper in a transformational way this summer. 

God's Peace, 

Ashley Paige Kiley