For so many, the Wanakee experience reaches into your heart, takes hold, and never lets go. After 21 years of my own connection to Wanakee and four and a half years in the director’s seat, I am completely certain that those who experience this place carry seeds of Wanakee with them, no matter where life goes.

I see those seeds in comments on social media when we post old pictures or sing beloved songs, I hear about them when individuals and families stop by and wistfully recall joyful moments from decades past, I notice them when campers from 15 years ago make a gift to support this place during a pandemic, and tag their friends to remind them of their shared connection and memories.

The second story in this year of sustaining generosity is a story of a Wanakee tree with infinite branches, where seeds that were sown in our early years have grown and grown. From our ingrained culture of gentle acceptance, to our rustic program rooted in a closeness to nature and accessible faith exploration, to our physical plant, Wes and Edie Darling are two of the individuals most responsible for the things that make Wanakee, Wanakee. Their leadership at a critical juncture in Wanakee’s history was hugely consequential. The story I’m about to tell is one more branch in their tree.

Edie Darling checking in campers in front of the Wanakee Farmhouse

Wes and Edie’s tenure as Wanakee’s Administrators occurred before I was born, from 1968 to 1977. In order to appreciate their impact, I’ve reached out to others who knew them well. Here’s a bit of what they shared:

“The first word which comes to my mind [when I think of Wes and Edie] is team. They were a very unique team. While it seemed they were working separately, somehow they always knew what the other was doing. The two were always separate yet one.

Wes’s responsibility was the physical property and the administrative work. You could find him in the little red trailer making sure the finances were in order and the bills vouchered to give to Maurice Simonds, the treasurer. After supper he might fire up the fogger and walk through the campsite to cut down the mosquito population. He designed the dining hall and kitchen additions and then guided youth work camps to construct them. He knew the property better than anyone.

Edie’s area was program. She would work with the committee to determine what the program themes would be for the various age levels, find the weekly directors, and listen to their goals while quietly giving insight and guidance for the week so it would go smoothly. She could always make ideas and plans better. In the evening she might talk with a weekly director to help them solve a problem, or offer guidance on how a counselor might answer a deep faith question asked by a camper.

Wes Darling working in the old administrative office, which used to be in a trailer parked on the South side of the Farmhouse.

Their true lasting legacy was firmly establishing Wanakee as a place of love and acceptance where one could grow in faith: “a beautiful spiritual place in the hills.” One could not walk on to the property and not be greeted, welcomed, and made to feel special and loved. They clearly lived their faith in word and deed. This atmosphere was the goal when Wanakee was founded, and the Darlings brought it to completion.” –The Rev. Phil Polhemus

“Edie and Wes were role models, mentors, and friends. Warm and compassionate, kind and generous, they welcomed people in and drew the circle wider. They encouraged activities that focused on teamwork and cooperation and looked for ways to help everyone succeed. Their presence is missed and their love lives on through the Wanakee spirit.”—Cam Howard

“I remember interviewing for a job at Wanakee in the balcony at Main Street UMC, and I was so nervous because I'd never been interviewed before. I thought I'd never get the job, but a letter arrived saying I'd been hired and offering $240 for the whole summer.

It was the first time I'd been away from home for that long, and I got pretty homesick on the first night. Edie noticed it right away, and that was when I realized how much of a nurturer she was. She really looked out for me, and got other people to do the same.”—David Quimby

“Wes and Edie could pull a rabbit out of a hat. Edie was so intuitive and insightful as to what was going on with people. If something was not going to happen that needed to happen, they could go to work and make it happen. They knew people and their strengths – they knew how to call in resources. One summer, my 1 year old son got hold of my glasses and broke them, so I couldn’t see. That very day they connected me with Carl Quimby and I had glasses within a few days, brought right to Wanakee.”—Sharon Foss

“Throughout their time at Wanakee Wes (aka Dad) & Edie (aka Mom and affectionately by some of the more daring staff “Mother Edie”) demonstrated their version of family first by being devoted to each other, to their faith, and to Mary, Lou Ann & I. Yet they were able to serve and lead through faith & love all of the different Wanakee Family Units in a truly inclusive manner.”—Ed Darling

Wes and Edie moved to Meredith in 2000, spending their retirement down the road from camp near the shores of Lake Waukewan. When a story ran in the local paper about the Farmhouse restoration in spring 2017, Wes enjoyed driving out to follow along. He appreciated that the builders were committed to their craft and to an authentic restoration of the Farmhouse. He was tickled that the owner of Caledonian Carpentry, Roy Darling, shared his last name (no relation).

After their father’s passing in fall 2018, Ed and Mary Darling (Wes and Edie’s son and daughter) and Ed’s wife Lou Ann started considering how their parents’ legacy might live on at camp in another way, through a donation in celebration of lives well-lived. This led them to establish the Wes and Edie Memorial Fund through an incredible donation of $10,000. The fund is invested at the United Methodist Foundation of New England to benefit Wanakee. In Mary’s words:

“Dad took his roles as husband, father, and breadwinner very seriously. He worked hard and was fiscally responsible. He could not be considered monetarily rich – there were times he was eligible for financial assistance, but felt there were probably folks who needed it more than he did. However, at the end of his life in 2018, he had enough to cover final expenses and some to spare.

Ed suggested that we think about a gift to perpetuate the connection that Dad and Mum had with Wanakee. Lou Ann and I felt that it made perfect sense. (By the way, Ed and Lou met at Wanakee.)

There were 3 things in their lives that Wes and Edie were both completely vested in and committed to:

Their marriage
Raising their family
The 10 years they spent as the administrators of Wanakee

Even after they left Wanakee, our parents talked fondly of the many people they met there and worked with. They both had a commitment to improve Wanakee’s programming and infrastructure. When they retired, they bought a home in Meredith and continued to visit Wanakee.

We feel that they would both be very pleased with this decision. Our goal is to have the funds used in a way that will help to perpetuate both the programs and the very existence of Wanakee for many years to come. We have talked with James about possibly using the funds as a seed for a future capital campaign, for example.” —Mary Darling

It has been a personal joy to get to know Wes and Edie through Ed, Lou Ann, and Mary; their depth of commitment, skill, impact, and tenure are distinctive and inspiring. It is clear to me that Wes and Edie’s legacy lives on in so many ways, including the way that it feels to be at Wanakee, our physical site, and now through this incredible donation. Most importantly, their light shines at Wanakee and around the world through the people whose lives they positively influenced.

While my goal of this post is to help you get to know Wes and Edie and share about this gift, Ed, Mary, and Lou Ann chose to create a fund in memory of their parents rather than provide a one-time gift because they hoped others might join them and honor Wes and Edie’s ministry through a donation to support this place they loved so deeply. All are invited to remember and celebrate Wes and Edie through a gift to the Wes and Edie Memorial Fund. Feel free to contact me to learn more, or you can reach out to the United Methodist Foundation of New England and make your gift directly.

Thank you again, Ed, Mary, and Lou Ann, for your trust, support, and dedication – it means so much, especially in this time of new challenges.

Grace and Peace,

James B. Tresner, Executive Director

A Hard Year, Full of Light (Part 2: The Wes and Edie Darling Memorial Fund)

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