Participate in NHGives for Wanakee

Dear Friends,

Because of people like you, Wanakee’s last few years have been filled with growth, positive momentum, and changed lives. You’ve made it possible for more campers and more people to experience the spirit of Wanakee, a spirit of compassion, love, peace, acceptance, and joy. Thank you for believing in that spirit.

The last few years have also brought us face-to-face with unavoidable, challenging realities. The first is that our one-of-a-kind site, with all its unique charm and history and beauty, is aging. The second is that the current chapter of the United Methodist movement is an uncertain one.

In these challenges, there are opportunities. Through our physical site’s investment needs, we can make smart, proactive decisions that will pay dividends in the long run. For example, when the Rec Hall leach field’s failure lead to an unexpected $23,000 expenditure, the new system was scaled up for a larger building because our vision is to replace the Rec Hall with a space that sleeps more than the current one. This means we may have already built the first component of a much-needed new building. Though the trees near the Dining Hall are iconic, removing them for safety reasons lets us be intentional about how we use that space (by grinding the stumps), and eliminates endless sap on picnic tables by planting new maples.

Furthermore, as the church works to find its way as a connected, global body in today’s world, Wanakee is needed more than ever. We must continue to serve as a model of intentional Christian community, rich in spirit and in opportunities to build positive, affirming, supportive relationships. Vibrant children and youth, energetic young leaders, inspiring longtime volunteers, and people from all walks of life make this a reality each summer.

I write today to ask for your support as we continue building a bright future through smart, necessary investment. From 6 PM on Tuesday June 11th until 6 PM on Wednesday June 12th, Wanakee is participating in “New Hampshire Gives,” a powerful, statewide 24-hour online fundraising event. Can we count on your support? Visit www.nhgives.org/organizations/wanakee to learn about NH Gives, to donate, or to become a fundraising champion. You can also mail your gift directly to camp.

This spring alone, we’ve spent over $40,000 on new roofs, new septic systems, new water heaters, and more. In the next 1-3 years, we hope to purchase 60 new camper beds, we expect to need a new truck, and we’ve identified significant repair needs to the Upper Showerhouse. Beyond any of that, we dream of development and improvement – a Dining Hall expansion, winterized Farmhouse, new health office, and more.

The sustainable model for Wanakee requires consistent investment and involvement from our community. You’ve already shown you are ready and excited to make that commitment – I hope we can count on you again in 2019 through NH Gives.

Grace and Peace,

James B. Tresner
Executive Director

P.S. NH Gives will be most effective if people like you help us get the word out. Visit NHgives.org and search for “Wanakee” to be a part of it!

Social media signs: Feel free to print these out, write your message, and share on social media!

• I’m supporting Wanakee on June 11th and 12th because...

• I gave to Wanakee in support of:...

5,325 Pounds of Shingles

Wow.

This past weekend, in just two (very long) working days, a hearty crew of dedicated volunteers worked and worked and worked until the job was done. The Rec Hall roof, last shingled in the early 80s (35+ years ago), was due to be fully stripped and re-shingled. Overdue, really; this past winter, the shingles turned a corner, allowing water to seep through in many places.

Because there were already two layers of shingles on, the job included removing 5+ tons of asphalt before we could install anything new. In addition, water damage demanded significant remediation.

When the idea of doing this project with volunteers first bubbled up, it felt like a pretty wild one. What about weather? And the water damage? Who will carry all those shingles? Do we have the tools? Will anyone show up? They did, and they made it happen.

Some quick numbers:

• 24: number of volunteers

• 320: hours of work given

• 10.5: hours in each working “day”

• 2,500: square feet of roof (25 square)

• 5,325: pounds of shingles that went up

• 11,000: pounds of shingles (and other debris) that came down, every ounce of which was painstakingly picked up and put into the dumpster

The final ridge cap shingles going on, ~6PM Sunday evening

In spite of losing Friday to rain, a day where we planned to strip and prep, the crew got it done. Actually, more than got it done. Going into the weekend, I was going to be thrilled if we did just the North side where the majority of the integrity issues existed. I wasn’t sure we’d have the personpower to even think about the south side...

It says something about the impact of this place that people are willing to work this long and hard (on Mother’s Day, no less) to ensure that our volunteers and You n Me campers have a safe, dry place to sleep, and that all campers have a safe, dry place to gather, for this summer and beyond.

The demographics of the team also say something; in Phil and Dave, we were supported by individuals with 50+ years of passion for this place. In Nate and Mara and Max and Rose and Laura and Katie and Sam, we were supported by seven people under 30, all of whom were campers here for most of their lives. As is so often the case for me, these two exhausting days were made even more inspiring and meaningful because six of those young adults were “my camper” at some point, as a counselor 10+ years ago (when they were 9 or 13 or 15 years old) or volunteer director. “Inter-generationality” at its finest.

I owe this group of people an enormous debt of gratitude, and I hope you’ll join me in thanking them. To Allen, Carol, Dad, Dave, Don, Gary, John, Katie, Laura, Mara, Matt, Max, Mom, Nate, Peg, Phil, Rita, Robin, Rose, Sam, Steve, and Sue, thank you. Your remarkable dedication and drive is a shining example of what makes Wanakee special. Thank you for believing in the power of this place and moving our ministry forward.

Grace and Peace,

James B. Tresner, Executive Director

2018: Year in Review

2018 was another incredible year at Wanakee. In a world that too often feels full of division and anger, of distrust and pain, Wanakee continues to shine as a beacon of kindness and connection. We are blessed to be a place where individuals overcome differences and create something sacred. Thank you for the role you played in supporting this amazing community of love and acceptance.

Last summer, we welcomed 15% more campers than our previous season, marking 33% growth in 3 years. This is amazing! And only possible because you told friends and family about the positive impact Wanakee has had on you and your loved ones. Don’t take my word for it - here’s what camper families are saying in evaluations and online reviews.

“A wonderful, healing, spiritual place in God's creation!”

“Our daughter went to camp for a week last year. That was her first time away from home. She was completely beside herself with fear of the unknown. At the end of one week of camp, she could not wait for the next summer […]. She loves the camp, the activities, the food and most important the people.”

“Wanakee is a place where kids can be unplugged, learn to love nature […] and learn about God and the love God has for them. The staff are wonderful. The grounds are beautiful. […] I wish I had a Wanakee to go to when I was a kid!”

This is richly rewarding feedback, and we are so excited to continue learning as we strive to serve more people, more effectively. This is where you come in. Wanakee needs focused diligence, and careful, significant investment. We’re quickly outgrowing our Dining Hall, the Rec Hall septic system and roof need to be replaced, and we are overdue for new construction. Demand for camp scholarships is up 78% since 2016, and we remain wholly committed to ensuring a camp experience is available for all children and youth, regardless of finances. Can we count on your support to help us prove what’s possible?

A recent milestone that exemplifies the investment required for growth is the successful hiring of Wanakee’s first Assistant Director, Hannah Cote, a longtime camper and summer staffer. Hannah joined us year-round beginning in January 2018, and has jumped into leadership. Hannah’s skills and passion for Wanakee’s people and ministry are already allowing us to achieve our mission more effectively.

I hope we can count on you to help us build a higher quality, more accessible Wanakee experience through an end-of-year donation. Gifts of all sizes are welcomed and deeply meaningful at a small, mission-focused organization like Wanakee.

I am eager to continue working towards a bright future for our beautiful spiritual place in the hills, a future made more promising through your presence, prayers, and support. Your passion (and time) is so needed here - thank you for keeping Wanakee a priority.

Grace and Peace (and Happy New Year!),

James Tresner, Executive Director

2018 by the Numbers

• 532: total campers, a 15.6% increase over 2017

• 57: years of operation

• 80: volunteers during summer 2018, 19 more than 2017

• 7,006: hours of volunteering at Wanakee last summer, 22% more than 2017

• $13,680: value of camp scholarships provided, 78% more than 2016

• 21: number of summer staff (including 16 former campers and 3 internationals)

• 242: members of our new Wanakee Alumni Facebook group

• 110.5: pounds of Cap’n Crunch consumed in the Dining Hall

• 220: pizzas served on Friday nights over 7 weeks

• 2: “Lofts @ Wanakee” (extra rooms) opened above the Dining Hall for overflow seating

• 40: beds purchased for use by campers

• 6: cabins “re-screened” since summer 2017

• 3: summer staff positions to be added in 2019

• 104: registrations for the Wanakee Wilderness 5K, our second straight year over 100

• 44: number of United Methodist congregations who sent campers to Wanakee

2019 GOALS: Grow our impact by serving more campers; address the physical needs of the Rec Hall; explore and develop new ways to engage and support local congregations; engage our alumni more deeply, continue our momentum towards a bright and sustainable future.

2019 EVENTS: Wild Wanakee Women [January 25-27, 2019], Senior High Winter Retreat [February 15-17, 2019], Wanakee Homecoming BBQ and Wanakee Wilderness 5K [August 17, 2019], work days [May 4, 2019, June 1, 2019, September/October], and more!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: We couldn’t exist without our volunteers, and are always looking for friends to assist with day-to-day happenings in all seasons, summer counselors + event directors, and committee members. Your time makes a difference at Wanakee!

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: A gift to Wanakee ensures that future generations will get to experience our “beautiful spiritual place in the hills,” while changing lives today. Your donation can go towards:

• General Operating: These gifts provide flexibility for your funds to go where they are most needed.

• Friends of Wanakee: Gifts to Friends of Wanakee are used to support capital and programmatic improvements, such as ropes course upgrades, bathroom remodels, and equipment purchases.

• Camperships: Donations to the Campership Fund ensure that finances are never an obstacle for any child to spend time at camp. Camperships are distributed confidentially via application. Since 2016, applications for Camperships have almost doubled.

• Special projects: Would you like to connect with the Executive Director about giving for a specific purpose or in a specific way? Examples include support of a capital project or including Wanakee in your estate plan. We’d love to hear from you.

Remembering Wes Darling

With great sadness, we share the news that Wes Darling died at his home in Meredith on November 15, 2018. He was 90 years old.

Wes and Edie Darling served as administrators of Wanakee from 1968 through 1977. Edie, a librarian and Christian educator who led training throughout New Hampshire and the Northeast Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church, died in 2008.

Wes was a quiet-spoken, easy going man with a ready smile and an encouraging word. He was generous with his time and always willing to do whatever was needed around camp, from mowing lawns, to moving beds, to providing a listening ear.

For most of his career, he worked as a cabinetmaker and home builder. He created many beautiful pieces of furniture and built and remodelled several homes, including his own family home in Spofford. He also served as a volunteer firefighter in Spofford.

From 1980 to 1993, Wes and Edie managed Darling’s Gift Shop (his mother’s business) in Milford and established a branch shop of their own in Nashua. When he retired at age 71, they moved to Meredith.

Wes remained interested in Wanakee and stopped by the camp to see the Farmhouse renovation project in 2017.

Calling hours will be held in the Mayhew Funeral Home, 204 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, on Monday, November 19, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

A funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. The Rev. Philip M. Polhemus will officiate. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery, in Milford, NH.

His full obituary is published on the Mayhew Funeral Homes website.

Thoughts on Summer and What's Next

September is a whirlwind of a month - after a brief post-summer lull around Labor Day, we jump into the busyness of retreats, maintenance projects, reflecting on the summer behind us, and building a foundation for the summer ahead. On Monday night, Wanakee’s Board of Directors met to kick-off the year, which prompted some thoughts I wanted to share.

1. We really jumped to the next level of “campers served” last summer, and it’s such an honor. We welcomed over 500 people across 7 weeks! 500 children, youth, and adults creating and experiencing our community of acceptance and love while exploring questions of faith and morality. Last spring I shared a letter from a camper parent written in 1959 that beautifully describes our desired outcomes. Whether you joined us yourself or sent a child to camp last summer, thank you for the amazing opportunity to inspire “a little larger mission and a strengthening of the inner life.”

2. We really jumped to the next level of “campers served” last summer, and wow did we learn a lot. 530 registrations demanded a lot of our systems, our staff, our volunteers, our practices, our facility, and your Executive Director. It was thought-provoking to sit-down with the Board and start the process of taking 2018’s positives and challenges and turning them into actionable improvements. If you ran into something that didn’t feel quite right this summer, I’m so sorry, and allow me to ask for trust that we are serious about improving every. single. summer. Growth is hard work. Have an idea or feedback to share? mail@wanakee.org or 603-279-7950 is a great place to start.

3. We are very much in need of dedicated, year-round leadership and “boots on the ground.” Our buildings are not aging gracefully, our programs need to continue evolving to support and energize a changing and growing camper base, our finances need to be managed, our vision needs to be kept in focus, and much more. Would you join us for a Work Day? Are you willing to mow lawns on a random Tuesday, paint on a Wednesday, or clean on a Friday afternoon? Have you ever considered serving on a Board or Committee? (Information and our application are online.)

4. There is an overwhelming amount of evidence that people love this place and are deeply moved through this place. We wouldn’t be welcoming so many campers if people weren’t leaving here and telling friends and family about great experiences. We wouldn’t be able to provide such rich programs and navigate our growth if it wasn’t for the huge jump in volunteer hours given last summer. Those who serve and give today surely share their talents joyfully because each year, we get to change hundreds of lives. Each summer’s campers will carry their Wanakee experience with them forever. What an amazing shared purpose.

5. There is no “coasting” for Wanakee anytime soon. We have made some remarkable progress these last few years, thanks to many Herculean efforts by individuals, churches, committees, and staffers. We also have a long, long way to go. Now that we’ve established a solid near-term footing, the work is about to get much more difficult. Vision, systems change, and investment are required to bring a strong future into sharp focus. Those are challenging outcomes. Have you always assumed or imagined that you’d send your grandkids here? If Wanakee holds a special place in your heart, if you would be upset if the children in your life are not able to make their own Wanakee memories in 30 years, we need your engagement today. I can’t stress that enough.

6. The Rec Hall’s maintenance needs and future trajectory are complicated, and we need creative ideas. We’ve identified the Rec Hall as the building most urgently requiring functional replacement (consider the Dining Hall 1B). We have not launched a campaign to bring in the $1.2-$1.8 million dollars that replacing the Rec Hall would require due to immediate pressures and a stretched leadership core. The building needs a new leach field ($10,000-$25,000), new roof ($8,000-$12,000), interior upgrades (wall and floor coatings, beds), siding repair (or replacement), evaluation/upgrading of supports and footings, and more. We can probably rally support for the $30,000-$60,000 worth of work outlined above over the next 1-2 years, but that’s money that won’t be be available for essential new construction. We’re truly at a pivot point, and working through planning in real-time (my inbox has emails waiting for me on this...). What ideas do you have? Can you or someone you know help?

The Wanakee Rec Hall

When I started in this position, I promised to communicate as often and as transparently as possible. I hope you hear my excitement about the breadth and depth of good things happening here each year - the change and growth and magic I see among campers each summer is one-of-a-kind, and deeply rewarding. It’s exciting to dream about improvements for 2019, and imagine the campers, volunteers, and staff who will be here next summer and in five summers.

There’s also a hugely significant, hugely complex set of questions and challenges ahead. The choices we make and success we find on the “big picture” items over the next 2-5 years carry significant future consequences. Your support, passion, ideas, forgiveness, hard work, idealism, and prayers are needed.

Grace and Peace,

James B. Tresner, Executive Director

To the 2018 Summer Staff

The 2018 Wanakee staff being silly

Last Wednesday, the 12 remaining summer staffers gathered for a final send-off. Unlike my previous two seasons in this seat, almost half the team departed in the days and weeks prior to our actual last afternoon together. The start of a new school year, family commitments, and the rest of life pulled harder than they sometimes do. Our drawn out goodbyes were punctuated by a series of sad, reflective moments as Robby, then Bradley, then Rose and Holly and Leslie and Molly, then Zach and Andrew (you get the picture...) turned left on Upper New Hampton Road. Emotions ran much differently with these repeated reminders that our 10 weeks of reveling in exhausting, inspiring work among once-in-a-lifetime friendships would soon be at its end. Coursework, work study, new apartments, Finland, and overdue doctor’s appointments beckoned.

The 2018 Wanakee Staff being silly but not showing it

At the end of our last week of camp, a volunteer who hadn’t been to Wanakee in a number of summers shared a couple perceptive observations. Firstly, they noted that this team likely didn’t appreciate just how competent they were, collectively and independently. Both their practical knowledge of their functional jobs and the way they cared for our campers and one another were exceptional. I can’t say enough about what it took for this group to create the experiences and community they built this summer, as a team and individually. Specifically:

• Abby - for the remarkable support you provided to campers during challenging moments, and for leveling up the 5K once again, thank you.

• Amelia H. - for the way you jumped into life at camp (and America), learned to love this place like those who grew up here, and offered a warm presence to campers, thank you.

• Amelia L. - for pushing yourself, bringing so much heart to Morning Watches and Celebrations, and that day you were on maintenance, thank you.

• Andrew - for your endless hard work, willingness to jump back into maintenance and put institutional needs over your own preferences, and advanced routfits, thank you.

• Bethany - for your love of Big Blue, bounty of energy, and leadership, thank you.

• Bradley - for motivational squat claps, an amazing sense of humor, introducing us to the world’s sweetest lhasa apso, and delicious, creative meals all summer long, thank you.

• Daneya - for tackling a complex job in your first season, leading the jibbit council, and your consistent positive spirit, thank you.

• Emma - for your generosity, quirky sense of humor, being the best jefe, and joyful (absurd?) return to maintenance on the last night of camp, thank you.

• Hannah - for handling a job that’s ready to be split back in two, and continuing to grow into an indispensable, foundational rock for this place, thank you.

• Holly - for continuing to put your stamp of quality and meaning on our day camp programming, crushing the drag, and being a great baby bird, thank you.

• Josh - for quiet humor and reliability, running the 5K in a tiara, and your can-do spirit, thank you.

• Leslie - for pushing the ropes course forward, continuing to be a steady and reliable mentor to fellow staff, and 50% less sodium (???), thank you.

• Luke - for sharing your gift of music with our community and quietly building strong connections with campers, thank you.

• Molly - for the way you so seamlessly fit into the staff community, role-modeled a strong work ethic, and quickly made yourself an indispensable part of the team, thank you.

• Nate - for your constant hard work, ability to proactively identify and deal with maintenance needs, and crawling around under the Farmhouse kitchen, thank you.

• Olivia - for seamlessly handling a new position with poise and skill, earning your LGI, making new “friends” at the waterfront, and yelling about the mail, thank you.

• Robby - for being the grumpiest boy in the grumpy boys club (nope), adding new spins to countless classic songs, and the way you connected with your campers, thank you.

• Rose - for the way you foster reflection and discussion among campers, and inviting your parents to join you at this place you love so earnestly, thank you.

• Shannon - for s’mores bread, your wonderful sense of humor, that time you wore a pink velvet track suit and a side pony, and your deep care for our campers, thank you.

• Vicki - for putting up with bad jokes and bad accents, tirelessly washing endless sheet pans, grilled cream cheese breakfast toast, and your one-of-a-kind laugh, thank you.

• Zach - for Sheriff Go Bed, level-headedness, meat pizzas, and the way you supported your co-counselors, thank you.

Wanakee Staff on a mountain

I don’t want to sugarcoat the 2018 staff experience – this team handled a demanding season. Our registrations jumped almost 16% with 3 fewer staff than 2015, 33% fewer campers ago. We faced down a significant number of acute facility and health issues, and a season full of days that were either too hot or too rainy, without much in between. This team had to flex, focus, and execute. Summer camp is complicated stuff! Safety, food service, 25 buildings, trips and transport, 30 boats, 8 high ropes elements, 227 acres (and more) – those things don’t manage themselves. There was a Tuesday morning where Molly, our kitchen staffer with all of one week of experience, was slated to be the only regular available to cook breakfast, a reality that slowly (and funnily) dawned on the staff at 10 pm the night before. She was game. The team was game. There was a Friday where our maintenance crew was our Waterfront Director and Program Specialist, and they were right on top of it. Stressful situations are where people show what they’re made of. This team was made of heart, consistency, and tenacity.

Mount Washington from Pine Mountain, Gorham NH

The second observation shared by the volunteer mentioned above was that they, and other staff before them, always thought that “summer camp is forever.” When you’re here as a staffer, camper, or volunteer, and the unique love of this place is abundantly clear and moving in your soul, it seems impossible that you won’t return, that you won’t make Wanakee a priority and be a part of every future season. Then September happens, and October, and January, and March. New jobs, new friends, new experiences, new cities. A year passes, then five. Though this is also true of you, the person reading this, I want to re-iterate something to the staff who spent their summer here in 2018: Wanakee needs you. Life will get in the way. Things will change. However, with the depth of your work this summer as evidence, I’m unwaveringly confident of your love for this place and its people, of your heartfelt passion for our community, and I want to remind you today that Wanakee will be here, waiting for you and needing you to be a part of its future because you are effective, passionate, remarkable people.

During our last Celebration service of the summer, in our perfect Outdoor Chapel, by the light of a fading sunset, a small handful of staff took a few moments to decompress from a pell-mell day as campers wandered to grab snack crates and head up the hill. Our pace had been so high octane that this was the first time I started processing that we were days away from the big August reset. As exhaustion and sadness started to creep in, I took such comfort in simply being near a slice of our staff family as I processed waves of memories, memories of euphoric moments, small victories, and painful challenges.

Staff on Mount Washington from Pine Mountain, Gorham NH

Days later, during our traditional end-of-season staff adventure, I wandered away from the group to take in the beauty of the mountains silhouetted against the night sky. I’ll never forget the gentle guitar, moving harmonies, and simple gusto of that “Lean on Me,” sung by this amazingly musical, uniquely supportive staff. As was true all summer, you were exactly the right people, in exactly the right place, at exactly the right time to make magic happen.

Thank you for working so hard this summer. Thank you for supporting one another so passionately this summer. Thank you for changing lives this summer.

Grace and Peace,

James Tresner, Executive Director

Proving What's Possible

The 2018 summer camp season is sure to be remembered by campers, volunteers, and staff through amazing memories and lifelong friendships. We’ve also achieved some exciting organizational benchmarks this summer, most notably 500 camper registrations (522 as of July 31)! Our 2018 growth translates to an increase of 30%+ in camper use since 2015, as measured by meals served and nights spent on site. All of this week’s events are either at capacity or very close to capacity, and we filled every cabin in every site (and most beds) for the first time in 7 or 8 years, with six overflow tables outside the Dining Hall. Allelus will be lengthy on Friday night, and we can’t wait!

Why are these numbers exciting? Because Wanakee exists to positively influence children and youth by welcoming them into an authentic Christian community, lived out through unconditional love and radical acceptance. Growing our numbers means growing our impact.

Beyond “number of campers served,” our most important metric, we are extraordinarily fortunate to benefit from an uptick in the number of hours given by summer volunteers – we are projecting at least 7% growth in 2018. On the facilities front, we’ve been able to purchase 40 new (and better) beds as we strive to replace 100 beds over the next 3-5 years and improve the camper experience. There is a great deal to feel good about when considering today’s missional, organizational, and financial status.

Wanakee staff and teens on the low ropes elements

Parallel to those exciting growth outcomes are an unsurprising set of challenges. As with any business, for-profit or non-profit, growth brings complexity, and complexity takes time and effort to navigate. Imagine what it would take for your business to take on 30% more clients, your classroom to welcome 30% more students, or your hospital to treat 30% more patients. These comparisons aren’t far off - our cabins are more full, our meals are larger, our health office is busier, and our camper (and family) support needs are more extensive.

We have 3 fewer summer staff in 2018 than 2015 - we did not expect to grow this much this summer! This is a great problem, and a misstep that I’ve learned from. Once we saw our numbers continuing to spike, I attempted to add staff in a couple key areas, but prior commitments and a tight labor market made it near-impossible to hire in May, June, and July. Truly, growth in volunteer engagement has been critical in order for us to support our increased enrollment.

Even with more volunteers, strain and demands on our permanent staff and physical site remain. When you see the staff, please thank them! It is their flexibility and (exceptional) hard-work that makes it all possible. We’ll be looking to add 2-4 summer positions in 2019.

An update on facilities demands its own post, but the headline is that the Rec Hall leach field appears to have failed (likely a $20-$30k repair). Beyond that, we are still looking to cover costs for 15 of the 40 beds we’ve purchased, perhaps via the Wanakee Wilderness 5K (we bought a second batch of 20 in order to squeeze in campers and take advantage of economies of scale), our 30-35 year-old walk-in freezer compressor is on its last legs, and that’s just the top of the list when prioritizing what needs to be repaired/replaced in order for us to merely sustain current operations, without considering our desire to improve and grow. You will hear more about our dreams of replacing the Rec Hall in the months ahead (and donations are always welcome)!

On top of our summer growth, our retreat usage has more than doubled since 2015. Everything happening here requires increased attention and focus to accomplish well simply because we’re doing more of it. We are re-investing in ourselves as quickly as we can, but there will be more bumps along the way as we learn and improve.

I want to take a moment to thank our families, campers, and volunteers as deeply as I can for your invaluable contributions to Wanakee’s momentum. Thank you for trusting us with your children, your time, and your energy. Thank you for telling your friends and family about camp. Thank you for being patient and forgiving as we stretch our systems and become a larger, more complex organization.

Lastly, I want to re-iterate that future success depends on current engagement. Thank you volunteers, donors, Board/committee members, and staff for keeping us a priority. Your time, talent, and treasure is needed and appreciated today, yesterday, and tomorrow. It’s an honor and a privilege to build and maintain the scaffolding that supports the life-changing experiences provided through this community, and I hope you might join me in this inspiring work.

See you Saturday August 18th for the Wanakee Wilderness 5K (register/sponsor/learn more), Homecoming BBQ, and Silent Auction (donation idea? contact us!).

Grace and Peace,

James Tresner, Executive Director

A Better Night's Sleep (#BuyABed)

Each of the last two Junes, as summer approached, this community dug in and provided essential resources to make the Wanakee experience better. In 2016, it was the dollar-for-dollar campaign, which raised over $10,000 and funded immediate needs, plus $1,700+ in gifts for the purchase of new song books. In 2017, it was the #signyourname campaign, which yielded over $20,000 in support of the comprehensive exterior renovation of our historic farmhouse (read more at Signing Your Name & Turning the Page and Midsummer Update: Growth and Generosity). You, the Wanakee community, are remarkable in your generosity.

I write today because Wanakee’s Board of Directors has approved a project that couldn’t be more simple, and we’re hoping for your support. We’d like to buy 100 new beds.

Why? If you know someone who has spent a night at camp recently, they can probably explain. Though we’ve periodically purchased new mattresses (the last batch in 2014) and built ~35 new beds in 2003, this 100 beds plan would lead us to a wholesale upgrade for the majority of our sleeping spaces. Many of our current bed frames were picked up at the closing of Grenier Air Force base in the 1970s by Rev. Phil Polhemus and Wes Darling (co-director of Wanakee at the time). Though these beds have been repaired and reinforced diligently, it’s “normal” for institutions like us to periodically upgrade their furniture. At ~45 years old, we can confidently say we got our money’s worth... especially since they were $0.

Best of all, the new beds we’ve selected won’t just be replacements, they’ll be improvements. How?

• Increased sleeping capacity in some cabins through stackable metal bunk beds (can also be un-stacked for maximum flexibility)

• 36” wide mattresses (most of our current beds are 30” wide)

• 5” thick mattresses (most of our current mattresses are 4” thick)

• No-sag sinuous springs, manufactured in the USA (no squeaking!)

• Bed bug resistant (compared to wood bed options)

• Premium black powder coating (graffiti resistant)

The mattresses we’ll be improving on

A donation to this project helps campers, volunteers, guests, and staff literally sleep better. As a result, they’ll grow and learn and laugh even more each day. It’s hard to think of an investment more guaranteed to positively impact the camper experience.

Your gift sends a message that you support our accelerated pace of strategic improvements for Wanakee’s facility and program. In keeping with the long running Wanakee tradition of “we built that so we put our name on it,” we’ll celebrate you, our donor, with a plaque or other permanent marker. The costs for the beds breaks down as follows:

• $25 = cost of freight for one bed

• $44 = cost of one rail / ladder for top bunks (2 rails, 1 ladder per bed)

• $90 = cost of one mattress

• $300 = cost of one bunk bed frame

• $637 = cost of one full bunk bed (50 needed)

You can sponsor a ladder, mattress, or bed on Facebook through our new donate button, or via the Donate page on our website.

While writing this, I was reminded of questions that I hope you’ll ask yourself again today. From childhood until today, has Wanakee…

• ...shaped or influenced your religious beliefs, spiritual practices, and/or morality?

• ...deepened or undergirded your faith?

• ...supported the development of a friendship (or 2 or 10) that has lasted a lifetime?

• ...made you feel uniquely loved, accepted, or empowered to be the truest version of yourself?

• ...done any of the above for a friend or family member?

If you answered yes to any of those, consider helping us sustain our outcomes for today’s campers. Your donation brightens Wanakee’s future, amplifies our momentum, and moves our mission forward. Thank you in advance.

Grace and Peace,

James Tresner, Executive Director

P.S. If you’re interested in supporting this project and have questions about it, please get in touch by phone or email!

Wanakee's magic has deep roots: The Florence Shepard letter

Florence’s Letter from 1959

I recently had the good fortune of meeting with the Rev. James A. Batten over lunch and received his incredibly detailed account of Wanakee’s origins. Jim, a long-time pastor and district superintendent in the former New Hampshire Conference, is the last surviving member of the committee responsible for identifying, purchasing, and launching Wanakee in 1961. He was one of the most important driving forces in the creation of Wanakee, and we are so grateful for all his efforts in sharing that story with us now. More importantly, we are grateful for the vision and commitment he provided in making this dream a reality.

In the 1950s, there were many competing financial pressures and differing visions among New Hampshire’s Methodist churches, including briefly considering the purchase of an old hotel for summer “camp” programming. Jim and other individuals stayed tirelessly focused on their vision of life-changing community in transcendent natural spaces, a dream that was realized through Wanakee. You can expect to hear more about the 15 years of visioning that ultimately led to our purchase and creation soon!

One document Jim shared really jumped out to me – a letter from the parent of a camper during the 1959 summer season, when the programming that pre-dates the name “Wanakee” and today’s physical site was provided at different locations around New Hampshire. The letter is incredibly prescient and relevant – it’s amazing how well the author’s description of her daughter’s experience in 1959 mirrors my own Wanakee experiences as a camper 15 and 20 years ago, as well as what we work diligently to create today. For me, Mrs. Shepard’s note underscores how fortunate we are to participate in a community with an incredible legacy of growth and meaning, and to have a beautiful spiritual place in the hills to gather and learn and connect. I’m eager to share her note with you as this week’s “Throwback Thursday.”

I’m so excited for 400+ young people and 80+ volunteers and staff to join us in community this summer! I know that our staff and volunteers will provide space for the “strengthening of the inner life” and many moments of Wanakee magic. We’ll see you July 1!

-James Tresner

A portion of the original letter from 1959

June 29, 1959

Dear Mrs. Harris,

Carol’s enthusiasm on returning from Pinnacle [the host camp for the NH Conference Summer Camp] was so high that I feel impelled to write and thank you and your husband for the obviously wonderful job you did as counsellors for her group. I thought you might feel rewarded to some extent to know that the beautiful spirituality and joy of the experience at camp was carried home and shared by the family of at least one of the group. I am sure this must also be true of most of the other youngsters.

I was most impressed by the kind of magic that was generated by their experience. Personally I wish the period could be extended to two weeks as it seemed to be very rough on the children emotionally to have to cut the idyll short/so soon. I think you people did very well to accomplish what you did in so short a time. The religious training was blended with the good times, activities and camaraderie so well that the real purpose of the camp was fulfilled to a remarkable extent. [...]

It will be quite a few years before another child of mine will be ready to go to this camp but I intend to urge others in our church to try to make it. [...]

Thank you again for giving my daughter in six brief days a little larger mission, a strengthening of the inner life that I think she will always carry with her.

Sincerely,

Florence Shepard

Remembering Dwight Haynes

Dwight Haynes on his bike in Concord, NH

With deep sadness, we share the news with our Wanakee community of the recent passing of Rev. Dwight Haynes on March 24th.

Rev. Haynes, or Pastor Dwight as most people knew him, had a long and distinguished career serving churches throughout New Hampshire. He was a devoted supporter of Wanakee and outdoor ministries, serving as a volunteer counselor, event director, training leader, and overseeing Wanakee's operations while serving as the former New Hampshire Conference Council Director. The depth and breadth of his involvement at camp was truly laudable, and spoke to his commitment to this community and our mission.

In retirement, Dwight always made a point of writing handwritten letters (many on his infamous 3x5 cards) to any and all campers from his home congregation, most recently at Bow Mills UMC. Thanks in part to Dwight, BMUMC is one of our strongest church partnerships – we were fortunate to welcome roughly 20 of their campers last summer, each of whom received a thoughtful, encouraging letter during their time at Wanakee.

As someone who invested deeply in relationships, nurtured a deep love of the outdoors, biked 1,000 miles a year into his 80s (including last year), and fought for justice and equality, including marching in Montgomery with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Dwight embodied many of the best characteristics of Wanakee. He was caring, thoughtful, courageous, gentle, and much more. He will be deeply missed, and his impact at camp, in New Hampshire, and around the world, will live on. In this Easter season, we are grateful for the promise of new life.

You can read more about Dwight's 36,000 miles of biking in the Concord Monitor's article "Concord cyclist, 80, still pedaling 1,000 miles a year."

Here are the details for the Rev. Haynes' memorial service:

Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Wesley United Methodist Church
79 Clinton Street, Concord, NH

Refreshments and a time for visiting will follow the service. For those coming from outside the Concord and Bow areas, please consider parking at Bow Mills UMC and carpooling to Wesley.

A Letter to a Wanakee Counselor

As the calendar flips to the new year, much of my focus turns to recruiting, selecting, and training the best summer staff possible. In the camping world, a common staff training exercise is to imagine a letter from a camper [or camper parent] addressed to their camp counselor. The goal is to inspire staff to meet and exceed the highest standards of support and safety, and to gain awareness of the perspective of the youth we serve and the adults who trust us with their care.

Fortunately for me, I don’t have to imagine this letter! One of our 2017 campers mailed us a note for his counselor, and though I’m not sure what inspired it, I’m truly grateful to have received it, and equally excited to share it with you. This camper’s experience captures what I know your child will find in the Wanakee staff in 2018. I’m so excited to watch thousands of nurturing and empowering relationships form this summer, and so grateful to the Wanakee staff of 1999 to 2004, who influenced my life in countless positive ways. -James Tresner

Dear [Counselor],

Thank you for being my camp counselor for adventure camp. You taught me how to respect the environment, how to work together with other people even when it wasn’t my favorite person, and how to work well with my group. [...] You were there when I fell and by my side when we were in the environment. You encouraged me when I felt down. You were great at singing camp songs and always positive when someone [was] mad at you. You were the best camp counselor at Camp Wanakee.

You taught me how to start fires and what is the best fire starter (birch wood). You were always excited about the next thing we were going to do. You did the talent show that was too funny and everyone laughed at the end. My favorite time with you is when we went on a scavenger hunt on the mountain. You showed us where the top of the mountain was and the fastest way to get to the top and bottom. You were always careful with the environment around you.

You were always the best joker in the cabin and everyone loved your jokes. You loved rest hour, you would always say “Isn’t rest hour the best, where you can just lay down and take a nice breather?” That was your definition of rest hour. You made the cross the road song, always making sure everyone sang it.

Thank you for being my camp counselor. I don’t know what it would be like if you weren’t my camp counselor. I had a blast at camp with you and with all the adventure.

From, [an Adventure camper]

Hannah Cote Named Assistant Director

Hannah Cote

On behalf of Wanakee’s Board of Directors, I am thrilled to announce that Hannah Cote has been selected as Wanakee’s Assistant Director. She will start her new position on January 22, 2018.

Hannah has been associated with Wanakee since 2007 as a camper, counselor, and most recently, our Program Director. In this role, Hannah managed our counseling staff, supported and engaged our incredible volunteers, and made sure each day ran smoothly.

Hannah graduated from Fitchburg State University with a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies and minors in Special Education and History. During her time at Fitchburg, she served as president of her sorority, worked at a dance studio, and was a tour guide. Hannah is an active member of St. James UMC in Merrimack, where she has participated in mission trips and currently teaches Sunday School.

When asked about working with Hannah last summer, longtime volunteer Kiki Sylvester shared “[Hannah] was easy to work with, answered all my questions quickly, and was thoughtful and organized.” In her new year-round position, Hannah will be the primary point person for our retreat and rental programs, work closely with our volunteers, manage day-to-day office operations, and support development of our summer program. Hannah will also re-join our summer team in a leadership role similar to Program Director.

I look forward to the gifts that Hannah will bring to Wanakee, especially her organizational skills, leadership, analytical mindset, and commitment to the Wanakee experience.

"At camp, kids can make their own choices. There is so much pressure put on kids today, but at camp, that all disappears,” Hannah said. “Camp is about having fun, while also learning about perseverance, teamwork, communication, and other critical life skills. I am passionate about helping kids become more confident in themselves and their abilities, and know that Wanakee is the perfect place for that to happen.”

Hannah went on to share "Wanakee is the place where I have always felt most connected to my faith. It is a place where unconditional love and acceptance are the expectation and not the exception, which is not common today. I am overjoyed that I am able to continue to be part of this incredible environment in which every camper is valued for who they are and what they are capable of.”

Please join me in welcoming Hannah to her new role!

Grace and Peace,

James Tresner
Executive Director

To the 2017 summer staff

A necklace given to the Wanakee Staff

Last Wednesday, the 2017 summer staff gathered on the front lawn of the farmhouse, lingering for more than an hour to share memories and notes of gratitude before huddling together, leaning in, and lifting a foot for the final heartfelt Grace and Peace of summer 2017.

The first few staff to pull out of the parking lot had their cars chased by 4 or 5 of their brothers and sisters, a ritual not available for the final departures of Zach and Hannah in the late afternoon.

Throughout the day, as cars turned left and headed towards 104, I was reminded of how it felt to drive down Upper New Hampton Road after my first summer on staff. I felt those same emotions, 11 years later. Feelings of overwhelming, visceral loss and finality, made well by a profound sense of gratitude for memories and relationships that will live forever.

The 2017 Wanakee Staff

This is my second time being the person who stays behind when late August arrives and camp goes quiet. I can say with certainty that it will always be the weirdest, most bittersweet day of my year. This staff did incredible things and worked phenomenally hard. They share an unshakable dedication to Wanakee, it’s people, and one another. I’m so grateful to them collectively and individually. Specifically:

• Abby - for the leadership you provided in earning Wanakee a perfect score on our ACA re-accreditation, and for tackling thankless behind-the-scenes jobs with focus and rigor, thank you.

• Alison - for your good nature, kind heart, consistency, and flexibility, thank you.

• Amelia - for the passion for Wanakee that you wear on your sleeve, and the way in which you channel that passion into loving and supporting your campers, thank you.

• Andrew - for your reliability, hard work, steadfast nature, and routfit leadership, thank you.

• Anna - for your work ethic, and the introduction of “yummy chicken” (and yummier potatoes?) to the Wanakee menu, thank you.

• Bethany - for your energy, quirky humor, and the joy you exude, thank you.

• Billy - for the unique and present way you engage with your campers, thank you.

• Brad - for your willingness to roll up your sleeves and tackle the jobs that many would hesitate to do, thank you.

• Danny - for helping us to appreciate Shrek, for your desire to learn and improve, and for the many ways your humor and joy was felt by campers and staff, thank you.

• Emma - for working incredibly hard in a multi-faceted and essential role, and for being reliably self-motivated and focused, thank you.

• Hannah - for your incredible organization, reliable presence, professionalism, and leadership, thank you.

• Holly - for your skill with young campers and inter-generational programs, and the creativity and leadership you brought to day camp, thank you.

• Ian - for the countless ways you’ve impacted campers over your four years of counseling, and the way you grew and shined as a leader among your peers this summer, thank you.

• Laura - for your willingness to take a leap into a new and different side of camp, and for your focus on safety in all forms, thank you.

• Leslie - for your understated humor and reliability, for the ways your presence and consistency inspires other staff, and for your growth as a facilitator, thank you.

• Mara - for doing whatever it took to push our ropes course forward, and for effectively using your incredible breadth and depth of knowledge about the many sides of Wanakee to lead and do, thank you.

• Olivia - for providing a welcoming and professional face of Wanakee, and enthusiastically jumping into situations outside of your core job duties, thank you.

• Phoebe - for keeping campers safe at the waterfront, and for providing important and heartfelt leadership to Morning Watch and Celebration, thank you.

• Robby - for taking the Milkshake Song to Australia, for being welcoming to all, and for being a shining example of what it means to be a good team member, thank you.

• Rose - for your focus on fostering deep conversations and deeper relationships among the campers you counseled, thank you.

• Shannon - for the corn zodiac, for being highly effective in the kitchen, and for being so willing to jump into other areas of camp, thank you.

• Zach - for being reliable and unflappable while offering a quiet humor and warmth to your campers, thank you.

End of summer staff trip to Pine Mountain

At camp and everywhere, no season is perfect, no day without it’s challenges, no team without it’s disagreements. How those struggles and challenges and disagreements are handled are what define a team’s effectiveness, and this family excelled. They relished the trials of an intense summer season, supporting one another and shining no matter the weather. The work was not meaningful and rewarding in spite of the obstacles, but because of them. In Ian’s words on our last morning together, “this staff was perfect.” In it’s way, it really was.

To those who spent time at camp this summer or heard stories from the campers in your life about the ways this team impacted them - please add your notes of gratitude in the comments on the Facebook page!

In a moment of incredible wisdom, and of stillness and contemplation, when summer camp magic really shines, one of our longtime campers ruminated; “at camp, every minute feels like an hour, every hour like a day, and every day, like a minute.” I’m so grateful for the hours, days, and minutes I got to spend with each of you. I am moved and inspired by my complete confidence that the world will be a better place because of your love, passion, selflessness, and Faith. As your necklaces will remind you, Wanakee is, and always will be, your home.

Grace and Peace,

James Tresner, Executive Director

Midsummer Update: Growth and Generosity

People spelling out Wanakee on the docks

The last week has been a special one in the Wanakee world, and I wanted to take a moment away from the whirlwind of summer to share a bit of it with you. For the sake of time, let’s do bullet points.

• During week 5, we welcomed 70 campers, as we have this week, and will again for our last week. We have been over capacity in the dining hall during 6 out of 7 weeks this summer… which is the definition of a good problem! And one we can solve right now through outdoor dining, cookouts / packouts, and the “Wanakee Lofts.” About that new dining hall though…

• In order to provide creative, meaningful, and impactful programming to last week’s campers ages 5 to 18, we welcomed a small army of 17 volunteers as counselors, directors, nurses, and support staffers. Of those 17, 12 were under the age of 30. Last summer, Phil Polhemus commented that when he arrived at Wanakee 50 (!) years ago, Wanakee’s leadership and engagement was full of passionate, motivated young adults (like him), and that he was excited to feel like Wanakee was entering a similar phase. Week 5 really embodied that! I’m excited to continue working alongside emerging leaders and those who have been passionate about this place for decades to grow Wanakee’s impact and reach.

• We’ve started totaling volunteer hours for the year, and we’re already well above 5,000. This gift of time is incredibly important in providing creative programming while keeping costs to families as low as possible. Thank you to all who make us a priority through gifts of time!

• A huge part of my role is financial management, and last week was notable on that front. You may have seen that our final push for funds in support of the Farmhouse Renovation yielded a phenomenal $16,844.34 - I had gone into that campaign with a goal of $15,000, and was thrilled to exceed it. I also quietly set a stretch goal of $20,000, because one must live in hope. I shared this goal with a small handful of supporters, and last week an anonymous donor decided to give a gift of $3,200, putting us over the $20,000 mark. Beyond that, we gratefully received a number of other donations totaling more than $3,000, and I was fortunate to have a couple inspiring conversations with individuals feeling called to make leadership gifts of their own. Wanakee’s investment needs are many, and your financial support is integral to our continuous improvement. Thank you for being incredibly generous and incredibly inspiring.

• I set some goals for Wanakee over the winter, and we’ve started surpassing them! I’ll have more on metrics when the dust from summer clears, but here are the highlights. From 2016 to 2017, camper numbers as measured by the industry standard (one meal or one overnight = one unit) have gone up 7.6%. From 2015 to 2017, they’ve increased by 15.8%. Our registrations are up 8.3% from last year, growing from 420 to 455. These are our most important metrics. The reason Wanakee exists is to impact campers of all ages through an experience in authentic Christian community, lived out through unconditional love and radical acceptance. We are growing that impact. This entire post should probably have just been those two sentences, because that’s truly what we’re all about.

The hum of camp continues around me – it’s time to get back to it. We’ll see you in 11 days at the Homecoming BBQ and Wanakee Wilderness 5K!

Grace and Peace,

James Tresner, Executive Director

The Wanakee Wilderness 5K gets off to a good start on Upper New Hampton Road in front of Wanakee.

Alumni, campers come together for Wanakee Wilderness 5K

Campers, alumni, and those who just love a trail run gathered Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, for the fourth annual (third official) Wanakee Wilderness 5K.

About 100 runners and walkers followed the 3.1-mile course around Wanakee in Meredith, NH.

The race, which includes a barbecue and a chance to enjoy the lake and other camp features, is also a fundraiser. Wanakee was a farm in the 19th century before it became Meadowbrook Camp and, in 1962, Wanakee.

Race proceeds go toward repairing and renovating the farmhouse to “ensure that fixture of Wanakee, that oldest part of Wanakee is here to welcome campers for generations to come,” said Executive Director James Tresner at the race start.

Talking about the camp’s history, Tresner said: “I am fortunate to have been associated with this place for 18 years; many of the people around you have been here much longer.... The reason people come back here year after year is because of the connections that they make and the people that they meet. It’s a uniquely special place in terms of the relationships formed and the way it feels to be part of this community.”

Loren Butman

Runner Loren Butman feels that connection. Butman, who lives in Bow, NH, came to Wanakee as an 11-year-old in 1972. His great uncle, a Methodist minister, introduced the family to the camp. Butman’s three older siblings also attended camp.

“It was one of those experiences that stuck out among the many that you have as a child,” said Butman, who said that the camp has been on his mind many times over the years.

“I just happened to be online this year and I saw this race,” he said. “(I thought) today would give me a chance to reflect back, come back and give back, and also do something I really love, which is a trail run.”

This year’s overall winner was Lars Hogne, 12, who completed the course in a little over 22 minutes. See all the results and more photos at the Wanakee Wilderness 5K race website.

The Wanakee race is part a new series of runs in the Meredith area called the Harvest 4-Way 5K. It comprises four races, Wanakee was the first, one a month between now and November; each race benefits a different cause. Visit the Harvest 4-Way 5K website to learn more.

~ Story and photos by Beth DiCocco, New England Conference Director of Communications

We are growing your impact.

The last week has been a special one in the Wanakee world, and I wanted to take a moment away from the whirlwind of summer to share a bit of it with you. For the sake of time, let’s do bullet points.

"... so strong and so mighty..."

• During week 5, we welcomed 70 campers, as we have this week, and will again for our last week. We have been over capacity in the dining hall during 6 out of 7 weeks this summer… which is the definition of a good problem! And one we can solve right now through outdoor dining, cookouts / packouts, and the “Wanakee Lofts”. About that new dining hall though…

• In order to provide creative, meaningful, and impactful programming to last week’s campers ages 5 to 18, we welcomed a small army of 17 volunteers as counselors, directors, nurses, and support staffers. Of those 17, 12 were under the age of 30. Last summer, Phil Polhemus commented that when he arrived at Wanakee 50 (!) years ago, Wanakee’s leadership and engagement was full of passionate, motivated young adults (like him), and that he was excited to feel like Wanakee was entering a similar phase. Week 5 really embodied that! I’m excited to continue working alongside emerging leaders and those who have been passionate about this place for decades to grow Wanakee’s impact and reach.

• We’ve started totaling volunteer hours for the year, and we’re already well above 5,000. This gift of time is incredibly important in providing creative programming while keeping costs to families as low as possible. Thank you to all who make us a priority through gifts of time!

• A huge part of my role is financial management, and last week was notable on that front. You may have seen that our final push for funds in support of the Farmhouse Renovation yielded a phenomenal $16,844.34 - I had gone into that campaign with a goal of $15,000, and was thrilled to exceed it. I also quietly set a stretch goal of $20,000, because one must live in hope. I shared this goal with a small handful of supporters, and last week an anonymous donor decided to give a gift of $3,200, putting us over the $20,000 mark. Beyond that, we gratefully received a number of other donations totaling more than $3,000, and I was fortunate to have a couple inspiring conversations with individuals feeling called to make leadership gifts of their own. Wanakee’s investment needs are many, and your financial support is integral to our continuous improvement. Thank you for being incredibly generous and incredibly inspiring.

• I set some goals for Wanakee over the winter, and we’ve started surpassing them! I’ll have more on metrics when the dust from summer clears, but here are the highlights. From 2016 to 2017, camper numbers as measured by the industry standard (one meal or one overnight = one unit) have gone up 7.6%. From 2015 to 2017, they’ve increased by 15.8%. Our registrations are up 8.3% from last year, growing from 420 to 455. These are our most important metrics. The reason Wanakee exists is to impact campers of all ages through an experience in authentic Christian community, lived out through unconditional love and radical acceptance. We are growing that impact. This entire post should probably have just been those two sentences, because that’s truly what we’re all about.

The hum of camp continues around me – it’s time to get back to it. We’ll see you in 11 days at the Homecoming BBQ and Wanakee Wilderness 5K

Grace and Peace,

James Tresner, Executive Director

Signing Your Name & Turning the Page

The 2017 camping season is off to an incredible start! During our first week, over 70 campers have experienced this community of radical acceptance. It has been an honor and a joy to watch them laugh, connect, learn, grow, sing, struggle, and achieve.

In preparation for summer 2017, one of the biggest efforts of the “off” season was the Farmhouse Renovation and “Sign Your Name” fundraiser. Let’s get right to the results: the project is done (ahead of schedule and below budget), the results are in (they’re spectacular), and your generosity was incredible (truly). The total raised in early 2017 for the Farmhouse Renovation was $16,844.34. Thank you!

How did we get there?

Before and after looks at the Farmhouse soffit and fascia.

• 60 unique gifts, ranging from $9.42 to $2,500

• Average gift size: $280.74

• 5 gifts of $1,000 or more

• 36 gifts between $9.42 and $100, totaling $2,352.96 (!!)

• 4 gifts from outside the United States

• 31 gifts from past Wanakee staff

• 9 gifts from 2017 Wanakee camper families

• 2 gifts from current Wanakee staff

• 1 donor who is a dog

• $16,844.34 total raised

These gifts have been put right into our final payments on the Farmhouse project. They live on in windows that open (and close!), a thoughtfully and lovingly restored historic structure, a building envelope prepared to handle the New Hampshire elements, a warm welcome when you arrive at camp, and a proud statement of professionalism and permanence.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t recall last June, when members of the Wanakee community donated over $10,700 during our “Dollar-for-Dollar” campaign. That 2016 generosity was a huge gift of confidence, showing that this community was ready to dig into the work of ensuring a high-quality Wanakee experience for the next generation of campers. Comparing 2017 to 2016, the number of donors and net giving increased by more than 50%. If you know me, you know I’m already dreaming: what will this community do next?

The Caledonian Carpentry team; Roy, Kevin, Matt, Mara, and Molly.

As we turn the page on this project and chart a course towards our next set of upgrades, please know that what I wrote last July remains true. Stewarding Wanakee’s resources is an enormous responsibility, and we take that stewardship very seriously. Thank you for trusting us.

Once again, my deepest gratitude to each of the individuals and families below. Your support is inspiring and motivating. We can’t wait to see you at the Wanakee Wilderness 5K and Homecoming Weekend on August 19th.

Grace and Peace (and gratitude),

James Tresner, Executive Director

Farmhouse Renovation Donors

Supporters of the Together for Tomorrow Campaign

Supporters of the 2015 and 2016 Wanakee Wilderness 5Ks

John R. Parkhurst, in Memory of Frank A. "Bud" Richards

Doors Given by

• The Parker Family

• The Read Family

• The Tresner and Tresner-Kirsch Families

Windows Given by

• John & Rita Blackadar

• Devon Dickson

• Michael Miller

• Jane Richards

• The 2004 & 2005 Wanakee Staff

50+ Feet of Siding Given by

• Kristine Owen

• Phil & Rita Polhemus

• Nancy Richards, in honor of Bud and Jane Richards

• Nicole Richards

• Sean & Victoria Sheehan

5+ Feet of Trim Given by

• Kevin & Susan Drew

• Christopher & Melissa Gaherty

• Phyllis & Richard Riviere

• St. James United Methodist Church, Merrimack NH

• Nathan & Lindsey Tapp

10+ Feet of Siding Given by

• Anonymous

• Gillian Armstrong

• Dave & Carol Bovee, in honor of Jane Richards

• Georgia & Ed Deblois

• David Dwyer

• Christine & Wade Ewing, in honor of Ross, Benjamin, and Bradley Ewing

• Susan Goetcheus

• Melissa Ives

• Abigail Lavoie

• Mary Munroe

• Amy Newlove

• Michael Nuttall

• Jessi Rice & James Greenlow

• David & Sue Richards, in memory of Ethel Mundy

• Zak & Leah Ringelstein

• Rich & Sue Rudolf

• Cindy Sroda

• James W. Tresner, John Tresner, and Bill Black

• United Methodist Church of Enfield

• Carol Munroe, in honor of her 4 children and 6 grandchildren

Trim Given by

• Alison Borek

• Becki Campbell

• Erin Fitzmaurice

• Tom & Wendy Getchell-Lacey

• Stephanie Gilbert

• Michelle & Bob Jaques

• The Luke Family

• Matthew Mansur

• Cynthia Nickerson

• Ilse & R.D. Seichter

• Tony and Kristina Wagnitz

Siding Given by

• Brutus

• Courtney Choate

• Dawn Ely

• Dwight Haynes

• Penny & James Maurer

• Rachael McMillan

• Katie & Shayne Parent

• Lexi Wagnitz

• Libby Wagnitz

• The Walz Family

Old House, New Standard

Original farmhouse siding.

Wanakee has long been the beneficiary of donated time and talent, and we continue to need gifts of skill and passion. Cabins, landscaping, trails, picnic tables, docks, and more need you! I hope you’ll attend one (or both) of our work days on May 6 and June 3 to help prepare our 227 acres and 20+ buildings for the summer season. Friends and fellowship abound.

As you’ve hopefully seen, the farmhouse renovation, our largest construction project since the new shower house was built in 2007, is in full swing. The first weeks have brought remarkable progress.

Through this project, we’ve charted a careful course for major improvements and established precedents that will define how we approach and complete future site development. The Facilities Committee initiated a rigorous bidding process using detailed plans developed by a professional architect. After careful vetting and comparison, we selected and contracted with a highly regarded construction company to make our signature building weatherproof and complete years of deferred maintenance. Once the project is finished, the building envelope will be sealed, and we can begin to chip away on upgrades to the interior.

Day 1 (March 28, 2017), red siding removed.

It was important that the materials used were modern and low maintenance while retaining the look and feel of our oldest building (dating back to 1803). As such, the colors will stay the same, and the craftsmen of Caledonian Carpentry will use contemporary materials to closely mimic the look of centuries past. Our red siding will be fiber cement, the trim will be white PVC, the windows will match in a 2 over 2 pattern, and replacement doors will match old patterns.

We are fortunate to have funds remaining from Together for Tomorrow, a Conference capital campaign completed in the early 2000s, available to cover the first third of the project. Another significant portion was raised through the 2015 and 2016 Wanakee Wilderness 5Ks, as well as recent donations to Friends of Wanakee.

To finish line the project, we have capitalized on funds available to us for capital improvements, held at the United Methodist Foundation of New England, and given to Wanakee over many decades. Those gifts are suitable for this project, but also represent the best seed money available to us for future major improvements. We have stretched ourselves financially, and now we’d like to ask for your financial support.

A donation to the farmhouse project sends a powerful signal that you support the bold vision of Wanakee’s Facilities Committee and Board of Directors to strive for permanent repairs, completed by paid professionals when necessary, built to last decades.

Water damage no more.

With that in mind, I invite you to sponsor part of the building. A window, a square foot of siding, a door, a linear foot of trim. In keeping with the long running Wanakee tradition of “we built that so we put our name on it,” your name will go on a plaque or other permanent commemorative marker, a marker that campers and staff will wonder about in 50 years. The all inclusive costs for these items (materials, labor, etc.) are:

• $9.42 = cost of one square foot of red siding ($94.20 = 10 Square Feet)

• $46 = cost of one linear foot of trim ($184 = 4 linear feet)

• $847 = cost of one window

• $1,450 = cost of one door (6 needed)

If you are a current, recent, previous, or longtime donor to Wanakee, thank you. Gifts of all sizes are incredibly impactful for a small, spirited institution like ours (truly). I challenge you to think about how much camp means to you, your family, your friends, and/or your church, and what you know of our impact. I invite you to imagine your kids, nieces, nephews, grandkids, and great-great-grandkids spending their summers at Wanakee in 20 years. In 50 years. In 100 years (when the farmhouse will turn 314!). A gift today defrays immediate costs, and allows us to confidently start asking: “What’s next?”

Progress as of April 11, 2017. Housewrap applied over original siding.

In the last 12 months, you’ve shown incredible signs of support for Wanakee, and I believe we’re just getting started. Your gift in 2017 brightens our future, amplifies our momentum, and moves our mission forward.

Grace and Peace,

James Tresner, Executive Director

P.S. if you’re interested in supporting this important project and have questions about the above, please get in touch by phone or email!

Impact: Campers

Back in October, the Wanakee Board of Directors spent a weekend visioning and problem solving, including a few hours of discussion of Wanakee’s impact on different portions of our community. In the months ahead, I’d like to share a bit about those conversations, and with your help, take the conversation further.

We’ll start with the most important piece of our community: What impact does Wanakee have on campers?

Let’s start with the obvious: a Wanakee experience is simply fun! Our songs are often silly, our games are inclusive and non-traditional (Giants, Wizards, and Gnomes? Alaskan Baseball?), and campers feel empowered to let their guard down, discover who they are, and explore who they want to be. It’s safe to be yourself at camp.

Another obvious impact? At Wanakee, children and youth experience and engage the natural world by living, playing, and laughing on their way to Lemon Squeeze, along our half mile of lakefront, atop our stately white pines after ascending the Giant’s Ladder, and in the field under the Milky Way.

In his book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv argues that “Time in nature is not leisure time; it’s an essential investment in our children’s health.” Wanakee proudly maintains a “no technology” policy for campers – embracing one side of a very present paradox: today’s youth love the constant and instant connection to their peers provided by technology, while also resenting its pressure and inability to foster much more than surface-level relationships. Real, deep, connection happens face to face, as evidenced by the depth of camp friendships formed in just one week that often last a lifetime. In “The Nature Principle,” Louv rhetorically asks “What would our lives be like if our days and nights were as immersed in nature as they are in technology?” Wanakee provides the space to find out, even if only for a week.

“What would our lives be like if our days and nights were as immersed in nature as they are in technology?”

Wanakee is also a place where campers experience personal growth. As touched on above, campers are able to explore how they want to interact with peers and adults. Counselors, volunteers, and other staff model collegial, loving relationships, facilitate relationship building, and create an environment of radical acceptance. This spirit empowers campers to express their individuality and develop emotionally.

In this emotionally safe environment, campers are able to practice autonomy, safely try out decision making skills, and gain responsibility and empathy. They help make camp run (by being “hoppers” in the dining hall, for example) and expand their social and personal comfort zones. It’s hard to meet a bunch of new people and quickly forge a bond with them! But this happens every week at Wanakee.

This note should read as optimistic, because camp makes me optimistic. However, sometimes things go wrong at camp. It can rain! Sometimes, campers can’t make it to the climbing wall on their first, second, or third try. The handholds spin! In those moments, campers may well experience negative emotions, and then they’ll work through them with help from peers and mentors. They may grow in their understanding of and ability to navigate failure. So many things happen at camp that are outside the experience of school or home or church. Campers (and people!) grow most quickly in moments of safe discomfort.

Central to Wanakee’s impact is our connection to the Christian faith and the Methodist Church, and the opportunity to support young people as they wrestle with their own beliefs, spiritual practices, and morality. Campers come to Wanakee from everywhere on the faith spectrum, including households steeped in the life of a local congregation, families with little or no exposure to organized religion, and from backgrounds completely outside Methodism, Protestantism, and/or Christianity.

How do we approach spiritual growth? Time in the outdoors is naturally conducive to reflection. There is a spiritual resonance in a beautiful setting like ours, and if you don’t believe me, let’s go watch the sunset at Inspiration Point together.

Camper James, experiencing Wanakee community, circa 2001

While sunsets and shooting stars open the door to spiritual formation in a way that no program can, we also take an active hand in modeling and instilling the Christian values that are part of Wanakee’s DNA. Our activities designed to foster spiritual growth may be a young person’s first exposure to Christian values of love, acceptance, and service (and more!), but we never require participation in a religious activity or expect campers to profess a specific belief. We aim to open the door to faith, but never to push anyone through it; to provide a safe space to explore and question, but never to pass judgment. These experiences are foundational, and provide a deep well to draw from later in life. They also create ties into local churches, who are available for support and connection 365 days a year.

A thread through all of the above, and the last piece of our impact that I’ll point out here, is that everything at Wanakee happens in a uniquely loving community, steeped in tradition and story, and connected to older generations. Our programming starts with toddlers and runs through every age bracket. Campers get to live and experience our rich history through a robust network of volunteers, some of whom have literally been involved at Wanakee for five decades.

Beyond our rich traditions, and speaking from personal experience as a camper, Wanakee is uniquely successful at realizing the best parts of authentic Christian Community, which may be why many adults still point to Wanakee as their church. People feel valued here. People feel loved here. People treat each other with kindness here. There’s a common saying – “people won’t remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.” That’s what I remember from my camper days – loving counselors, deep belly laughs, and rich friendships.

To sum up, Wanakee’s impact on campers includes:

• FUN

• Experiences in nature

• Personal Growth

• Spiritual Growth

• Loving Community, Rich Tradition

What would you add? Anything you disagree with? And now that you’ve taken the time to reflect on all of the above with me, don’t you want the people in your life to experience this place in 2017?

91 campers have already signed up, and we can’t wait to see them. We hope you or someone you love will be number 92.

Grace and Peace,

James Tresner, Executive Director

Celebrating 2016

The Wanakee Farmhouse in the Winter

When I transitioned from camper and volunteer to Executive Director in February, I could not have anticipated a more remarkable first season. We served 7% more campers in 2016 than in 2015. Our 35+ year-old oven broke halfway through the summer, and members of the greater Wanakee community stepped up and fully funded the purchase, delivery, and installation of a brand new double convection oven. Volunteers counseled and directed camps, covered songbooks, organized out-dated databases, removed 7.9 tons of trash from the property (in one day!), and offered thousands of hours of passion to this vital ministry. 2016 was full of blessings.

Most importantly, campers’ lives were changed. During Night Camp, a young man finally reached the top of one of our challenging high ropes elements, the Giant’s Ladder. Through some tears, and with the heartfelt encouragement of a counselor he has known for many summers, he achieved his longtime goal and his confidence grew.

During our first Celebration Worship, a meditation on the “fathers” in our lives brought up challenges facing two of our younger campers; challenges which moved them to tears. A summer staffer was able to comfort them with genuine depth of connection rooted in her own experience. In that moment, this community enveloped those campers in God’s love.

During Senior High, an evening “Faith Walk” took small groups of teens around camp in the early evening, their only light coming from the fading sun and rising stars (plus a strategic glowstick or two). Campers were invited to explore the hardships that they face, and to discuss and reflect in a safe and accepting environment. At the end of the week, one young man struggled to explain how much it meant to connect deeply with friends old and new while exploring his personal faith. “Awesome” and “moving” were a couple of descriptors accompanying his expression of deep fulfillment.

These examples underscore the profound impact Wanakee has on people of all ages, and I’d like to invite you to experience that impact in 2017 by engaging and supporting this uniquely loving community. Please tear off the form at the bottom of this letter and help us keep in touch with you.

I am eager to continue building a bright future for our Beautiful, Spiritual Place in the Hills, a future that will be much brighter with your presence and prayers.

We’ll see you in 2017, and thank you for making my first year as director a great one.

Grace and Peace,
James Tresner, Executive Director