Last Update: February 10, 2022

Please Note: these were our policies for summer 2021. We are keeping them available in 2022 so you can understand the steps we took last summer to successfully operate with zero instances of Covid-19 among our campers, volunteers, and staff.

We recognize that public health realities continue to change quickly. It is our goal to maximize safety while minimizing disruption. We will communicate information specific to 2022 between now and the start of camp.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

SUMMER CAMP IS BACK FOR 2021!

We’re back! With a unanimous vote from our Board, as well as support from the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church and our colleagues at our sister CRM sites in Maine, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, we can officially announce that overnight summer camp programming will resume at Wanakee on Sunday June 27, 2021.

Welcoming children and youth to Wanakee is the thing we love most. It is the heart of our mission and community. We can’t wait to get back to it.

To see some of the expert guidance we are working with, visit:

The American Camp Association’s Field Guide for Camps

The Summer 2021 Re-Opening Guidelines for Overnight Camps

When will DETAILS BE RELEASED AND REGISTRATION OPEN?

The schedule is available here and registration is open now - click here.

Will you require testing?

According to the 2021 guidelines from the state of NH, yes, all unvaccinated campers will be required to have a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival at camp.

Additional testing is required on arrival (a shallow nasal swab administered by UNH), and may be used for monitoring and/or diagnosis during camp. Testing will be part of operating safely in 2021.

How will Wanakee be handling health and sanitation in light of COVID-19?

We are updating our health and sanitation guidelines according to CDC, ACA, and State of NH recommendations. We know we will need to secure additional equipment (handwashing stations) and PPE, and potentially make changes to our health office configuration and staffing.

Will campers be wearing masks?

Yes, while we wait for test results to come back and if sites are mixed indoors. Masks are an effective interventions to slow the spread of COVID-19. We will be wearing masks if sites are mixed indoors.

Will campers be in a pod/Cohort?

Yes. Fortunately, Wanakee’s typical structure already includes pods/cohorts - we call them “sites.” Sites are together from arrival to departure and specific staff will be assigned to each group to minimize risk of transmission between groups.

Will the schedule/pROGRAM be similar to previous summers?

Yes and no. Our typical wide range of 40+ specialty camps relies on frequent arrivals and departures from camp, as well as a generous network of 60+ volunteers. Every arrival at camp will initiate a complex and costly set of protocols. For this reason, most of our programs will be full-week in 2021, and programming will resemble our ever-popular “Classics” themed week. We hope to offer most campers some tripping opportunities to outdoor adventures like hiking and canoeing.

And as always, our program activities will be rooted in what you know and love - new friends, deep belly laughs, 9-square, swimming, boating, campfires, games in the field, and more.

What about intergenerational camps? (you n Me, Family camp, etc.)

We are offering one half-week of intergenerational programming. These camps present some of our most significant challenges because they are short term and involve more vulnerable populations. Stay tuned for the schedule and information about these opportunities.

Will you welcome the same number of campers in 2021?

No. All the plans we are considering include reduced capacity.

WHAT WILL Wanakee ASK OF CAMPERS AND STAFF BEFORE THEIR ARRIVAL?

The state’s COVID-19 guidelines for overnight camps require daily screening in the 7 days before camp, a negative COVID-19 test taken 7 days (or less) before arrival for unvaccinated campers and a negative COVID-19 test taken on arrival at camp.

I rolled my 2020 camp fee over. What’s up with those funds?

We hope we will get to put the fees you graciously left with us last summer to cover the cost of camp this summer. By rolling (or donating) your fee, you helped us avoid roughly $1,000 in unnecessary credit card fees - equal to 4% of our operating income last year! Thank you.

Those who donated or rolled their fees had priority registration opportunities.

In addition, your funds can be available in 2022, transferred to another member of your family (or a friend), or may be refunded or donated at any time.

Why did wanakee ask for camp fees to be donated?

Without camp, our expenses were decreased, but they are not $0. Our 20+ buildings and 227 acres need to be maintained, as do our vehicles, fire extinguishers, water system, etc. Roughly 30% of our expenses each year (between $75,000 and $90,000) are related to maintaining and insuring our facility, as well as administering the basics of a small non-profit business. This budget also relies on the service of hundreds of volunteers, who generously provide skill and time at no cost. Due to New Hampshire’s stay-at-home advisory, we have welcomed limited volunteers in the last year.

Your donation enables us to look toward the future. Supporters like you light the path forward more clearly.

How did wanakee do without a summer of camp?

Thankfully, thanks to generous donors over the last 12 months (and throughout our first 59 years), trust in the continued commitment of those donors, and prudent financial management, Wanakee is positioned to weather this storm and come out on the other side ready to serve children, youth, and families, in-person, once again.

However, it is certain that if we open camp in 2021, it will cost significantly more per camper - perhaps 2-3x what is typical. For this reason, we continue to seek out funding through the Payroll Protection Program and other new sources, and are deeply grateful to our community and the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church for their ongoing support. No matter if we are able to realize our goal of opening in 2021, we will need continued generosity from those who love this place.

Any camp payment that families choose to roll forward or convert into a donation is gratefully received in order to maintain our unique, historic, well-loved facility and cover the bare minimum costs of running a non-profit business until we are able to get back to what we know and love.

How did some camps open in 2020?

Fewer than 10 NH overnight camps opened in 2020. Most were extended (4-8 week) programs, and privately-owned/for-profit. COVID-19 effects short-term and non-profit camps differently than long-term camps with greater resources. For example, one camp that opened last summer had a doctor and 7 nurses on staff. Wanakee has traditionally relied on our incredible network of volunteer nurses.

Nationally, some states just gave permission for camps to open in March. We are fortunate to operate in a state that has worked hard to find a path for overnight camps to serve children and teens, safely, during the pandemic, but it is not an easy task.

How can I help wanakee?

Wanakee is blessed with a deeply committed community of supporters. We rely on people like you to achieve our mission. Please consider these ways that you can support us through and beyond this moment: 

• Pray for the spread of the virus to slow. Pray for healthcare workers, for those who are struggling with COVID-19, for those administering and creating vaccines, for essential workers, for scientists, for those who have lost someone they love, for those who are out of work, for those living in fear and anxiety, and perhaps most of all, for a spirit of trust, solidarity, and love of neighbor to take root and carry us through this. We are all in the same storm.

• Join us at virtual community events in the coming months.

• Donate to Wanakee today 

• Notify us of any grants, foundations, or other funding opportunities that would provide support during this time.

Thank you!

Thank you for your support and commitment to Wanakee. We are especially grateful to everyone who has sent encouraging messages, made a donation during this time of huge need, and/or participated in our Wanakee From Home activities. Because of people like you, our confidence that we will rise and thrive together remains strong.

We miss you, and we cannot wait for the day when we are able to gather together, live and in person. This is not the end of our story. We will see you soon.