Can We Talk About Facilities?
The Wanakee Farmhouse Under Renovation
Wanakee has a transcendent parcel of land. Our buildings are charming, well-loved, historic, “campy,” and so much more. On multiple tours, I’ve walked families into the Rec Hall and heard something to the effect of “oh, wow, this is a real camp!” I grew up camping at Wanakee, worked here in my college years, stayed in the Rec Hall as a volunteer, and love this place for what it is.
I’ve also spent the last 3.5 years living and breathing Wanakee. I see all our buildings and trees and trails in every season as the lone resident of our 227 acres during all twelve months. Six foot snow banks in the winter, 5+ inches of water across trails and roadways in the early spring, 100-year-old trees lying across the Outdoor Chapel, brake lines blowing out on the truck mid-plow (that was a fun trip down the driveway)... functioning as Wanakee’s “ranger,” to borrow a term from Boy Scout camps, is never dull.
With that perspective in mind, I’ll say it again: Wanakee’s facility is old and our equipment is wearing out. This is obvious, important, and at least a little stressful.
Even on a cloudy day, Wanakee's property is a jewel.
I share a love for “how things have always been.” I’m also acutely aware that the proverbial “bill” is coming due. Consider just the Dining Hall - since 2016, we’ve replaced the convection oven, dishwasher motor, water heater, walk-in fridge compressor, and walk-in freezer compressor. That’s 5 of the 9 major appliances in that space requiring a replacement in 4 summers, costing $1,400-$6,000 each (and totaling more than $20,000).
Below, I’ve shared a partial list of what we’ve tackled in just the last 5 months. You should be proud of how much we’ve been able to do thanks to dedicated Wanakee supporters - it’s really inspiring.
I’ve also shared a to-do list for the next 12 months. It’s an extensive list, and includes only what we’re anticipating (hoping?) we have to do. We’re starting to proactively identify the needs of our buildings and grounds, but are sure to be surprised, whether due to age, weather, or acts of God.
A tree took out the Site 3 roof in fall 2017
Before you see what has been done and what is scheduled to be done next, some context and things I know to be true;
The Wanakee community is powerful and committed (remember NH Gives?)
More of our facility and equipment will demand repair or replacement due to age and use in the next 1-5 years. Some of those needs will be minor (lawnmowers?), some of them will be major (the truck? the Dining Hall leach field?)
We are thinking strategically with our repairs. “What do we need XYZ to do for us in 5 years? in 20 years?”
We are working hard to balance proactive improvements (a new van, ropes course upgrades, new beds) against unexpected repairs/replacement (septic systems, freezer replacements)
Camp and retreat fees alone cannot address the maintenance backlog (let alone needed capital investments)
A strong facility is essential for the life-changing experiences we seek to create
Our uniquely beautiful site is worth investing in
I hope to see you this Saturday at Homecoming and the Wanakee Wilderness 5K, where you can see the upgrades and needs outlined below for yourself. Thank you, as always, for your support of Wanakee’s mission, community, and facility. Together, you are changing lives!
Grace and Peace,
James B. Tresner, Executive Director
The List
(Some of the) projects tackled in the last 12 months
The new septic system for the Rec Hall is done! Including design, permitting, materials, and labor, the project cost a shade under $25,000. The system includes a 2,500 gallon tank and pump chamber and a leach field rated for 30 beds, more than the current Rec Hall sleeps. At this size, the field could be used for the 4-season retreat building we’ve already worked with an architect to sketch (see the sketches at Homecoming!). We are serious about making proactive investments whenever possible.
Our ropes course had some major upgrades this spring! Compared to last year, we’ve added or expanded 6 low elements and made our upper course more camper-friendly. We have loved seeing campers grow in new ways on the course this season.
We have a new (to us) van! Our 15-passenger Chevy 3500 with only 20,000 miles on it has been out and about in the Granite State all summer, providing campers enriching, safe, memorable experiences. NH Gives donations purchased this vehicle (and more)!
Two of our boat engines died earlier this summer, but thanks to a generous individual donor and our friends at East Parish UMC in Salisbury, MA, we have a gorgeous new 4-stroke / 8 HP engine that we mounted earlier this season. Plus, Brian Lockwood was able to figure out the issue with our old 3.5 HP machine, which we can now deploy as back-up on one of the large sailboats. Thank you!
Our friends at Any Electron upgraded our communications infrastructure (again), and now we’re even better positioned to get our work done safely and effectively while we provide a more comfortable experience for staff and guests. With state-of-the art equipment and WiFi throughout our core site, Seames and Roy have provided a solid backbone for the business of camp - we even have a shared network drive!
We purchased a new, professional 20'x40' PVC party tent for shade, rainy day programming, and overflow dining, The tent cost us $2,500.
We re-graded the road to the dumpster behind the Rec Hall and Dining Hall. Maintaining this crucial artery for large commercial vehicles and winter access is an important, little-noticed major investment, costing $2,400 in 2019.
The walk-in freezer died during staff training. $3,700 later, we have a new compressor. The machine we were using was 30+ years old and built to run a refrigerator. It lasted us 30 years!
Remember when volunteers put a new roof on the Rec Hall in just 2 days?
Projects on the near-term radar
One of the 50’ foundation walls on the Upper Showerhouse is damaged. Thanks to our friends at Erickson Foundation Supportworks, we installed a temporary fix for the season, but are planning for a major (major) expenditure in the fall. The silver linings; this first attempt at building on our site with a full foundation will inform future projects (anyone know a soil geologist?), and the Erickson crew is the best around - we’re in good hands.
Wanakee’s stately white pines are reaching the end of their life cycle (thus the removal of 7 trees near the Dining Hall). Beyond ongoing safety needs and forest management, many parts of our high ropes course are built on these trees. Major investment awaits.
Our 32-year-old tractor is no longer meeting our needs - we need to upgrade to a ~25 HP hydrostatic machine with a front bucket. This will cost us $10,000+.
We continue to strive for 100 new beds by the end of 2020, a goal rolled out in 2018 (#buyabed). We've already purchased 40 (and greatly improved the camper experience) - each additional 20 will cost us $7,000-$9,000.
Assorted odds and ends that we are tracking: a single phase dishwasher to back-up our current machine (is your church renovating their kitchen?), vehicles, canoes, a utility trailer, a commercial stand mixer, a kitchen cart, a 4WD truck (ours is rusting out), bringing back site 9 by purchasing new yurt equipment (we need a second egress), improvements to the lower showerhouse (a frequent camper request), the Rec Hall porch roof (and fire escape), and more...
Projects on the list for the fall include a new woodshed at the Log Cabin, lots of painting, the upper showerhouse foundation, repairs to siding on the Cook’s Cabin / lower showerhouse, and more.