Retreats and Rentals at Wanakee
The farmhouse in the fall. The water gets turned off in late October each year!
As soon as summer camp 2019 concluded, we jumped into the busy fall retreat season hosting a wide range of groups and events. The season kicked off with a wedding for members of a partner UMC congregation in the Seacoast area. The couple had not been to Wanakee until they started looking for a place to celebrate their wedding. Growing up in the midwest, the bride was a longtime camper at another United Methodist camp. We were honored that the couple chose us to be the venue for their special day, and grateful to continue their lifelong connection to Camp and Retreat Ministries.
Over Labor Day weekend, we hosted a day of team building for 80+ students and teachers from a nearby school. They swam, canoed, climbed in the ropes course, ate s’mores, and more.
The Dining Hall with tables set for lunch on a fall weekend.
The following weekend we welcomed the Granite State Ringers, a bell choir who have spent a weekend with us every September for ~15 years. Members of GSR put in long hours at Wanakee as they prepared for their winter concert (one more chance to hear them on Sunday!). The final large event of the fall was a group of ~35 students from a Massachusetts university who have high potential and need high support to realize that potential. While at Wanakee, they participated in activities focused on diversity and resilience.
In addition to these events, we offered 3 Wanakee programs this fall. In September, longtime volunteers Carrie Way and Jane Sample led an autumn edition of “Wild Wanakee Women,” our semi-annual women’s retreat. Some women were attending for the first time, others for the 5th (or more!). This weekend provided time and space to relax and take a break from the pressures of everyday life while enjoying time in fellowship with other Christian women.
Middle schoolers enjoying Family Camp in the fall
In October, we hosted a Middle School retreat, our first youth event of the year. We had 8 registrations within 24 hours and the event was at capacity within a week. We quickly realized that this event is filling a need that we had not been serving - we’re excited to offer more events for this age group in the future. In early November, it was time for our Senior High Retreat. This event was also at capacity!
Retreat weekends provide an opportunity for campers to reconnect with old friends, make new connections, and spend time in an accepting community away from the pressures of school. We play games, explore the site in a different season, sing camp songs around the fire, and eat lots and lots of Oreos. On Sunday morning, we conclude our time together with worship in the cozy living room. We are excited that the youth we welcomed this fall represented 18 different United Methodist congregations around New England. Wanakee is a place where children and teens can build relationships across church communities and/or attend events with the same goals as the “youth group” of 20 years ago, which are less and less common in small to mid-size churches. This is an important part of how we serve and partner with local congregations.
Church looks different in a Log Cabin on a Sunday morning
We are so fortunate to have a year-round building that can accommodate events like these. In September, a parent reached out to let us know that her daughter had been having a hard time with the transition to middle school and that the retreat was coming at the perfect time. This parent shared that “the confidence, friendships, and grace in God that Wanakee has provided keep her - and us - going”. The opportunity to welcome campers in the offseason is invaluable. It is a reminder of the community and radical acceptance that is a pillar of who we are during the summer months.
We are looking forward to many meaningful winter events, including Wild Wanakee Women (1-24-1/26) and our next Senior High Retreat (2/14-2/16). We hope to welcome you!
Grace and Peace,
Hannah Cote, Assistant Director
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Hannah has served as Wanakee’s Assistant Director since January 2018, and leads our retreat programs, summer camp volunteers, and summer program design, among many other things. We are looking to broaden who you hear from at Wanakee by providing a wider range of blog-style posts. If you have an article related to camp that you’d like to share, drop us an email! mail@wanakee.org