Thoughts on Summer and What's Next
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.
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.”
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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