A Year of Renovation

by Liz Marshall During the months without program at Miniwanca and Merrowvista, quiet did not last long on the hillsides or the dunes. Facilities teams at both sites took advantage of empty campuses to tackle larger renovation projects that will enhance beloved buildings and grounds. In New Hampshire, Merrowvista Facilities Manager Patrick O’Hagin and Operations Director Amy Simmons seized the chance to make major upgrades to the central Farmhouse office. “With everyone working remotely, it really was a blessing in disguise to have the perfect opportunity to work on the Farmhouse,” said O’Hagin. The new elements include a meeting room, which the Farmhouse had lacked, as well as two phone rooms to allow for privacy when staff connect with clients.

AYF camper parent Amy Dutton donated her time and expertise to make the Farmhouse more functional and inviting for the dozens of staff who use it each year. As an architect and interior designer, Dutton enjoys a strong reputation for bringing full function into existing spaces while elevating their beauty. Dutton did just that for the Farmhouse, honoring the building’s traditional New England style. O’Hagin and Simmons worked with a team of local contractors and carpenters to bring the vision to life, complete with new furnishings, updated light fixtures, and refinished floors. At Miniwanca, a generous donation from advisory board member Pat Mulcahy and family funded extensive renovation of the West Eating Lodge in memory of his daughter, Elizabeth Mulcahy Telthorst. New windows fill out the spacious dining area, allowing air flow and plenty of sunshine into the giant building. Floors were refinished with gleaming stain, lighting and fans were replaced, and electrical systems were upgraded throughout the building. Renovations were completed before the 2021 summer season, allowing the building to be open and ready for the returning campers. These upgrades helped better manage a safe dining environment during the pandemic. Miniwanca Facilities Manager Chad Warner and colleagues were hard at work renovating 55 cabins at Girls Camp and Boys Camp. Along with local carpenters and contractors, they renovated each cabin from the ground up. First, they raised the structures and replaced their foundations. They then reframed each door and window, and they replaced weathered, damaged siding. Each cabin also received new landings, including stairs and handrails, new plywood floors, and a fresh coat of interior and exterior paint. Campers’ first night in the cabins proved much more comfortable this summer, especially when it came to battling mosquitos. “Previously, there were no bug screens, and the tarps for use in inclement weather were on the exterior of the cabins,” Warner explained. Now, a screen covers each window, and new tarps can be lowered from inside the cabin.

Even with these impressive projects completed, there is always more work to be done to improve the buildings and grounds. This summer, Miniwanca campers saw a shuttered Assembly building braced with wooden supports to offset shifting that has compromised its foundation. Work to rebuild this beloved structure for the next generation is set to begin in 2022.

The AYF is deeply grateful for the generous donations from alumni, families, and supporters for the ongoing upkeep of these incredible sites, ensuring they will be ready for more campers next summer.