A Slippery Piece of Lakeview History Is Getting Ready for Its Next Ride
Some camp traditions begin with a master plan.
Others begin with a preschooler, a store-bought slip ’n slide and a few kitchen helpers who decided it looked like way too much fun to ignore.
That, according to Facilities Director John Dobrinski, is how Lakeview’s famous slip ’n slide story started back in 2002. John’s son, Eric, was young at the time and playing on a small slip ’n slide from home. Karen, John’s wife, was serving as the camp cook, and some of the kitchen staff saw Eric playing and wanted to join in during their free time after lunch.
The next week, one of those kitchen helpers was serving as a counselor. She took the idea up a notch, spread a piece of plastic on the hill, and Lakeview campers got their first taste of what would become one of camp’s most beloved summer traditions.
A Hill, a Tarp and a Whole Lot of Momentum
The first versions were simple. A hill. A tarp. Some water. And a little creativity.
Also, apparently, a little too much speed.
Early versions of the slide ran straight down the hill, sending campers flying toward the pool at the bottom. Sometimes they went a little farther than planned, including toward the woods. Over time, the team experimented with sand mounds, boundaries, extra catch areas, and even a double pool to help slow the ride.
Eventually, they learned what every good Lakeview slip ’n slider knows: the curve is everything.
By 2003, the slide had been refined with a pool at the bottom and a better understanding of how to use the hill. The turns helped control speed and made the ride more fun, more manageable, and much less likely to end with an accidental visit to the trees.
From Freedom Slide to Sunshine Slide
In 2010, the slip ’n slide became more permanent, with wooden sides, pool liners, and a dedicated pool at the bottom. That was current Executive Director David “DAV” Vandercar’s first year working at camp as a Facilities Assistant, and he helped lead the project that turned a creative camp experiment into a lasting summer landmark.
For years, campers knew it as the Freedom Slide, complete with a July Fourth theme. The sign was repainted a few times along the way, keeping the tradition fresh while preserving the fun.
In 2020, Elizabeth Knea, who served on Junior Staff, added another important piece by constructing a walkway to the slide for her Eagle Scout project.
Then, in 2022, the slide got a new name and a new look. Skylar “Spice” Clapman, a summer cook, helped design and paint the new sign for what campers now know as the Sunshine Slide.
The name fits. It is bright, joyful and just a little bit legendary.
Making Room for the Rec Center
Now the Sunshine Slide is getting ready for its next chapter.
With construction on Lakeview’s long-awaited Rec Center expected to begin this summer, the current slip ’n slide location will eventually be inside the construction area. Rather than let that stop the fun, the team is moving the slide over and building a new version nearby.
Work has already begun, including during Work Weekend, where volunteers helped prepare the new route. The new slide will not be an exact replica, but it will keep the same spirit: down the hill, around a curve or two, and into a pool at the bottom.
We hope to move the walkway constructed by Elizabeth Knea and rebuild it next to the current slide.
John has been doing the heavy lifting on the design, using his long experience with the land, the slope, and the very important science of how a camper actually rides a slip ’n slide.
The pool at the bottom is also being reworked. Instead of sending riders straight into the pool, the new layout will bring campers in more from the side, with the pool positioned perpendicular to the slide.
Keeping the Tradition Going
The goal is simple: keep the slip ’n slide fun going for the campers!
This summer, campers will still have access to the current slide while the new one takes shape. And once the Rec Center construction begins, Lakeview will be ready with a new place for one of camp’s favorite traditions to continue.
Because at camp, even construction comes with a little joy, a little creativity and, whenever possible, a whole lot of water.
The slip ‘n slide may be moving, but the laughter, memories and downhill momentum are not going anywhere.