Lake’s a Beach
Monday, July 6th, 2026
LAKE VERONICA circa 2:35pm—The sun bears down from a high angle, popping Lake Veronica’s colors to a nearly neon degree: grass yellow, lilypad green, pennyroyal purple. The water itself absorbs all this optical phenomena into its glassy movement, creating a sort of amorphous stained glass painting.
Two lifeguards swim into position as I walk down the hill to the shoreline. The shade that usually consists of mismatched carports and EZ-Ups has been replaced by a tastefully uniform black fabric, stretched high and wide on an array of poles and guy wires.
I toss my effects in one of the cubbies and head straight for the shoreline.
As I approach, my heart sinks to see that there are no more stairs. My dismay doesn’t last long because, to my amazement, the old rocky drop-off shoreline has been transformed into a sandy beach that gradually glides below the water’s surface.
“Before it was like, ‘One small step for man; one giant leap for small children,’” jokes Lifeguard Shakon. “It’s a beach now, and everybody loves a beach. It’s dope. Lake’s a beach!”
I quickly dip in the water and emerge free from the clutches of the afternoon heat. A minivan arrives, releasing a group of campers who race down the hill to sign in with the Beach Mop. Nearby Waterfront Director Kitty Green and Camper Advocate Silver Morningstar argue whether Camp’s old waterslide was installed in 88 or 91.
“I’ll bet you a shrimp burrito that it was 91!” challenges Silver.
“That would kill me; I’m allergic,” retorts Kitty, completely deadpan.
“Okay, fine. Bean and cheese.”
“The lake is incredibly beautiful this year,” says Kitty. “I love the new shoreline; it’s much safer. And I’m proud of the recent addition of the Chill Pill. It’s a giant floaty just for adults, way over there where Nessied used to be.”
She points across the lake where a large puffy octagon can be seen bobbing in the distance. I turn my attention to the young swimmers who are rapidly beginning to fill the area.
“I came because of the heat,” says Ophelia, 14. “It’s a nice way to cool off. Me and my friends like to float and gossip. We have this game where we ask each other questions and if you get it wrong you have to dunk your head in the water. Frankie is the champion of the dunking game; she knows everyone’s birthdays.”
“My friends convinced me,” says Sasha, 14. “I’m not super glad to be at the Lake. Honestly I’m kind of scared.”
“I came because it’s really hot and I was bored,” says Jojo, 14. “You don’t have to swim the whole time; you can just sit on floaties and chat with your friends. That’s how I convinced Sasha to come.”
“I was feeling hot and my friends were going, so I was like, ‘Why not?’” says Albert, 14. “The water is nicer at the middle of the lake than at the shoreline. Everyone kicks up mud. I really like the lilypads. Sometimes you can see small frogs or dragonflies on them.”
“This is only my second time,” says Pola, 11. “I remember my first time it was slimy and gooey, but I’m ready to give it a second chance. Someone told me that it’s only gooey in shoreline so I’m gonna try to go out further, maybe out to the raft.”
Pola signs up for a Rafter swim test with Kitty, who assigns her to Lifeguard Audrey.
“It’s really funny seeing people try to get into the Chill Pill,” says Audrey. “The have to do this heel-to-ear maneuver, and then they flop over like a beached whale.”
As Audrey and Pola depart for the swim test, Sasha returns from a successful Lake Master challenge, which consists of one unassisted lap around the entire designated swimming area.
“I got Lake Master!” exclaims Sasha. “The water was so refreshing. I’m definitely going to come to the lake more often.”
“Last year I was a Rafter, so I knew I could do it,” says Aniko, fresh from a successful Rafter-level swim test. “It felt super exciting, but I was also out of breath of course. My advice for doing your swim test—or for anything, really—is to breathe deep, don’t give up, and you’ll succeed. You gotta try the Lake at least once.
Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor