Swimming & the Beach
A real swimming beach on Lake Lincoln—the group’s midday cool-off headquarters.
Table of Contents
- The Lake Lincoln Beach
- Water-Safety Rules for the Group
- Beach Day Kit
- Make It a Half-Day
- Creek Cooling (a fun alternative)
The Lake Lincoln Beach
At the north end of Lake Lincoln there’s a clean public swimming beach with a change house and restrooms. It’s the easiest way to cool off twelve people on a hot July afternoon.
- Hours: open seasonally, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Swim only in the designated beach area—it’s the only place swimming is allowed.
- No lifeguard: this is swim-at-your-own-risk. Adults watch the kids, always.
Lake Lincoln’s swim beach. Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA).
Water-Safety Rules for the Group
With five kids ages 1–12, set the rules on day one:
- An adult is always on “water watch.” Assign it like a shift—eyes on the kids, no phone, rotate every 20–30 minutes.
- Little kids wear a properly fitted life jacket in and near the water.
- Buddy system—nobody swims alone, kids stay within the marked area.
- Know the bottom: wade in to check depth and footing before kids charge in.
- Out at the first thunder. Lightning means everyone out of the water immediately.
- Reapply sunscreen every couple hours—water + reflection burns fast.
Beach Day Kit
- Towels (a couple per kid—they vanish)
- Life jackets for little ones
- Swim diapers for the youngest
- Sand toys, a bucket, maybe a small beach shade/umbrella
- Water shoes (rocky entry)
- Goggles
- Drinking water + snacks (the snack supply runs the beach)
- Dry clothes bag for after
- Sunscreen SPF 50+ and a hat
Make It a Half-Day
Pair the beach with the paddling and fishing spots nearby:
- Morning: paddle the cool, glassy lake.
- Midday: beach + lunch in the shade during the hottest hours.
- Afternoon: bank fishing for bluegill right off the shoreline.
That’s a full, low-stress day that keeps everyone—from the 1-year-old to the grandparents—happy and cool.
Creek Cooling (a fun alternative)
When the beach is busy, wading Big Sugar Creek is a hit: clear, shallow, rocky, and full of crawdads and minnows to chase. Water shoes are a must (rocky bottom), and the same rules apply—an adult in the water with the little ones, and out if it storms or the water’s up.