Dave Enzler has spent every Labor Day for 11 years at New Beginnings Lake.

Enzler, the director of Recreation, Fitness and Wellness Center, started Labor Day at the Lake in 2000 with multiple colleagues to offer students an opportunity to stay on campus and enjoy a picnic on their day off from classes. Students can spend Sept. 5 at a New Beginnings Lake where games and activities will be available.

“It’s a great time for people to come out and spend the afternoon,” Enzler said. “It’s a traditional Labor Day, end of summer beach party.”

The lake is located about 2 ½ miles west of campus and a 10 minute drive. Signs will line the roads to point students in the right direction.

For students who do not have a car or ride, shuttle busses will be running throughout the day from the apartments, residence halls and the RFWC. Directions will be posted on the RFWC website and handed out at the RFWC.

Once at the lake students will have an array of things to do. They can swim in the lake, go down water slides, paddleboat, play beach volleyball, Frisbee, football, basketball or swing off a trapeze into the water.

“The main thing is definitely the trapeze,” Enzler said. “There is always a big line and every time someone hits the water everyone watching will cheer for them.

Jeannie Kuebler, RFWC administrative assistant, said the turnout ranges anywhere from 300 to 500 students throughout the day. Kuebler has also been with the program since the beginning doing a variety of jobs to make sure everything runs smoothly.

“My main job is to do the shopping for food,” Kuebler said. “I shop around cheapest deals on meat and pick up the food the morning of the picnic.” 

Sticking with the picnic theme, students can make their own sandwiches out of deli meat and munch on chips, potato salad, fruit, ice cream sandwiches and drink lemonade or water. 

The free event will be open to all students and lasts from 1p.m. to 5p.m.