Societal Issues Targeted
- Promoting the concept of unity among people to create a local community resource together… and have fun
“Adults are just outdated children. Age doesn’t out-date you; not finding time to play does!”
Intro
Imagine setting up a massive slide stretching down the biggest hill in your town, open for all and bringing together people of all ages for a day of fun and laughter. This Slip n Slide event is all about community, playfulness, and teaching the principles of creating shared resources that everyone can enjoy.
How to Organize
- Gather a group of 10 to 20 people willing to contribute around £5 each, or self-fund if you’re feeling a bit generous (and skip to step 3).
- Set up a quick shared-pay app, here’s a few suggestions. If enough people join in, you can purchase the slide together. If not, you can put the activity off for a later date and you won’t be left out of pocket.
- Make some big signs so anyone passing by can also join in
- Bring the slide to the steepest hill on public land in your area. and ask participants to bring 2 bottles of baby oil and a bottle of water also helps. We’ve used bath soap, dish soap, etc, but baby oil does get the best results, and you can find bio-degradable ones fairly easily.
- You now own a GIANT slide, so you can repeat the fun as often as you like!
- Share photos and videos with us to spread the joy even further, and inspire others.
Slide Suggestion
- Poly Sheeting (Plastic Sheeting)
- 8mm thickness
- 10 Feet x 100 Feet length
- Costs around £60
- I got ours from eBay
Pro-Tips
- Clothes absorb baby oil and wipe it off. Going naked would be optimal for slipperyness, but we want to keep the activity family appropriate. The general rule for quality sliding is: ‘less is more, within the limits of decency’.
- Avoid mixing other liquids like detergent and shower soap with baby oil, as they counteract each other, and aren’t nice for the environment.
- Bring some pool noodles. Have two people try to stay standing on the way down, and battle each other with the noodles.
- Advise people to bring googles as the baby oil will lead to sore red eyes
- Being near a water source to fill your bottles from is very helpful!
Benefits
Playfulness has scientifically backed benefits! Research suggests that playful individuals use more adaptive, stressor-focused coping strategies and are less likely to employ negative, avoidant, and escape-oriented strategies. Playfulness is also an important component of healthy ageing in older adults.
Our world deserves more opportunities for unexpected community playfulness.
Legal Stuff
If the event grows large you might attract police attention. In the UK, you can apply for a Temporary Events Notice (T.E.N), but I believe the right to gather in public for positive activities should be protected. I’ve rarely applied for a T.E.N and have had regular discussions with the police during activities. After explaining that it’s a community activity with no money being exchanged, they’ve never stopped us. We were once asked to move, but the officer suggested another nearby location.
You’re bringing some equipment you own to a park and other people are choosing to use it with you. Its like bringing a ball or slack-line to a park. If someone gets injured, like breaking an ankle, it’s unfortunate but not your fault unless the setup was clearly dangerous. Be sensible, and try it out yourself first. Check for rocks and big dips underneath it are a possible cause of injury when your sliding over them at speed.