Mankato Free Press (December 2025) — MADISON LAKE — Margie and Phil Slingsby of Mankato both have strong personal reasons for establishing a $100,000 pledge match to go toward major renovations at Kiwanis Camp Patterson on Lake Washington.
For Margie, it’s her own memories of what attending Bible camp as a youth meant to her and wanting to assure Mankato area youth have the same opportunity. For Phil, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Mankato that runs the camp, it seemed a natural progression from years of volunteering and serving on committees.
When Phil realized Kiwanis Camp Patterson Inc. was within $200,000 of reaching its $1.3 million goal, the amount seemed a no-brainer. As construction costs continue to rise, the hope is to exceed the original goal to assure projects can be completed as planned and in time for the 100th year in summer 2027.
Margie said camp took place over her summertime birthday, so she got to be in the pool as part of the celebration. When she got home, the cake her mother made included a Bible.
“I just burst into tears and said, ‘I didn’t want to come home.’ I had just too much fun, and that experience makes me want to create that experience for other kids as well,” she said.
Phil realizes amenities during the week in attendance can make a big difference to youth who attend what he calls “a semi-rustic outdoor-type camp for kids.” In the past he has helped with cleaning up after storms or in preparation for the three months of camp each summer, when 2,600 young people attend.
“How many kids have probably never slept in a sleeping bag and just a real basic cabin, or been in a kayak or a canoe, or even swam in a lake. And some have some fishing experiences (while there) that they’ve never had before,” he said. Memories of those experiences will last a lifetime, he added.
By utilizing their established fund with the Mankato Area Foundation, it was easier for the couple to set up the match pledge. Money raised will go directly toward the building of a bathhouse with restrooms and showers that are severely undersized for the number of campers on site at any time during the summer, according to plans. A counselors’ cabin to replace a decrepit and underutilized two-bedroom house is also planned.
Besides only accommodating four campers of each gender at a time, with long and non-private shower lines for the 200 there any week, the bathhouse building now is not accessible for children with special needs.
The bathhouse also will get a large canopy area that extends into an open field that will offer campers the chance to participate in outdoor activities even if the weather is extremely hot, sunny or rainy.
In addition to bringing facilities up to date, the hope with this project is to continue to anticipate what campers will need in the future, said Shannon Gullickson, president of Camp Patterson Inc., which started a strategic assessment of the property in 2018-19.
“Our need is to try to be as helpful for the current camps, to make sure they we build what they need, but also to anticipate the needs of future groups and future youth campers,” she said. As they continue to tick off items that came forward from that assessment, they are getting closer to that goal.
Among the items from that long list that have been addressed so far:
• The dining hall was expanded to 1.5 times its original size, with improvements made to the kitchen equipment; a patio and air conditioning were added, with a lower patio facing the lake added.
• Improvements were completed on the 10 cabins, including swinging doors, new windows and curtains, wheelchair ramps and more accessible sidewalks connecting them to other buildings.
• The recreation building was remodeled and gained AC and the main parking lot improved. Le Sueur County assisted to improve overall drainage as well.
When fundraising goals are met, plans are to begin renovations after the close of camp in August 2026, with work completed for the camp’s centennial season in 2027.
Among the organizations holding camps at Kiwanis Camp Patterson are Celebrate Me Week, the Mankato YMCA, Camp OZ, Royal Family Kids and Blue Earth County 4H.
This is not the first matching grant that has been received. The Taylor Foundation issued a $500,000 pledge, which has been matched. Gullickson expressed great appreciation to businesses and organizations that have stepped up so far; they will be recognized at the camp.
“We’re just so grateful — for all of the support that we’ve received so far,” Gullickson said. “It is astonishing to see how supportive the community members are for what we’re doing at the camp.”
No additional large campaigns are planned, but money not used now will go toward future upkeep and maintenance.
How to donate
Through a matching program set up by Phil and Margie Slingsby to benefit Kiwanis Camp Patterson, every dollar a business or individual donates is matched up to $100,000. This doubles the impact of the gift. Donations can be paid in full or paid over multiple years.
To donate or to see more about past improvements and future plans, visit the website at mankatokiwanis.org, or checks may be mailed to: Mankato Kiwanis, P.O. Box 4334, Mankato, MN 56002