In the winter of 1947 - 1948, The Lansing Department of Recreation formed a skating club on outdoor ice.  It was called the Lansing Skating Club.  By February 1949 the Michigan State College Ice Arena was opened (known in recent years as Demonstration Hall).  The outdoor Lansing Skating Club moved in.  At this time, the Lansing Skating Club applied to the USFSA for probationary membership status.

In 1950, the Lansing Skating Club signed the Articles of Incorporation under the State of Michigan.  In the fall, the club made application for full member club status with the USFSA.  The club was granted full membership on May 12, 1951. Some of the Charter Members have continued their membership to this day.  The major goals of the club as a USFSA affiliate club are to provide the opportunity to further figure skating in all facets and to encourage participation of all members in club activities.

In 1961, a plane crash killed the United States World Figure Skating Team while on their way to the World Championships in Czechoslovakia.  While the figure skating world was sorrowful at this tragedy, the Lansing Skating Club felt the loss even more keenly. On board the plane were five club members.

To give skaters a more competitive experience, in 1974 the Lansing Skating Club sponsored the Lansing Summer Invitational Competition.  In 1976, the name was changed to the Howard E Van Camp Invitational Competition.  Howard was a very dedicated member and judge who was instrumental in forming the State Council of Figure Skating Clubs, plus several other activities within the Lansing Skating Club.  In 1999, we celebrated the 25^th anniversary of this summer tradition.

In 1976, after the renaming of the summer competition, the Howard E Van Camp Committee was formed.  The committee meets twice a year to assist the Board of Governors in the selection of the annual presentation of the Howard E Van Camp Award.  The committee supervises our special Howard E Van Camp Fund which is expanded during the year for annual awards to our competitors in the Eastern Great Lakes Regional, Midwestern Sectional and National Competitions.

In the early 1970's a precision team was formed, known as the Ice Breakers, to enter Precision Team competition.  It successfully competed for many years.   We are beginning to venture into this area again with the addition of the "Rising Stars" Precision Team.

The club has sponsored and sanctioned Club Ice Shows and USFSA Memorial Fund Shows in Lansing in which skaters of all ages and skating levels have participated.  Today, the club still provides many featured skaters to Arc Ice Sports Spring Show.

The club has been fortunate to sponsor test sessions for the figure skating program in Lansing.  These take place throughout the year and attract skaters from other clubs as well.  Skating tests and competitions are all very important activities in a club.  But to have a complete program, the Lansing Skating Club has encouraged its members to become Test and Competition Judges.  The club has sponsored judge schools and seminars to encourage members to work towards higher appointments and to trial judge to earn the Low Test or Bronze Dance Appointment.

We have celebrated our 40th year of skating together as a club.   In fact, there are only 135 active clubs nationally that are older than the Lansing Skating Club.  We hope that through your interest and support we can keep this wonderful tradition of the Lansing Skating Club growing for many years.

Please join us at our home ice located at: Suburban Ice East Lansing 2810 Hannah Blvd. East Lansing, MI 48823

We are a U.S. Figure Skating sanctioned non-profit organization for the sole purpose of promoting and encouraging skaters in single, pair and team skating.