Staff Profile: Josh “Flynn Slider” Green

For Flynn Slider, Pine Cove has been more than just a summer job—it’s been a story of saying “yes” to where God leads. In this interview, Josh reflects on his time at camp, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and what makes the Ranch such a special place. Plus, he shares the wild story behind his camp name and his ultimate dream concert lineup!

How’d you get to Pine Cove?
My story’s a little different. I was a camper growing up, but I didn’t start following the Lord until midway through my junior year of college. After I got saved, I wanted to serve and figure out what was next. I remembered Pine Cove and how much I looked up to the staffers, and I felt like maybe that’s where God wanted me to go. So, I applied in March of 2021, clicked every box—any region, any camp, any position. Ben Gasaway called me on my birthday and offered me a job at the Woods. It was a great birthday present! I was going into my senior year, but I was able to get three summers with Pine Cove. 

After that, I did the Forge, then returned as a work crew director. I didn’t have a full-time job lined up, but when I got the offer to work at the Ranch, it felt like the next step. I’ve learned a lot and am thankful for my experiences.

Tell us about your family!
I have awesome parents who love the Lord. I have an older sister who’s 27, and another older sibling. Growing up, we spent a lot of time at the Woods, going there for vacation for 10 or 11 years. Pine Cove was a huge part of my childhood. Our family dynamics are pretty chill, especially during holidays—nothing too crazy. We’re from Houston, so we’re really passionate about Houston sports, especially the Texans and Astros, and we enjoy watching games together. It’s been fun transitioning into an adult friendship with my parents. I’m still their son, but now it’s cool to also be friends with them.

How’d you get your camp name?
So when I worked my first summer, I got on stage with this flow hairstyle—kind of long hair and a goatee—and everyone thought I looked like Flynn Rider from Tangled. I’d never heard that before, but everyone kept saying, “Oh my gosh, you look just like him!” Then I got asked to share an embarrassing story, and I told one about how as a kid, I used to slide down the stairs in a sleeping bag with my childhood best friend. One time, I hit my head on the tile floor, got a concussion, and tried to push through the day. We were supposed to go to the movies, so our parents dropped us off, but I was totally out of it. I ended up throwing up in the movie theater—it was bad. So, combining the Flynn Rider look and the sliding down stairs story, they came up with the name “Flynn Slider.” And that’s it!

What does your ideal Saturday look like?
It would definitely include a visit to Likewise coffee shop. I don’t make coffee at home—if I’m having coffee, it’s a treat. So, I’d get coffee from Likewise, spend some time in the Word, and pray. I’d also love to catch some college football on a Saturday. For the afternoon, I’d go fishing—late afternoon or evening fishing is the best. Then, I’d cook dinner—usually just grass-fed ground beef and sweet potatoes—and hang out with my roommates. Nothing too extravagant, but that sounds pretty restful and good to me.

Tell us about your high school activities, and whether or not you ever competed against any future Super Bowl MVPs.
I was pretty involved in high school, and football was definitely the biggest activity, taking up most of my time in and out of season. Our coaches pretty much made us run track, but I’d do anything to avoid it—soccer, wrestling, powerlifting, whatever. I didn’t care for soccer, but I’d play just to get out of track season. In one of the powerlifting meets, there was this guy from Channelview High School named Jalen Hurts, and we were lifting against each other. There was no competition—he was just freakishly strong. This was in 2017, and now he’s a Super Bowl champion. It’s crazy looking back on that—he’s always been super strong, and his dad was a powerlifting coach.

What’s the biggest lesson you learned in the Forge?
There are so many takeaways, but the biggest one is how to view everyday life through a new lens. This lesson kind of came organically during the Forge, particularly through an assignment where we read Handbook to Prayer. It’s basically a guided prayer, not really a devotional, but I remember one day after finishing that book, I thought to myself, “I’m caught up on everything—prayers, Bible reading, essays.” I felt good about where I was in the Forge, but then the Lord convicted me with a question: “Did you do any of this to enjoy Me more?” I realized that I had been focusing on being disciplined instead of actually enjoying God. I had another Forge brother ask me if I was enjoying God, and I realized the answer was no. So, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is to use those disciplines to deepen my enjoyment of God. That’s been huge, and the Lord has continued to show me how to do this in my life now.

Do you have a favorite skit you’ve participated in at camp?
Yes! One of my favorites was during my last summer at the Woods. That summer, there was a theme where we did choreographed dances in skits, and we stayed up late putting together these routines. One week, there was a skit where the “good guys” were a Swedish dance group called Dink, who broke up and then got back together to face another dance group in a competition. I led the bad guys in the dance battle, and we only had one night to prepare our routine. We stayed up late putting together a dance to I Need a Hero—it was a blast. We all had ridiculous costumes, and the amount of effort we put into it was pretty unnecessary, but it was so much fun. Every time I hear that song now, all I think about is that! dance!

What made you get into photography and videography?
Before I started my first summer on staff, I was really interested in real estate photography but had no knowledge of photography. I bought a super basic DSLR camera and only knew how to use auto mode. I put that on my summer staff application, saying, “I have a camera and shoot in auto mode, that’s it.” Then, Ben Gasaway offered me a second-half photography job, and I figured I’d learn. During training week, I remember taking my first good photo, editing it, and thinking, “This is awesome!” It was my first time having a creative outlet like this, and I loved it. I spent the summer taking sunrise photos and experimenting. I used my paycheck to buy a better camera and started doing senior photos for friends and even weddings. It was a fun way to make money in college. Pine Cove really helped me realize my passion for photography, and I’m grateful for that.

If you could see any artist in concert (from any time in history), who would you choose to see?
The opener would definitely be Zach Bryan, and I’d say Michael Jackson would be an awesome headliner. As for the closer, I love the Band Camino and think they’d be a great way to end the show.

What makes the Ranch unique?
That’s a great question because even if you’ve never been to the Ranch, you can just tell it’s unique. I remember my first summer at the Woods, seeing the Ranch staff do something crazy during orientation, and I looked at my friends from the Woods and was like, “What are they doing?” They just said, “That’s the Ranch!” As I’ve spent more time here, I’ve noticed that everything is a bit of a running joke, and the staff and campers just lean into it. The culture is full of funny bits, like the lore of Jiggs, that make the Ranch stand out. I think a big part of what makes it unique is the staff we hire. They’re really well-rounded—they can be wild and fun, but also know how to connect with sixth and seventh graders. I’m still figuring out what makes the Ranch so special, but it definitely has a fun, unique vibe.

When recruiting, what’s your favorite gas station snack?
Definitely a Celsius for the drink. As for snacks, I love Cliff bars—I see them at most gas stations, so I always grab one!

What’s the Lord been teaching you in this season?
The Lord has been reshaping my perspective on intimacy with Him. I’ve been wrestling with whether obedience leads to intimacy or intimacy leads to obedience. For a while, I thought practicing disciplines would help me be more intimate with God and lead to obedience. But lately, I’ve realized that obedience actually builds trust and intimacy with God, and through that, I get to enjoy Him more. It’s a shift in perspective, but it’s been huge for me. Obedience is the key to protecting the intimacy I already have with Him. So, intimacy is still the goal, but obedience is the path that keeps it alive.