The sun is finally out, the days feel endless, and warm weather finally arises in the summer. Boredom should not even be an option when there are endless opportunities to be out and about. Doomscrolling, laying in bed, and camping out inside should not be an option this summer, especially when there are so many activities people can participate in.
Many people view summer as a relaxing, fun, long break that students look forward to at the end of the school year. Mackenzie Cowan, a 10th grade student from Northern Valley Demarest, suggests that she enjoys her summers because of limited work and free time.
“The ‘summer feel’ for me includes having no school, being able to see my friends whenever, and going to the beach,” Cowan said.
Similar to this, students imagine the perfect summer day as splash time. Whether that would be in a lake, pool, or ocean, people like to get cooled off by water from the beaming sun. Another 10th grade student, Max Davis, states that he relishes the days where he gets to be with his friends in some type of body of water.
“The perfect summer day consists of some kind of water element. Whether that be a pool, ocean, or lake, this allows me to get out of the summer sun if I feel I am getting too hot. Furthermore, being with my friends makes the day better as I am with people I enjoy being around,” Davis said.
Students can also find other activities to do with their friends outside of a pool. Reynen Bullicer, a sophomore in high school, says that he appreciates when he and his friends engage in activities that make them feel productive.
“Going to the park with friends to play basketball and get a workout helps me stay active during long, summer days. Volunteering to help others is a way to avoid getting bored, too,” Bullicer said.
When people have a lot of free time in the summer, they tend to develop new hobbies randomly. The free time gives students a chance to discover new activities and options they enjoy.
“A new hobby that I discovered during summer break is traveling. I have always liked traveling but I like visiting the different parts of wherever I go,” Cowan said.
New food and drink options are also discovered throughout the summer days because people have time to travel to further breakfast, lunch, and dinner places. This increases the chances of finding new niche places.
“I discovered I really like playa bowls over summer break. I used to drink the smoothies but I started getting the actual bowls over the summer,” Davis said.
When students are participating in these activities throughout the summer, doing it with friends usually makes it more entertaining. Since school limits the amount of hangout time for most people, students use this time to socialize and spend time together.
“It’s very important to hang out with your friends because you don’t really see them that much after a school day ends. It could also be difficult to see them throughout the school year,” Bullicer said.
Burning out bank accounts is not ideal, especially on a cheap budget. Even though most camps and sports cost a lot of money, there are also some ways to get outside and enjoy the beautiful day without spending too much money.
“Ways to have fun without spending too much money is by exploring nature through hiking, biking, or walking around. Doing cheap DIY projects is fun, too,” Bullicer said.
Students from Northern Valley Demarest recommend that everyone should try new activities at least once throughout their summers. Movie nights, becoming a camp counselor, getting a summer job, bonfires, and volunteering are all great ways to keep summer entertaining. These activities also help avoid boredom at all costs.
“Having a fire pit is good to have on a cool summer night. It’s a calm relaxing activity to do with friends and finishes off a fun summer day filled with activities,” Davis said.
