Hey, Oles! Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel yet? Finals may be next week, but that means summer break is also only a week away! Summer is great, but after a few weeks of laying around and watching TV, it can start to feel a little boring. Here’s a list of fun activities to keep your break active and entertaining and, most of all, budget friendly!Â
1. Visit someplace new in your town. Traveling doesn’t have to break the bank. Exploring your hometown is cheap and you may even find a cool new place to hang out!
2. Volunteer at your local food shelf. Or anywhere, for that matter. Doing things for others feels good and is a great way to spend some free time you might otherwise waste binge-watching the new season of The Bachelorette.
3. Go on a bike ride. Get some fresh air and exercise by going for a spin around town with a few friends. Working out has never been more fun!
4. Camp in your backyard. Pitch a tent behind your house to get that “sleep-under-the-stars” experience you always read about in books. Just make sure you have bug spray!
5. Reread your favorite childhood books. Nothing brings you back to your childhood like “Harry Potter” or “A Series of Unfortunate Events”. Cuddle up with a blanket and dive back into your favorite fantasy worlds (blanket fort optional).
6. Try baking something new. Now is the time to test out all of those recipes you’ve been saving to your Pinterest boards. Give any extras to your neighbors and friends!
7. Go to a local concert. It may not be a national act, but your town likely has some bands that play cheap, or even free shows at restaurants or other common venues. Check them out, and support your local music scene.
8. Sit in the teen section of your library and read all of the gossip magazines. You’ve been reading huge textbooks all year- give your brain a break and read some of those terribly written gossip magazines directed at middle schoolers. We won’t tell.
9. Instead of a bar crawl, go on a cafe crawl. Make a list of all of the cafes in your town and try to hit them all up in one morning with a group of friends. Make a rule that at least one person has to get something at each stop, and everyone has to try a certain number of foods. Endless brunch, anyone?
10. Make friendship bracelets with your best friend. They don’t have to be childish like the ones you made in Girl Scouts- there are tons of designs out there nowadays that make friendship bracelets look edgy and sophisticated.
11. Find the perfect picnic spot. Once you’ve found your spot, pack a fancy lunch and a blanket and dine with your friends. Ignore any onlookers; they’re just jealous of your class.
12. Go to the pool. Actually swim, don’t just lay on a chair and tan. Go on all of the slides and try to do a flip off the diving board.
13. Try a new food. You’ve spent the last nine months eating cafeteria food, so go to a restaurant and try something out of your comfort zone. No need to eat pizza for a while- there’ll be plenty of that waiting for you when you get back.
14. Go to the gym. Now that you don’t have a million papers to write and tests to take, there is finally more time to focus on your fitness. Lots of gyms offer startup deals, so you can get a discount or a few months free when you join.
15. Hit up Goodwill and find a cool new outfit. Stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army are full of hidden treasures; it just takes a little digging to find the true gems. Bring some friends along and see who can get the coolest outfit for the least amount of money.
16. Organize a neighborhood-wide game of Capture the Flag. Divide into teams, hide your flags, and let the games begin!
17. Play a card game with your parents. Your parents are just excited as you are for you to be back home- remember to spend some time with them every once in a while when you’re not running off doing all the other fun things on this list.
18. Go Geocaching. Geocaching is the ultimate scavenger hunt; it provides you with clues to solve  coordinates to find your treasure. You never know what you might find once you reach your destination!
19. Dye your hair a different color. Summer is a time to experiment and try new things, so why not try out a new look? The best thing is that if it looks bad, nobody has to know.
20. Take a dance class. Unleash your inner Beyonce and sign up for a class at your local studio. It’s great exercise and can be a major confidence boost!
21. Reorganize your bedroom. Just shifting around your furniture can give your room a whole new look. You might also come across some old memories while moving your things. Who doesn’t love a good stroll down memory lane?
22. Catch up on Netflix. With finals taking up every second of your life, you’ve been forced to set aside 90210 and Grey’s Anatomy in order to focus. Now’s your time to get back to those shows you’ve been missing!
23. Take a day trip to your closest city. Sometimes it’s good to change up your scenery, and a day trip to a city nearby can do just that. Check out a cool restaurant, go shopping or walk through an art gallery and get a taste of the city life.
24. Go to a museum. Just because you don’t have to go to class doesn’t mean you can’t learn anything new over the summer. Take advantage of any local museums or galleries and pick up some fun facts you can take back with you to school.
25. Sleep! It is summer, after all. Turn off your alarm clock and enjoy the freedom that summer has to offer.
Photos
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