School’s out. Summer break is here. Now the question becomes, “How am I going to spend my summer?” Whether your goal is to take on a part-time job, relax, or be adventurous, these 10 ways to spend your summer are worth considering. (Note: Some of these require some advance planning.)
1. Advance a nonprofit’s mission. Invest in both your career and your community by interning with a charity. Pair your education with what a group needs most — whether that’s marketing, accounting, engineering,
or business skills.
2. Do scientific research — in Antarctica. Assist with one of many scientific studies ranging from tropical ecosystems to cyberstructure through Research Experiences for Undergraduates, even if you aren’t keen on arctic exploration.
3. Teach English in Tanzania. Support a local school, go on a safari, and then cap your summer with a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro.
4. Be a V.I.P. with the National Park Service. Volunteers-in-Parks lead nature walks, patrol beaches, give historical presentations in period costumes, build fences, paint buildings, and more.
5. Take a whirlwind tour of Europe. Visit 12 cities in 10 countries over 35 days as part of a summer program like Wake Forest’s EuroTour.
6. Train for a triathlon. You don’t have to aim for Ironman to get the health benefits of triathlon training. Check your community events or organize a race among friends.
7. Cycle alongside a soldier. Sign up for Soldier Ride (sr.woundedwarriorproject.org), a cycling event in cities across the U.S. that empowers wounded warriors to heal from physical and mental injuries.
8. Be a theme park character. If you can sing, dance, walk on stilts, juggle, or otherwise entertain large audiences of small people, apply to work as your favorite amusement park character.
9. Work on a ranch. While saddling horses and wrangling steer might not be transferable skills, the vistas in Jackson Hole, Wyo., or Whitefish, Mont., will expand any city slicker’s sense of awe and wonder.
10. Be a tourist in your own hometown. Take a few friends along to all the places where visitors experience the local culture and heritage — like historic sites, museums, live music venues, and homegrown eateries.