How are you going to spend this long, long summer

By Lindsey Pendleton Smith

May 6, 2005 | The sun is out, and campus population is slowly dwindling; summer has arrived. For a month now students have been dragging themselves out of bed and hiking up Old Main Hill for the final weeks of coursework. As finals week approaches, students begin counting down the hours until freedom. With summer comes liberation from long library hours, early morning group projects, and "less than nutritious" study snacks. Utah State University students now ask, "What next? How is the entire summer going to be spent?"

Michelle Broadbent, a senior at USU, stated her idea of an ideal summer would be "having a random summer job like filling up boats with gasoline at Bear Lake and having the night to play." Broadbent, who is working on a dual-emphasis of vocal performance and music education, said although she has spent her summers in exotic places she prefers having a summer free of tons of things to do. Broadbent went to Italy for an entire summer with a Juilliard Summer Music Program and studied in the Oberlin, Italy Music Conservatory. She continued by saying the summer that she enjoyed the most was one she spent working a regular 9-5 job during the day which gave her time to participate in religious classes at the Logan LDS Institute of Religion and sing in the Institute choir.

Kirk Ericksen, a graduate of USU in Economics and Anthropology, said he will spend his summer working about twenty hours at the USU Graphics Computer Lab and will be preparing for graduate school. Although he will be very busy with work and studying, Ericksen will enjoy his summer participating in family campouts in Logan Canyon and visiting his brother in Colorado.

Some students will not have the luxury of a long summer break. Many will be participating in the summer session at Utah State University, and others will participate in internships such as Public Relations major, Blaire Saunders. Saunders, a senior at Utah State University, has been doing an internship with the Utah Festival Opera this semester and will continue her assignment this summer. She said it will be a lot of work because this semester has been the preseason for the opera.

"July will be ugly. I will be working about eighty hours a week making posters, brochures, newsletters, and posters, and we will also be working on a television commercial," Saunders said. "I usually spend my summers at Bear Lake getting sand in my teeth and a tan, or riding my bike," she continued. "Even though this summer I will be sacrificing fun, I keep telling myself it will be worth it for the experience."

Many students at Utah State University have already had their summer plans decided months ago, but there are also many families that have lived in Cache Valley for years, and are searching continuously for new, exciting, summer entertainment. Parents in Cache Valley have a large task of keeping their young children entertained for three months, and great ideas on educational activities are hard to find. The Cache Valley Tourist Council has a great Web site packed with links for local activities throughout the summer.

One activity that is sure to have something for all ages is Smithfield Health Days, a celebration held the week of May 9-14, and filled with 4-H activities, a history-based tour of the city, a race, and fireworks. For those who enjoy theater and music, the Old Lyric Repertory Theatre will have a wide variety of nightly summer performances featuring actors and actresses from across the nation. The Old Lyric Theatre is located on 28 West Center Street in Logan. For a personal physical challenge one can participate in the Utah's Best Dam MS 150 Bike Tour, a two-day bicycle excursion held June 25 and 26 that donates all its proceeds to fight Multiple Sclerosis. Individuals may also participate in the famous Cache Valley Cruise-in held June 30 through July 2. This is a weekend full of vintage, hot rod cars, and includes a parade down Main Street.

If Cache Valley Events don't help to pleasingly pass the long, hot August afternoons, try some get-away package ideas at Utah's Best Destinations. For educational ideas visit Kidsource.com, a site that provides many stress-free summer activities that educate as well as entertain. For a list of fun activities for those with a family budget visit www.frugal-families.com and www.girlpower.gov. Some other activities that are absolutely free and can build strong family unity are picnics and barbeques. For great summer recipes visit http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/family/specialfeature/summer-picnics/ and http://www.familyfun.go.com/games/indoor-outdoor-games/specialfeature/sumagg_parties4/ for fun indoor and outdoor games to play at family get togethers.

Whatever your preference for summer entertainment, be sure to take advantage of the long, warm evenings, and savor a tall glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade, because the famous Cache Valley winds will be blowing in soon enough.

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