By Courtney Diddell and Alexia Orosco, Reporters
Spending the majority of her day outside and staying active on a daily basis, senior Jenn Howland enjoys the outdoors.
“Summer’s my favorite season because I get to see friends and be outside,” Howland said.
As the school year draws to a close, many Kaneland students are looking forward to a summer filled with activity and fun.
Whether people are participating in outdoor sports, spending a day by the pool, or just hanging out with friends, experts suggest that it’s always good to stay outside and be active.
School Nurses Barb Giese and Heather Beulow say that research shows that allergies decrease due to the amount of fresh air outdoors, and artifical light doesn’t give as much vitamin D that people can get from natural sunlight.
“Emotionally. the sun makes you feel better because of hormone melatonin, so going outside makes you feel better in general rather than spending a day inside,” Beulow said.
According to the National Environmental Education Foundation, parks are everywhere, are often free or low cost, and offer a variety of outdoor, healthy activities for people of all ages and abilities.
Along with the good attitude that comes with being active outdoors, the longer people are outside, the better sleep they will get at night, Giese and Beulow said.
“I feel a lot happier and healthier when I’m outside,” Howland said.
PERFECT, SUNNY DAYS
Running out of ideas for what to do on those perfect sunny days?
The National Summer Learning Association said that parents consistently cite summer as the most difficult time to ensure that their children have productive things to do.
While some athletes, like freshman Ben Barnes, will be at football practice nearly every day this summer, most Kaneland students will be looking for something fun and cheap to do.
The sun makes people feel better and keeps everyone healthy, so plan activities with friends such as a picnic, barbecue or a day at the beach.
Running out of ideas for what to do on those perfect sunny days?
The National Summer Learning Association said that parents consistently cite summer as the most difficult time to ensure that their children have productive things to do.
While some athletes, like freshman Ben Barnes, will be at football practice nearly every day this summer, most Kaneland students will be looking for something fun and cheap to do.
The sun makes people feel better and keeps everyone healthy, so plan activities with friends such as a picnic, barbecue or a day at the beach.
Running out of ideas for what to do on those perfect sunny days?
The National Summer Learning Association said that parents consistently cite summer as the most difficult time to ensure that their children have productive things to do.
While some athletes, like freshman Ben Barnes, will be at football practice nearly every day this summer, most Kaneland students will be looking for something fun and cheap to do.
The sun makes people feel better and keeps everyone healthy, so plan activities with friends such as a picnic, barbecue or a day at the beach.
Picnic or barbecue
A picnic or barbecue is a perfect activity if people are looking for a place to get out and relax.
“I like picnics with family because it gives us time to bond,” freshman Tori Guyton said.
Beach
The North Avenue Beach in Chicago has tons of activities to keep everyone busy, with a running and biking path, volleyball tournaments and water shows. Check out the beach at 1600 N. Lake Shore Dr. in Chicago; it’s open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
HOT, HUMID DAYS
Hot humid days are often uncomfortable and make people want to stay inside.
The Health and Hospital Corporation said that fans alone do not offer appropriate cooling to provide for a healthy situation, and heat stress causes changes to a person’s mental health.
Consider activities involving water to stay cool and healthy.
Hold a carwash with a group of friends or take a dip at the nearest water park, like Raging Waves in nearby Yorkville or Six Flags Hurricane Harbor for a longer day trip.
Water Park
Beat the heat with tons of water rides, a giant wavepool, a relaxing lazy river and concessions at Chicago’s largest water park, Raging Waves, or at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor.
“My favorite ride at both water parks is the Tornado because the thrill of the drop gets me everytime,” freshman Katrina Paulick said.
Raging Waves is located at 4000 N. Bridge St. in Yorkville and starting on May 26 it’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Season passes are $109.95; a one-day ticket runs $28.
Head an hour northeast for Six Flags Raging Waves, located at 542 N. Route 21 in Gurnee; the waterpark is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and tickets are $59 a day.
Car Wash
Car washes are a good way to raise money and can be just a fun activity to take part in.
Get a group of people together—a sports team, a club, or a group of friends or family—and find a busy local street or location so that people driving by will notice the car wash.
“Getting people to come is the hardest challenge, but it’s fun to be out there with your team,” junior Alex Lyons said.
People should be leaving the car wash cleaner than they came, so purchasing the right car cleaning supplies for windows and the exterior of the vehicle is extremely important.
Don’t make the experience about how much money you earn; make the cost cheap and affordable and just have a good time.
WINDY DAYS
Windy days may not be ideal for swimming or picnicking—nobody wants to chase items blowing away.
But that strong breeze is perfect for sailing or flying kites, which are easy ways to stay active even when the wind picks up.
Check the forecast before heading out, in case a storm is heading in or the gusts are so strong it’s becoming dangerous. Those who want to sail should take a class first, which will teach basic water safety as well as the operation of a sailboat, both essential for successful sailing.
Sailing
Sailing in Chicago is a great idea for a windy day. Take lessons or enjoy a tour and have a relaxing day on the water. To rent sail boats or sign up for a lesson, contact the Chicago Yacht Club at Monroe Harbor Station, located at 400 E. Monroe St., Chicago. Call 312-861-7777 ext. 4952 for more information. Price ranges from $30-$130
Kite Flying
Flying kites is a classic way to get outside on a windy day with friends or family.
Senior Mark Linden said he would enjoy a day of kite flying because it’s time consuming and enjoyable with a big group of friends.
Buy a kite or make one, kite flying is a relaxing and pleasant idea.
RAINY DAYS
The biggest obstacle to overcome in the summer is a miserable rainy day, but places like Hawaii have up to 350 rainy days a year and that doesn’t stop them from adoring their weather.Why should it stop Kaneland students?
If it’s a drizzly, damp day, get outside and take the risk of an adventurous day of mudsliding. Otherwise, if the weather is unsafe and destructable, plan out an indoor movie day. “I try not to let rainy days effect my plans,” freshman Katrina Paulick said.
Movie Marathon
Senior Zach Douglas said he prefers a movie marathon on a rainy day, because he’s trapped inside with nothing better to do.
“Watching movies kills time, and I get really into it. Horror movies are my favorite because I like being scared, and then getting over my fears,” sophomore Edger Villafuerte said.
From comedies to romantic dramas, from horror films to chick flicks, there are tons of different movies to watch on a gloomy, rainy day.
Try renting movies on Netflix or go to the nearest Redbox to find almost any movie genre imaginable.
Mudsliding
Slip into summer by trying mudsliding, a messy but recreational way to enjoy a rainy day outdoors. A creek or a river with a forest nearby is an ideal place for mudsliding, or just setting up a slip n’ slide and slathering it with mud.
Creating a mud slide on a hill is a more entertaining and dirty mud sliding experience, and an easier way to get more speed. Wear appropriate clothing and make sure there’s no hazards on the course that might cause injuries and no bodies of water nearby.
For more ideas, and add obstacles to a mud slide, such as rope climbing or tubing. Prepare to get muddy.