Opinion: Ways to enjoy summer break
As a southern Utah native used to red sand and sometimes triple-digit temperatures, I was surprised by the perfect day when I first visited Logan in the summertime, a place I often heard my dad refer to as the “Great White North.” I floated on First Dam and enjoyed the beauty of Cache Valley in a way I didn’t know was possible. In this spirit of summer, I want to share some tips and tricks for recreating and enjoying this upcoming warm season.
Tip number one: Get involved in your community!
Whether it’s a club you want to join, a new class you want to take or somewhere you are interested in volunteering or helping out, discover ways to make connections and find belonging in your area. My personal favorite place to volunteer and feel involved with is the Cache Humane Society. They offer opportunities to take pets from the shelter on day trips and the chance to volunteer inside the society with any needs they may have there. Who doesn’t love the opportunity to spend some time with a furry little — or big — friend? More information on how to get involved can be found on their website cachehumane.org
Tip number two: Attend local events
Cache Valley is a hub of local activities and neighborhood gatherings, and these often ramp up in the summer because it’s warm enough to hold events outside. Some things I am excited for this summer include the Lyric Repertory Company and the Cache Valley Gardeners’ Market’s upcoming seasons.
Lyric Rep has four shows they are working on this summer, including “Bright Star” by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell and “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde. Both of those shows will play during the summer at the Morgan Theatre in the Utah State University Daryl Chase Fine Arts Center. More information about the other shows playing and the dates and times of the Lyric Rep’s summer set can be found at usu.edu/lyricrep.
The gardeners’ market began its season on May 10, the Saturday before Mother’s Day, and will continue every Saturday through mid-October. The market is held behind the Historic Courthouse at 199 North Main St. from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Throughout the upcoming weekends, the market will welcome musicians to perform live for patrons of the market, which sounds pretty exciting to me.
Tip number three: Recreate responsibly
Logan is a hub for outdoor recreation, with a wide and impressive variety of hiking and biking trails and chances to play, paddle and fish in the water. One of the most important things to remember when enjoying the great outdoors is to recreate responsibly. Places around Logan that people enjoy recreating at, like Bear Lake, get thousands of visitors. According to recreateresponsibly.org, “It’s important to remain understanding, respectful, and open to learning from others.” Commit to making their visit, as well as your own, enjoyable. You can do this by cleaning up after yourself, leaving a place better than you found it and considering how your actions will impact the place you are recreating in and the people around you trying to enjoy it.
Regardless of how you choose to spend your time from now until school is back in full session, please remember to be safe and have fun!