As summer vacation begins, I am reminded of a song I sang as a child.
“Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you fish in a stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by?
Is that what you do? So do I!
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Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool, or swing in a tree up high?
Is that what you do? So do I!
Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?
Do you march in parades, or drink lemonades, or count all the stars in the sky?
Is that what you do? So do I!”
Summer is a good time to relax, slow down and enjoy the outdoors. What are your plans for the summer? I love to read, but as a teacher I struggle to find time to read for fun during the school year. Summer is the perfect time to fit in some of that leisure reading.
To add some motivation to read in the summer, join Bartholomew County Public Library’s summer reading program. This year’s theme is “Libraries Rock!” and there are several options for people of all ages to earn prizes. You can read five books or read for 500 minutes, you can fill out a bingo card that includes activities centered around reading and music, or you can check out a book to learn something new and then write or draw what you learned. There is no cost to participate — an added benefit as I like to find low-cost activities.
Spending time outdoors is another activity I enjoy and make time for in the summer. We have lots of local options with little to no cost. You can visit a local park, walk or bike on the People Trails, or swim at Donner Pool. You can travel farther to a nearby state park for camping, fishing, hiking and mountain biking. Brown County State Park, our closest state park, also offers horseback riding. Park admission is only $7 a car for Indiana residents.
Many events happen outdoors, too. The Columbus Area Arts Council sponsors Live on the Plaza, this year featuring Time for Three, a string group, at 7 p.m. June 15 on the library plaza, along with JCB Neighborfest on the first Thursdays of the summer months at 6 p.m. at the 300 block of Washington St. Relax and enjoy music and the outdoors at these free concerts.
During the summer, Columbus Parks and Rec offers several free evening variety shows and a couple of noon kid concerts at Donner Park. Additionally, they provide free supervised afternoon playground programs for children 6-12 at several parks around town.
Another activity you can do outdoors is visit a local farmers markets. You can enjoy being outdoors and just browse or purchase some fresh produce, baked goods and other local home and personal products. On Saturday mornings through early September, farmers markets are located in the Cummins parking lot off Brown Streets and in the FairOaks Mall parking lot. On the first Friday of each month May-September, you can visit the market in Hope’s town square.
If you want to do something inside, check out YES Cinema’s free family films. Each Wednesday at 10 a.m. through July 25 these films will be shown. While the movie is free, you can help support the Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center by purchasing concessions.
Another summer option is to visit the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum to learn about the history of the former Bakalar Air Force Base. The museum is located next to the Columbus Municipal Airport and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays though Saturdays, with free admission.
Take advantage of any of these possibilities to add some interest to your summer.
Susan Cox is one of The Republic’s community columnists, and all opinions expressed are those of the writer. She is a mother, an adjunct instructor of English at Ivy Tech Community College-Columbus and a substitute teacher for Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Send comments to [email protected].
Susan Cox is one of The Republic’s community columnists, and all opinions expressed are those of the writer. She is a mother, an adjunct instructor of English at Ivy Tech Community College-Columbus and a substitute teacher for Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. She can be reached at [email protected].
