Managing to take safety precautions in the COVID-19 era has been a struggle for all, and with summer approaching, it will be an even bigger challenge. Here is a guide on how to have a fun-filled summer in moderation.
While we can’t all have that picture-perfect summer of concerts, amusement parks and vacations this year, there are many activities that can still make for a memorable season.
The best summer activities are done outdoors, which is a good thing to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Outdoor activities are much more safe than doing things inside this summer season.
According to the CDC, vaccinated people can resume activities that they did prior to the pandemic. An update made on May 16 stated that “fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”
With these new guidelines, summer can be a blast for all who are vaccinated, but in moderation. The pandemic is still affecting the nation.
It is important to keep in mind that most of these ideas are most fun with multiple people, and having a small group of people is okay for the summer.
With this in mind, junior Jamie Alderfer is looking forward to seeing friends again after the difficulty that winter season brought for socializing. “I’m just excited to hang out with people again because we will be able to be outside, but be safe,” Alderfer said.
Parks are great places to spend summer days in a pandemic. There are great opportunities to get some exercise in through runs, walks, bike rides, and hikes in the park.
Going on a small picnic in a park or even in a backyard makes for a splendid day. Pack some masks, some good quality foods, some games and head out for a day of replenishment.
A picnic in a park proved to be a preview of summer for junior Anna Roman. “Going on a picnic was really fun because I could see my friends and get out in the sun and eat some good food,” Roman said.
One of the best ways to spend a summer day is to go geocaching right in town. Geocaching is a nation-wide treasure hunt activity in which small items are hidden in specific spots through an app.
Other great outdoor activities include walking, paddle boarding, camping, photo shoots and stargazing. These could all be added to a fun summer bucket list.
Activities like these are suitable for a safe summer, according to Roman, who said that they “allow for us to be outside and socially distanced so we aren’t getting too close to each other.”
While these outdoor physical pastimes can be spectacular for the summer, there are countless artistics activities to be tried, and they can be done outside for safety reasons. Roman took advantage of her artistic abilities and painted during her picnic. Painting outside and doing other crafts can be a rejuvenating experience.
There has never been a better summer to focus on self-care. Doing at-home outdoor yoga every morning has proven to be the most beneficial thing to do for yourself. In addition, baking, having a spa day or just spending time alone can be delightful.
In summer 2020, there were even more limits to what could be done due to high case numbers and no vaccine development. Despite this difficulty, it allowed for people to try out different activities that can be useful this summer.
Sophomore Ally Lemon recalls celebrating her summer birthday safely last year. “My friend rode her bike over to my house and we had a little picnic outside and it was so fun and sweet,” Lemon said.
According to junior Bridget Byrne, the step toward having a safe summer comes by keeping the important things in mind, such as not risking getting others sick. “There is still a chance that people can get sick,” Byrne said. “Before the pandemic, if you were sick, you wouldn’t be going out because you could infect other people.”
With this belief, Byrne plans to have a fun summer through keeping her favorite activity of running, as well as hanging out with friends in a safe manner.
Byrne said that just going for a few miles outside helped to make her summer more enjoyable. “It was a mental stress reliever for me, because I was just so sick of being inside and being outside,” Byrne said.