6 Things to Do During Summer

School’s out, scream and shout~ Finally, summer’s here! *cue What Time Is It by HSM*

Summer’s the longest break for us university students, and three months offers everyone the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities. For those who just ended your freshman year, congrats! It might feel strange experiencing it for the first time, but trust us when we say that it’s important to savour it while you still have the chance!

Now that summer’s here, how will you spend it? Many of us opt for an internship, picking up new skills and beefing up that resume in order to increase our employability in the years to come. However, pampering yourself, taking the time to wind down, and rewarding yourself for the hard work put in is important too!

Thankfully, the easing of Covid-19 restrictions has opened doors for us to engage in an increased range of fun-filled activities! Gone are the days spent cooped up at home and confined to our computers, only able to interact with others through social media and Zoom. Now that we’re able to head out and have fun in the sun with recreational activities, we should no doubt take advantage of this!

Regardless of whether you are hustling and working away the summer at an internship, raving it out at FOP or just vibing and chilling at home, here are six different things to do this summer! We’ll be breaking down our suggested activities into three different categories: Indoor, Outdoor and At-Home activities, so you can find the best fit for your unique interests!

Outdoor Nature Activities

For those that prefer going old school and shy away from the hustle and bustle of city life (or if you’re looking for a cost-free option), here are two different nature-related activities that might interest you!

1. Intertidal Walks

(Photo Credits: Tan Armado and Muley Ishaan)

Though we are an island nation, we often fail to acknowledge that nature constitutes the abundant greenery present and also along the coastlines! What are Intertidal Walks you might ask? Intertidal zones are regions along the coastline exposed during low tides and hidden during high tides.

Within these intertidal zones, ecosystems of different marine animals thrive and it is a beautiful sight to view these creatures within their natural habitat, especially how they have adapted to the ever-changing environment around them. Paying these locations a visit and surveying the intertidal zone does feel like a real-life Pokemon adventure (minus the catching of course!)

There are guided tours provided by NUS’s very own Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (though they are subject to availability and set you back around $30 to $53), or you could visit the various locations on your own. There are countless visual online guides to help kick start your adventures. If you are visiting any of these locations, please do engage in respectful environmental practices and treat the marina animals with care!

2. As You Were

Situated within the lush greenery of Singapore’s heartland parks, As You Were is a new series of public art installations that originate from heartfelt reflections triggered by the pandemic and of future aspirations as we advance forward. These beautiful art installations can be found in three different parks, namely - Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Jurong Lake Gardens and Punggol Waterway Park.

(Photo Credits: National Art Council Singapore)

Drawing inspiration from everyday items, the artists were prompted to inspire others to take stock of the lessons learnt during the pandemic and employ them in our daily lives. Some of these installations even utilise recycled materials such as wood and rubber! If you are ever in the area, do head down to these locations to embrace the scenery and breathe in the fresh air! It is astounding how art and nature are able to beautifully co-exist within a shared space, yet inspire everyone with!

Indoor Activities

You want us to go outdoors? In this heat? When Singapore is regularly reaching temperatures of 35 degrees? Alright, we hear you! For those of you more inclined to the air-conditioned comfort of indoor activities, Singapore has plenty of summer fun for you too!

1. HiRoller

Imagine this: you’re back in the 80’s, the era of bright colours, funky fashion, and disco dancing. Douse your hairdo with some setting spray, grab your skates and head out onto the roller rink with your friends at HiRoller Indoor Skating Rink!

(Photo Credits: HiRoller Singapore)

If you haven’t already seen the Instagram stories, HiRoller is Singapore’s biggest roller rink, and offers both inline and quad skates for all types of skaters! For $12/$15 (weekdays/weekends) you get two hours to skate to your favourite songs — and yes, they take requests! Skate rentals are $6 a session, but if you have your own, you only need to pay the entry fee. If you’ve ever wished you could be the lead actress in Our Times OR if you need a main character moment, this is your chance to find your very own Hsu Taiyu!

If you’re interested in learning to roller skate, check out this article by our own CNM writer on her journey to roller greatness!

2. Museum Exhibitions

Not a fan of skating? Or maybe you’re looking for an all-day activity? Why not check out the many seasonal exhibitions around Singapore?

Attack on Titan: The Exhibition

(Photo Credits: ArtScience Museum)

This exhibition needs no introduction: who hasn’t heard of the best-selling anime Attack on Titan (AOT)? Dive into this dystopian world at the Artscience Museum’s Attack on Titan: The Exhibition!

Explore the intricate world of AOT, learn more about the central characters and watch an incredible showdown between the Attack Titan and the Armoured Titan in the Great Titan Theatre. Swing by to check out never-before-seen artworks and pick up exclusive exhibition merchandise before the exhibition closes on 3rd July! Adult tickets are $18, but students receive a concession price of $14.

Brickman®: Wonders of the World

(Photo Credit: Brickman®: Wonders of the World)

Pre-departure test costs weighing you down? Travel the world for just $18 a ticket – through the magic of Lego®! Hosted by the Science Centre, Brickman®: Wonders of the World displays more than 50 Lego® masterpieces of iconic landmarks all over the world. Show off your creativity at the interactive Master Builder Zones within the exhibition, which allow visitors to build their very own LEGO® monuments!

Activities from Home

Aside from gaming or bingeing Netflix, if you’re looking for meaningful ways to spend your summer but aren’t ready to commit to a full-time internship just yet, there’s always the option of upskilling online!

(Photo Credits: Unsplash)

If you’re a FASS student and GET1050 Computational Thinking or GEI1000 Computational Reasoning hasn’t scarred you emotionally, a certification in various vocational skills may set you apart from your peers — think Programming, Data Analysis or even soft skills like Business Strategies.

Regardless of what you’d like to study, online courses don’t have to break the bank. So, we’ve compiled a few of Coursera’s most popular free courses below for you to consider!

1. First Step Korean by Yonsei University

2. Machine Learning by Stanford

3. Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills by University of Michigan

4. Brand Management: Aligning Business, Brand and Behaviour by London Business School

5. The Strategy of Content Marketing by the University of California, Davis

Conclusion

We hope at least one thing on this list has piqued your interest or at least inspired you to make plans for your summer. Even though those around you may be constantly discussing internships and side-hustles, summer is a good time to explore the world outside academics. Take these three months to kick back, wind down from the stress of school and pursue something you really like! We wish everyone a fruitful and enjoyable summer break, and stay tuned for more CNMTypes articles!

The article was co-written by: Armado and Elizabeth