School officially ends on June 8th, just a few short weeks away. That means sun, freedom, and a lot more downtime. As a student without a job at the moment, trying to make plans while still conserving my bank account can be hard. Everything seems to cost just a little more money than I have, but the thought of spending three months in my bedroom is depressing. Thankfully, St. Paul offers many free or cheap activities and resources for high school students. Here are some of those things:

The Metro Transit Student Summer Pass

Metro Transit is providing $29 student passes for kids of all grades. If an outgoing senior (graduating class of 2018) wants to purchase one, they must have been enrolled in a participating school in 2018. The student pass can be used June 1st through September 4th, from 5am to 10pm. Metro Transit partnered with Second Harvest Heartland to provide free meals for children and teens 18 and under. Below is the link to free meal locations throughout Hennepin and Ramsey county. These student passes have been available for purchase since May 16th. You can buy them online here or at your school. Below are the participating schools.

Ramsey County Free Meals

Hennepin County Free Meals

Details and Participating Schools

Summer Camps

Star Tribune has supplied a lengthy list of summer camps in the metro area, and throughout Minnesota, available to kids and teens. It is comprehensive and provides information such as the camp description, the price(s), the length, date and type (overnight, half-day, full-day), the organization, and the location and phone number. From an all girls basketball and volleyball camp, to a French immersion for 4 – 18 year olds, and a crash course on how to run a business, there is an abundance of summer camps and programs for any interest at any age. The collection includes camps that are free, camps with sliding fees, and higher end programs. Go to this link to explore your options for the summer of 2018!

Parks and Nature

According to metrocouncil.org there are 53 parks and nature reserves in the metro area, along with 40 trails, and 8 special recreation features. In Ramsey County parks, you can access activities such as archery, bird watching, boating and fish, and swimming, and even golf. Click here to access the Parks and Recreation page, and get a comprehensive list of activities, parks, and their locations.

If you are more interested in Hennepin County, then click here for parks, and here for Events and Activities.

If you are interested in the surrounding areas click here. Get out there and enjoy all the wonderful things our state parks have to offer!

Swimming and Aquatic Centers

The St. Paul/Minneapolis area offers multiple aquatic enters and public beaches. The prices vary on location and size of swimming party.

Great River is located on Lexington Parkway, across from the Lexington-Hamline Community School. It has a 25 lap pool, a kids activity swimming pool, swimming lessons, water aerobics, and sailing lessons. You can also go here for lifeguard training. However, Great River will be closed July 4th through September 3rd.

Como is located on Wynne Avenue, close to Hamline University. It includes a zipline, a lazy river, an aquatic climbing wall, a kids pool, a lap pool, diving platforms and more. It also provides swimming lessons and water aerobics. It is open June 9th through September 3rd.

Highland Park is located on Edgecumbe Road, close to the Golf House. It offers a two-story water slide, lap swim pool, children’s splash pad, diving boards, aquatic climbing wall, party rentals, concessions, swimming lessons and more. It is open June 9th through September 3rd.

Phalen Beach is located close to Johnson Senior High School. It is on a Phalen Lake and is free admission. It offers a new splash pad, sand volleyball (bring your own net), a real sand beach, locker rooms, watercraft rentals, sailing, swimming, and kayak lessons. This is a participating location for Second Harvest Heartland and their free meals program. Below are the links for each aquatic center.

Great River

Como

Highland Park

Phalen Beach

Click here for more fun summer activities around the St. Paul/ Minneapolis area! Have fun and stay safe!

It is finally May and the school year is almost over. Prom has come and past, and for IB students, tests are underway. The weather is getting warmer, the Earth is becoming less of a tundra and more of an inhabitable area, and you can actually sit outside when you are eating Nelson’s Ice Cream. The end of a school year also means a new beginning for many of us students. Whether you are moving into a dorm 2 states away, attending a college here in St. Paul, or getting a new job this summer, big changes are headed this way. As you move to this new frontier of your life, reminding yourself of certain things could make or break you.

1. 1. Even new roads have bumps. As St. Paulites coming out of a harsh winter, I think we can appreciate this saying. Regardless of what new path you choose, there will most likely be hardships along the way. They could be miniscule or incredibly large, but preparing yourself for scary, stressful situations will always be vital.
   2. Ask for help when you need it. Although “adulting” can feel really good, it can also be really hard. And asking for help from people who have been doing it longer is totally acceptable and okay. You can learn something from  everyone.
   3. Evaluate your needs, wants, and morals. As you move forward in your life, it is important to focus on who you are currently and who you want to be. By asking yourself what you want and what you value, you can not only better understand yourself right now, but also what you want your future self to look like. The period of time leading up to a big change in your life can be nerve wracking, but if you handle yourself correctly, it can also be extremely enlightening.
   4. Make a plan. Whether you are schedule oriented, or like to go with the flow, setting realistic deadlines for yourself can boost your drive to achieve goals. Without setting goals (and deadlines), it is hard to reach said goals.
   5. Have fun and stay motivated. No one said a new frontier couldn’t be fun. You can only have these new experiences once in your life, and life will move on before you know it. Grasp this life firmly by the horns and take control of your future. There are many things on this Earth that you cannot change. Your future is not one of them. Keep chugging along, and know that everything will all be worth it in the end.

The passage of life won’t slow down for anyone. Yesterday’s future is here, and tomorrow is less than a day away. There is a huge world out there for you to explore and appreciate. Go out and do it.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…”
It’s also the time of the year when people seem to get sick more often than not.
Being sick sucks. This is a universal feeling that everyone can relate to. You don’t want to spend two days puking your guts out or being so dehydrated that you start to hallucinate. And you definitely don’t want to go Googling your symptoms only to be told by WebMD that you’re dying. So, whether you just have a bad case of the sniffles, or you can’t keep even water down, here are some ways to help yourself feel better.

1. Drink water, please, for the love of god!
No matter what is wrong with you, water will help you feel better. Drinking fluids will help flush out toxins and in general help you.
2. Get rest!
Sleep allows your body to regenerate and heal. If you’re tired, sleeping is ultimately what your body needs.
3. Listen to your body!
Your body knows what’s wrong. It will likely give you subtle hints on how to help.
4. Binge watch your favorite Netflix show or pick a movie marathon to while away the hours.
5. Cuddles
Whether it be with your pet, or a beloved stuffed animal, make sure you pull someone close (that can’t catch your cold!)

Now, go out have a great holiday season, hopefully, without any illness.