Summer is quickly approaching, and for many summer is a time to unwind from the hectic school year, and for others (especially juniors) the stress of college applications starts to develop. 

Thankfully, there are a lot of opportunities for students to stay busy this summer whether they’re juniors preparing for college or underclassmen just wanting to have a good time. 

For students interested or wanting to study in a STEM discipline, Cuesta College is hosting a Summer STEM Camp for 10th and 11th graders. The camp is held June 10-13 and is located on the AGHS campus. Students will learn about the generation and use of electricity, energy conservation, and environmental impact with hands-on energy labs.

For students who want to increase their physical fitness for the summer or generally get more active, there are two great opportunities to take advantage of. Planet Fitness offers students a free gym membership for those ages 14-19 from the beginning of June till the end of August. Planet Fitness is a great beginner gym with a wide variety of resistant machines, free weights, and cardio machines. 

For those wanting to escape the busyness of Planet Fitness during the summertime, Fitness 19 is offering a similar but more expansive program. Fitness 19 is offering teachers, students, and school staff a free gym membership for 1 month. This membership includes full access to all gym amenities. To redeem the offer, students/teachers/staff must register before July 31st. 

For students wanting academic enrichment opportunities or to shave off a few college and/or high school requirements, taking Cuesta or Hancock classes is a great option. Students can take core classes like English, history, economics, or government or take interesting elective courses like communication, sociology, or art. College courses are weighted on high school transcripts if they’re on the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) list. Counselor approval is required and high school students are limited to 9.0 units for the summer semester. Registration is currently open and classes are six weeks starting June 10 and ending on July 19.

Volunteering is another popular option for students, whether they’re trying to meet the minimum 20 hours or the prestigious Give Back 250 award, there are countless opportunities locally in SLO county. For instance, students can train to become an AYSO referee, help out at the 5 Cities Homeless Coalition, AG Parks and Recreation, or the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital to name a few. For a more expansive list, click on the link for contact info and organization names.

Summer is a great time to unwind and recharge before the fall, however, it’s also a great time to try something new, meet people, and add those final touches to college applications. There are so many opportunities out there, students just have to take advantage of them.