Now that summer semester is in full swing and many MSU students have headed back to their hometowns or are off doing an internship for the season, East Lansing seemingly has become less lively and more like a ghost town.
With fewer people on campus to socialize with, it can become more difficult to make plans to occupy your time.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of activities to fill your schedule with. Take this laid-back season as an opportunity to participate in events that you might otherwise not have time for.
Creative classes
For some students, summer is a time to take a break from classes and relax their minds. But the season also can be used as an opportunity to explore their creative side by enrolling in an unconventional course that is not necessarily affiliated with the university.
At Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts, 533 Mall Court, in Lansing, students can learn how to sew or quilt, make jewelry or decorate a cake.
If you’re looking for an easy class to occupy your time with, take a beginner-level course, but if you’re interested in challenging yourself, take one of the upper-level classes. When I was in high school, I took a sewing class for beginners at the Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts store in my hometown. After just a few classes, I had created my own pair of pajama pants and a shirt to match.
Perhaps you aren’t the creative type, or you prefer a class that will stimulate your body rather than your mind. If that is the case, consider taking a dance class at Spartan Dance Center, 3498 Lake Lansing Road. Lessons are offered throughout the week in various types of dance, such as hip-hop, salsa and ballet, owner of Spartan Dance Center Tiffany Russell said. Group lessons and private sessions both are available, and walk-ins are welcome.
Since there is not a grade attached to the work you do in these courses, they truly can be taken for fun rather than out of necessity, and there is less pressure to perform well.
Backyard barbecues
Cooking delicious meals doesn’t always have to take place inside the kitchen. This summer, bring your culinary skills outdoors.
Get outside and take in the sunlight with friends while enjoying a home-cooked meal with a barbecue in your backyard.
Have your guests bring a dish to pass and devour a feast of all your favorite summertime foods, such as hamburgers, hot dogs and freshly grilled vegetables.
If you don’t own a grill or live somewhere without a large backyard, head over to the nearest park and have a picnic there. Patriarche Park, 960 Alton St., has covered picnic tables and grills for community members to utilize.
Emerson Park, 1001 Larkspur Drive, also has several benches and picnic tables if you need a space to host your gathering. The more friends you invite, the more food you have to choose from, and the less cooking you have to do yourself.
Aquatic activities
Michigan is known for having unpredictable weather, so enjoy the current sunshine and warm temperatures while you still can.
As the weather continues to get warmer this summer, the various pools and water parks in East Lansing will begin to open their doors to the city’s residents.
If you live in an apartment complex with an outdoor pool, such as Abbott Place Apartments, 2501 Abbot Road, or Abbott Pointe Apartments, 204 E. Pointe Lane, you can spend your summer days
basking in the sun or swimming with friends for free.
For those East Lansing residents who aren’t fortunate enough to have easy access to a pool, there still are plenty of other places to visit for a day of aquatic fun.
The Family Aquatic Center, 6400 Abbot Road, opens June 1 and has an area to swim in that includes multiple water slides and diving boards. Lake Lansing Park South is another place you can travel to if you want to spend some time in the water.
When you grow tired of swimming, you also can enjoy a picnic, walk along the sandy beach, play volleyball on one of the park’s courts or rent a boat.
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