Withering away in the heat? Weighed down by summer term or your co-op commute? It can be easy to while away the summer hours focusing on the next task ahead and trying to be as productive as possible, but there’s more to summer than co-op and classes. Luckily, Drexel University offers some services that can help you live your best life this summer — outside of the classroom and office.
Learn a new skill or hobby
There are literally hundreds of student groups you can join to expand upon an existing hobby you have or go deeper with a new interest. On DragonLink, where you find Drexel students organizations and their meetings, you can search for new groups and find out when their next meeting is. Plus, if your usual group of friends is scattered across the region with a mix of co-ops and classes, joining a new group is a great way to stay social this summer.
If you know of a specific group you want to join, like the Campus Activities Board, you can find those easily. Otherwise, you can search for something you’re interested in and see what comes up. For example, searching “reading” brings up the Drexel University Book Club, while “music” brings up a dozen organizations.
Stay cool
The Drexel Recreation Center pool may be closed for much of the summer, but you can still use Drexel-offered services to take a dip. The Powelton/Spring Garden route for the Drexel shuttle gets you just a few minutes away from the Lee Cultural Center, which has a public pool you can swim in for free. It’s open 1:30–9:30 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and closed on Sunday.
To ride the shuttle, you’ll need your DragonCard, and to get near the pool, you’ll get off at 42nd Street and Powelton Avenue.
Pick up a new book for the summer
Did you know the W. W. Hagerty Library has a Leisure Books section? It’s on the first floor near the reference section and offers a break from the not-so-leisurely books you check out for classes — but you still get that six-month checkout time, so no rush if your summer read goes a bit into the fall.
You can find recent popular books like "Circe" by Madeline Miller, "Manhattan Beach" by Jennifer Egan and "Exit West" by Mohsin Hamid in the Leisure Books section, but you can also check out the library’s ever-changing displays near the front to look for something that catches your eye.
Prioritize fun and learning what Philadelphia has to offer
Summer will still be busy, but take time to enjoy it and give yourself your own mini summer vacation right here in Philly. Drexel has plenty of suggestions to get you started, from a list of neighborhoods to explore to where to eat near the University City Campus to outdoor activities around Philadelphia.
The Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University (where you get free admission with your DragonCard!) also has Dino-mite summer programs you can partake in. Give yourself time to explore South Street, walk around Fairmount Park or pick a neighborhood you’ve never visited before and take your studying there for a day. Don’t forget to put the books down and make time for fun, too, like the University City Dining Days, Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival or Old City Eats.
