Born and raised in Los Angeles, I had only truly experienced one season before coming to Dartmouth College. Summer. The only real difference between the seasons in Los Angeles was that it just got hotter throughout the year. 85 degrees and sunny was the same as 95 degrees and sunny. Hot was hot. As a child I longed for real seasons. A true autumn where I could jump into a pile of crisp burgundy leaves, pick fresh apples right off a tree and sip warm apple cider by a campfire. A true winter where I could wake up on Christmas morning and be asked to join in on a snowball fight, not a drive to the beach. I longed for change, and change is what I got. While incredibly different from Southern California, the seasons in Hanover, New Hampshire are absolutely glorious. I now look forward to the change in seasons and the new activities and experiences they bring. As the spring term comes to a close, I am excited to come back to campus in a few weeks for sophomore summer. While fall is inarguably my favorite season, I can’t deny that some of my fondest memories back home were made during the summer. In high school, summer was a time of relaxation and freedom from heavy AP course loads. I spent most of my summer senior year at the beach with my church’s youth group. I loved those warm summer evenings gathered by the bonfire with my friends strumming their guitars and beating their drums, singing in the name of Jesus. Sophomore summer has been hyped up since I stepped off the bus from First Year Trips. As someone who has yet to experience a New England summer—and considering the rural wilderness that is Dartmouth— I picture sophomore summer as the summer camp I always wanted to go to. Since Sophomore Trips loom in the horizon and the days are slowly getting hotter, I have found it right about time to create my Sophomore Summer Bucket List. So kids, grab your binoculars and coonskin caps because we’re going on an adventure!

1. Copper mines in South Strafford, Vermont. If that fluorescent blue water doesn’t intrigue you, I don’t know what will.
2. Go strawberry, blueberry and raspberry picking. Note: Avoid bees.
3. Take those freshly picked berries and bake strawberry shortcake and peach-blueberry pie.
4. Hike Mt. Cardigan, Mt. Cube and Mt. Moosilauke to enjoy great views and fresh summer air.
5. Sail at the Dartmouth Yacht Club on Mascoma Lake.
6. Go on a cabin overnight with Dartmouth Outing Club’s wonderful Cabin and Trail.
7. Take a tour of the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury, Vermont and the Cabot Cheese Factory in (you guessed it) Cabot, Vermont.
8. Stargaze on the Hanover Country Club golf course and visit Dartmouth’s Shattuck Observatory.
9. Have late night campfires with friends, roast marshmallows, make s’mores and reminisce.
10. Canoe and kayak on the beautiful Connecticut River.
11. Go to the rope swing in Pine Park.
12. Have legit picnics on the Green. I’m talking blankets, baskets, sweet tea, dainty little sandwiches, grapes, etc.
13. Catch and release fireflies.