Things to Do While Solo-Summering

Moving to a new duty station right before or at the beginning of summer break can feel like terrible timing. Others might have friends, favorite places to go to, and plans in place, while you're still figuring out how to even get to your house. As a military teen, I’ve learned that not every summer has a busy social calendar, and one may end up with excess free time. However, even if not always ideal, summer doesn’t have to be wasted just because you haven’t found your people yet. 

Here are some ways to make the most of your summer alone while settling into a new place. 

Explore Local Trails and Parks

An easy way of getting familiar with your new environment is going outside, and summer is best for this. Search for local hiking trails, walking paths, and nature preserves. Many trails are beginner-friendly and offer great views, wildlife, as well as a chance to breathe and reconnect with nature. 

Bring headphones, take photos, or challenge yourself to explore a new area each week. You’ll stay active whilst learning more about your area than you would have if you stayed indoors. Make sure to take proper precautions and safety measures, such as wearing bug spray and staying on marked trails to avoid any accidents while outdoors.

Find a New Hobby

The free time you might have over the summer is also the perfect time to try a new hobby. You could learn photography, baking, guitar, gardening, or even a new language. There are many resources online to learn from, and there might be workshops or classes nearby to get an in-person and hands-on learning experience. 

Get a Summer Job

If you are old enough to work, a summer job can introduce you to new people, provide stability, and give you extra money to spend. There are various places to work, such as pools, car washes, ice cream shops, retail stores, or local businesses, and all can naturally introduce you to coworkers your age and help you feel less isolated from your community.

Start a Passion or Personal Project

There are various passion or personal projects that you can do that can give you something meaningful to do, fill time, and benefit your community.

Various things you could do would be launching a small business, working toward a personal goal, creating a website, starting a blog, running a marathon, or making a garden. A project can give you something to look forward to and work for, making your summer more productive.

Geocaching

Though not the most well-known, geocaching can be a fun and easy way to fill time. Geocaching is similar to an outdoor treasure hunt where you can use coordinates and clues found online or on certain apps that navigate you to hidden items. Inside the cache, there is typically a book to sign and date that provides a record showing that you found the cache, and sometimes, they have trinkets that you can trade for something else of similar or greater value.

Stay Connected to Old Friends

It’s completely normal to miss friends from your previous station. Text them, call them, and do what you can to keep those friendships alive and active, but try not to spend every day wishing you were someplace else. Give your new location a chance, because who knows? You might make lasting friendships. In the station I wanted to be at and enjoyed the least, I made some of the closest friends that I still keep in contact with to this day. 

Being New is Temporary

Though summer at a new duty station can be isolating, remember that multiple military teens have been there at some point. The friendships, routines, and favorite places come with time. 

Until then, use summer as a chance to explore, grow, and discover more about yourself as well as your community. You might not start (or even end) your summer with friends new and old alike, but you can make memories and a stronger connection to your location before school starts, where you’ll be able to meet more peers and make friends.