This is the end – for this year anyway. The time has come when classes are nothing more than a passing thought because summer is fast approaching. I, like all of you, could not be more ready to hit the ground running with the sound of the final school bell. A lot of you have extensive plans to sleep away most of the daytime and nighttime. Good for you. It is your summer, do with it what you please. For those of you who are looking for ideas of something to do, I just might have a couple. Since this is supposed to be a sports column, my ideas are sporty, but even that is a stretch. Regardless, maybe one of them will appeal to you.

Head to Apple River – You might be hard pressed to find a more relaxing afternoon than floating down a peaceful Wisconsin river in the middle of a sun-soaked afternoon. You have your inner tube, your friends and your beer. Perfect.

Night Swimming – Head to a lake, pond, neighbor’s pool, whatever, and immerse yourself in cool waters to wash away the heat of the day.

The only catch is that you have to do it after dark. Mysterious lake bottoms and not being able to see ten feet in front of you has a remarkable tendency to make you conjure images of Jaws, even if it is a lake.

Golf – I admit that golf can be a costly endeavor, but for those with deep pockets, it is a lot of fun. Never mind if you stink or not. Go out and enjoy the manicured greens, the array of nature in front of you while putting that damn white ball into the clown’s mouth. Wait a minute, I just got that confused with the next item on my list.

Miniature golf – Putt-Putt is the poor man’s version of the aforementioned item. It can be a ton of fun. There are plenty of courses everywhere offering all sorts of contorted obstacles for you to overcome. No matter where you live this summer, you should be within about twenty miles of your local putt-for-dough.

Frisbee golf – The best part of this hot activity is that it is free. You will have to buy your own throwing disks, but after that, you are set. This is one of the hottest sports right now, and it can get addictive. Pack a lunch, take a cooler and spend your day plucking your Frisbee out of a tree.

Baseball, the pure one – Check out some baseball sometime this summer. Never mind the pros. Go check out some minor league baseball.

The Iowa Cubs are a great bet for some quality summer entertainment. The talent level is comparable to that of the big leaguers, but the tendency-to-slack-cause-I-am-a-millionaire is not there because these guys aren’t making much. Take your glove. Nothing is cooler than a ballpark souvenir.

Fish – I have recently been turned onto this sport. There is something exhilarating about catching some stupid fish. Watching your pole bend when you shay a fish makes you beam with pride like new parents. But if you are going to drop line into water in Iowa, here is a tip: Get a license, DNR can be vicious.

Go back to school – Literally. Have you seen the playground equipment these elementary school have now.

It is amazing. Tunnels, overpasses, fox holes, secret passageways all winding, twisting, turning into a masterpiece of wood and splinters.

Call some friends and go play tag. You will feel like a dork, but I guarantee you will have a good time.

Explore – Go somewhere you have never gone before and take a look around. Eastern Iowa has some really cool caves. Ledges State Park is just 20 minutes away. Most of us have small worlds. Go and see what else is out there.

Volleyball – Go to the beach and burn your feet. Sand volleyball is a blast because you can dive and not get hurt. Most public beaches are going to have a net set up. Grab the wieners, coleslaw and volleyball and get yourself into a game.

Drive yourself crazy – Go-carts rule. This has got to be one of the best things going. I think it has to do with the fact that there are no cops around to hassle you about your skills behind the wheel. Guys, a tip for you; this is a bad date activity. Our natural instincts of being master of all that we drive will bring out the ugly head of the competitive monster. You may win, but your date will be over.

Slip-n-slide – Water parks have got to be the best way to cool off on 100 degree summer days. WhiteWater University in Des Moines is a great place to check out. Once again you might feel like a little kid, but the smile on your face will be worth it.

And finally, DunkBall – This is a sport that I was recently introduced to, and it is a blast. It is a form of the game “21”. A bunch of people gather around a basketball hoop – a low one that everyone can dunk on. Pick an order and fire away.

The first person shoots, if they miss the second person must shoot, but only has one bounce to track down the ball. If you make the shot, player one gets points. If you miss and player three dunks the rebound, you get even more points. Play to 15. Once you’re there, have a seat.

I hope that was clear, if not make up your own rules.

I have had a blast writing this column this year. I hope those of you that read it, enjoyed it as well. A quick thank you to my editors, Jeff and Gus, and a bigger thank you to Nina for putting up with my grammatical flaws. Good luck to you in Chicago. Have a great summer to all.

Marcus Charter is a sophomore in journalism and mass communication from Ames.