Lincoln in the context of summer

What your college town will be up to while you’re gone

Probably surprising to most is the fact that Lincoln has its very own water park that’s just an 8 minute drive from Union College. What is probably more surprising is that it’s not too shabby and very popular among Lincoln residents. For only $6.25, one can enjoy waterslides, fountains, diving boards, and water sports for a whole day at Star City Shores. It closes for the winter in mid August, but not before opening its doors to Lincoln’s furry friends for a day. In 2022, over 300 pups and their owners took a dip, raising over $3,000 dollars to be donated to the greater Lincoln Obedience Club and Lincoln Parks and Recreation.

As we’re all enthusiastically aware, this school year is coming to a close. While our eyes are glued to computer screens, hands tied to keyboards, legs trapped under desks — our minds are somewhere else entirely. Where? That depends on the individual. Some minds are home, enjoying time with friends and family. Some are at summer camp, realizing they’d like to wait a good while before having kids. Still others are on tropical vacation somewhere, sipping iced drinks while sunbathing on a beach. The promise of summer break gives us the drive to finish strong but has perhaps prevented us from stopping to wonder how our college town spends summer break. Here’s what you’ll miss.

Party in the Parks is a cluster of events held across parks in Lincoln. For example, Stransky Park Summer Concert Series happens during June and July and features artists from across Nebraska and local food vendors. No entrance fee is imposed, but performers are supported through audience tips. The most popular music event is the Lincoln Municipal Band summer concert series, hosted at Antelope Park on Sunday evenings. It consistently draws crowds of over 1,500 citizens and has been running since 1911! Another popular Party in the Parks series is Movies in the Parks. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to watch these free familyfriendly showings on an outdoor screen. Other Party in the Parks events to check out include Theatre in the Parks, Uncle Sam Jam, Streets Alive and Art in the Garden.

The Lincoln Children’s Zoo provides a dose of exotic wildlife to the Lincoln area. It’s home to over 400 animals, including over 40 endangered species.

Predictably, the zoo comes alive in the summer months, when weather permits outdoor exhibits. Exclusively during the summer, visitors can purchase small bunches of lettuce and feed giraffes from atop an observation deck. What’s better than dinner FOR giraffes? Dinner WITH Giraffes! On July 26 and 27, ticket holders will experience dinner atop this observation deck, giraffe feedings and private access to other exhibits.

These are just a few examples of Lincoln happenings for the summer. To find out more, check out the City of Lincoln website. Your college town may not be as captivating as your summer daydreams, but don’t underestimate its entertainment and social programming. A summer in Lincoln may just fly by.

The tips to success during finals week

Finals are just a week away and things are getting packed in fast. Whether it is events, work or the massive amounts of homework that students are being given, we must push on. Remind yourself that the end is near. To help those in need, here are some tips for success during finals.

Get some sleep:

The strategy of not getting a lot of sleep and studying into the wee hours of the night has been around for a long time. Sadly, this only benefits you for a short amount of time. It will drain you not only of your energy, but also your concentration. Without concentration, you cannot study as hard for the next final or focus during that hour and a half time period during testing. It is very important to get sleep and this is not the time to be lacking in it!

Pace yourself:

One phrase that is repeatedly heard around finals week is “I am burnt out.” It is very important to pace yourself not only with studying, but also with homework. Do not overload yourself with too much information you can not retain. This practice is a waste of time that can not be gotten back. Take it steady and use your time wisely because you have only got one shot at finals.

Don’t study alone:

The practice of studying alone can be a good one, but you may also hinder yourself when doing so. If you communicate with others in your class, you may gain some information about the exam material and potentially the exam itself. Oftentimes reaching out can be rewarding, but use your time wisely. So go ahead and get yourself a study buddy. You may just find that golden quizlet you have been looking for.

Pick a good study environment:

The space that you put yourself in can be a huge factor into how much you get done. Some do well in a high traffic environment such as a cafe or a cafeteria. Others decide to be a recluse and hide away in their rooms. Both are perfectly safe and healthy environments — it all depends on the person. I recommend a good pair of headphones. Music is not required, but having something to muffle the outside noise can be a huge help no matter where you are.

Reach out to Professors:

Sometimes the biggest help can come from the people providing the questions–the professors. Teachers can provide the biggest clues about their test by answering simple questions. Be aware of your professors’ schedules. Some are adjunct professors, while others are full time. Depending on their schedules, you might want to go visit them in person or just shoot an email. Visiting a professor in person is probably the best option, as you will get the most results out of them. If you are in dire need of some rapid answers, then an email will suffice.