As the middle of the semester approaches, so does the wild call of summertime. Since global warming has truly ruined the planet and it is already sixty degrees to seventy degrees in the middle of February, here are some ideas for us broke college students to do to have fun in the sun during our hiatus from classes.

1. The Beach.

Clearly, the beach is the first thing on everyone's mind when it is hot out. Everyone wants to drop their long pants and sweaters and switch to jean shorts and tank tops. The closest beach to my college, Rowan University, is the Ocean City beach. It's actually my favorite as I've gone since I was a child and I've gone at least once every summer. It is really cheap to get onto their beach and it is clean! The boardwalk can be pricey, but it is not necessary to explore and shop on the boardwalk if you're just looking to relax and have fun in the Atlantic Ocean on a warm summer day.

2. Go Out To Get Ice Cream.

No one is forcing you to stay inside of your room during summer vacation and sleep. You can always go out and drive - or walk - to your nearest sweet shop or ice cream shop and grab something cold and refreshing with some friends on a hot summer day. It's fun, cheap, delicious, and helps you go out and socialize so you don't have a weird hiatus from people for those three school-less months.

3. Bonfire Pit.

You can't get any cheaper on this baby. Just some wood and something to light it with - its caveman cheap. A bonfire is a nice, warm, relaxing way to hangout with friends and maybe have some drinks. Plus, the smell of burning wood is known to relieve stress just in case any of you college students or grads have any left over stress bubbling up inside of you.

4. Water Balloon Fights.

It's getting to be quite hot out and by quote hot out I mean blazing heat with sweat dripping from any area on your body. So, how do you relieve the heat? By throwing water balloons at each other of course! Get a few friends together or, hell, just throw them up in the air and wait for it to fall onto yourself because either way it's gonna be some wet and wild fun!

5. Take a Drive.

Since it is more likely than not that most college students have their license and a way of transportation, taking a nice drive in summer is a cheap way to enjoy your day with a friend or two, or even all by yourself. Roll the windows down, turn on some relaxing music, and just drive. Who said you can't escape your problems?

6. Relax in the Sun.

Want to spend no money but get the relaxation of a lifetime? Just go to your backyard, pull out a chair and maybe a good novel and just relax outside in your own environment. The sun will shine onto you and you'll feel the warmth and smell the summer air all without spending a cent.

7. Go to Fairs and Carnivals.

Fairs and carnivals always go on during the summer months where kids and teenagers can go out and have some cheap amusement park fun. As college students, we need that fun too. We need to fill our bodies with a carnival's deep fried snickers for $1 a piece. Go for it.

8. Watch Movies Through a Projector Outside.

If you don't have money for to go to the movie theater, just do a DIY projector, invite some friends over, and pop in a CD to watch your favorite movie on the side of your house in the warm summer nights. No one said you have to spend money to have a movie night outside.

9. Go on Hikes.

People can be really creative. I bet if you asked your friends what adventures they wanted to do during summer they would have lists upon lists of free or cheap ideas for an adventure. Be a child at heart, you aren't in school during summer you don't have any responsibilities other than work. GO ENJOY SUMMER.

So take some time to think these ideas over and plan out your fun summer that you deserve after suffering a semester of stress, homework, and failure. We should be able to enjoy summer like children do. We should be able to have some cheap fun to help us forget about the numerous bills coming our way after graduation. Let's enjoy maybe our last moments of summer vacation.