WeB次元官网网址檙e almost halfway through our summer here in the Westshore. Now is the time to relax and have fun in the sun. Go to the beach, hang out at the park, stay inside with a good book.

These are all excellent options, but most of us teenagers and kids eventually do get tired of doing nothing. Luckily, that summer malaise can be cured.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot to do in this town, but the options for youth arenB次元官网网址檛 always clear. Here are some options perfect for youth this summer: 

Music in the Park

If you enjoy live music, the City of Colwood puts on a delightful Music in the Park performance every Friday and Saturday evening. From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., you can partake in some dancing and singing with local talent serenading you. Maybe youB次元官网网址檒l find your new song of the summer.

Eats and Beats

In a similar vein, The City of Colwood is also hosting a community event called B次元官网网址淓ats and Beats.B次元官网网址� As the name suggests, some of the top Island artists will be playing, and there will be a wide assortment of different international foods to fuel your dancing. From 1 p.m. until 8 p.m., you can dance, eat, sing, and partake in one of the many activities featured at this community beach party, including a Bungee Run inflatable and bucket pong. Just in case you need one more incentive (as if you would), you can score yourself a genuine Eats and Beats t-shirt. Well, IB次元官网网址檓 convinced.

Juan de Fuca drop-ins

If music isn't quite your thing, Juan de Fuca has a youth swim every Friday. If youB次元官网网址檙e between the ages of 11 and 18, you need only pay $2 for a splashing good time. They have a rope swing, which could not be more fun, in my opinion. You can swing into that water over and over again B次元官网网址� it does not get old. And the lifeguards are very friendly and responsible people, so you can swim carefree.

Also at Juan de Fuca, there's drop-in youth basketball! On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays-Sundays from 4:30 p.m. -7:00 p.m., come and play some basketball. ItB次元官网网址檚 a great way to let off some steam and get your summer exercise in.

City Centre Park

There's no dearth of things to do in Langford either. At City Centre Park, you can get a coupon to bowl two free games daily (Monday to Friday) if you're 15 or under. There's also drop-in roller skating every Thursday, and drop-in ice skating every Sunday. They've even got mini golf, should you prefer to trade in your skates for clubs.

Get involved

Perhaps youB次元官网网址檙e more of a charitable sort of person. Should you be searching for some moral nourishment this summer, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities to sink your teeth into. You could volunteer with the Victoria Humane Society: driving animals to and from, helping with the upkeep of the facilities, or even socializing with the cats and kittens so they have enough human interaction (Something tells me that the last one will be the main draw.) But thereB次元官网网址檚 no shortage of volunteer opportunities for whichever interest strikes your fancy, be it in a local charity, community program, or your place of worship.

There's lots of options that are hopefully appealing, or at least intriguing. What struck me while writing this was the apparent lack of things just for youth to do. Yes, there are family events, and community events, and tons of activities for younger kids to do, but a lack of spaces and activities for older youth. With the exception of Juan de FucaB次元官网网址檚 programs, there isnB次元官网网址檛 much else in the way of free youth events for older teens. 

Youth involvement in these types of programs has been shown to directly and indirectly benefit the community, so why not have more of them? ThereB次元官网网址檚 quite a bit of interest on the part of teens to have more opportunities to have fun and make new friends and connections. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what summer is for. With that said, enjoy your summer! I hope to see you at some of these events, and future youth events in the next couple of summers. WeB次元官网网址檙e all entitled to some fun in the sun with our community.