From American Football to art classes, there is no doubt that Spring activities are plentiful in number. 

To many, spring, which officially started on Sunday, March 20, was something we had all but forgotten about, little more than a calendar reminder since we were all cooped up at home for the most part. 

At long last, though, this year’s spring is coinciding with a gradual let-up on pandemic restrictions, prompting parents and students to take advantage of increased access to activities, and the warming weather is always a sign for activities to restart after a long winter. 

After the long COVID winter, people may have become oblivious to the fact that spring activities still exist even with restrictions.

 “I feel like as much as you can this year, or in your life, try to get outside. “Whatever your interests may be,” suggested Principal Dr. Jim Patrick, “Go out for a walk, a run, a hike, or play sports.” Dr. Patrick also used to run the after-school activities at Lake Braddock secondary school.

A good place to start is online when hunting for activities, as there are many official catalogs. The McLean Community Center has a website as well as the Fairfax County Park Authority. These resources and others usually come in an old-fashioned paper magazine as well. 

These resources have a variety of spring sports, from golf to pickleball. But another place to look for sports is a community sports organization like McLean Youth Athletics.  

Even if sports isn’t your thing, there are a wide variety of opportunities. 

“I think this is mostly a family decision. There are expensive sports teams, some low-cost activities, and the free ones, such as going outside. Every family has to make the choice that’s best for them, but if it’s something that you enjoy and can afford, go ahead and have some fun doing that.”

Taking a walk or a hike in most areas is free; just be sure to follow guidelines when using public spaces, such as staying on a trail or whatever other rules exist. 

Activities can do more than just give you something to do; they can also help you in school. 

“Most research says that students that get involved in activities outside of the school day generally tend to do a little better academically. It gives them an outlet, while also forcing them to organize and manage their time better.”

Many activities don’t just help with managing time; they can also potentially make you smarter. Going outside for a walk can make you observe nature at work, signing up for a volunteer program will teach you about your surroundings, and even just going to a museum or reading a book can help improve your grades in certain subjects. 

 I can tell you firsthand how much doing extra studying through after-school stuff, such as reading and visiting places of interest, helped me. You may remember me as the person who was in the Longfellow Newsletter after placing 3rd in the Regionals of the National Science Bee. (Fun fact: I also placed 13th in the history bee and 10th in the geography bee.)  

As vaccinations become increasingly available and the weather warms, it seems spring activities are back to stay, with more coming in the summer.  

“I’d encourage students to find something they like to do or be involved in outside of the school day, whether organized or unorganized, official or not, but I definitely encourage everyone to find something to get involved in outside of the school day.”