School’s out and it’s time to switch out that calculator for a nice cold drink. Whether you’re staying in Calgary this summer or spending it abroad, the heat can seem a bit overwhelming. Sunday, June 28th saw a heat wave sweep across Canada, sending people running for their fans or the nearest pool. If you’re like me, you’ll find the 20-25 degree celcius range is bearable but anything above that is incredibly hot and leaves you feeling sweaty, gross, and far from comfortable. It is days like this past Sunday where I must reconsider how well prepared I am for the heatwaves that may or may not be thrown at us this summer, which leads me to the question “Are my fellow citizens of Calgary ready for the heat?”. Maybe not, but maybe this article will help you survive this summer with ease.
Refreshing Food
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Frozen Grapes
Everybody has had grapes before, but maybe not frozen grapes. This idea was introduced to me a few years ago leaving me wondering where have these been all my life? All you need are grapes, a container and a good ol’ freezer. Stick the grapes in the container, stick them in the deepest part of your freezer and wait a few hours. You’ll find your plain old grapes have turned into a cool, refreshing snack.
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Juice Popsicles
Juice Popsicles are insanely simple to make and are a classic summer snack. All you need are juice, a mold for your juice (they usually come with plastic popsicle sticks as well), and your trusty freezer. Pour your juice into the mold, stick the popsicle stick into the juice, let it freeze and voila! You have a delicious yummy snack for yourself.
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Ice Cream Sandwiches
This snack is yet again very simple to make. All you need is ice cream and some cookies. Put a scoop of ice cream between two cookies and dig in. Super simple and very delicious! I tried it out last year and I must say, my favorite flavour would be mint ice cream between two chocolate cookies but I’m sure any flavour would be incredibly delicious!
Ways To Keep Cool
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Pools
One of the most obvious ways of staying cool this summer would be going to the pool. Calgary has an abundant number of pools (indoor and outdoor!), wading pools and splash parks. Splashing around in the water with your friends is a great summer activity and it beats the heat while you’re having fun. Some locations require you pay admission but some locations are free. To find out the admission price, visit this website and click on the location that suits you best.
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Sprinklers and Games
If you don’t wanna head out to the pool, playing in the sprinkler is a sure fire way to get cool in the comfort of your own backyard. As well, you can play fun water activities like Drip Drip Drop. It’s the exact same as Duck Duck Goose except you drip water on player’s heads. When you decide to choose the goose, you dump the cup of water on them. It’s a fun, refreshing game that is available for all ages to play. If you’re not up to any games, dumping a simple bottle of water over your head is a easy way of feeling refreshed without the hassle of running around.
I hope you found these ideas useful and be sure to carry around a bottle of water, sunscreen and whatever else you might need wherever you go this summer. It’s not fun being sunburnt or dehydrated, so make sure you’re always prepared.