Classes are done, and school’s out for summer! Of course, many Harvard Griffin GSAS students are still hard at work in June, July, and August, but hopefully the season offers you some reprieve from the busyness of teaching and research so you can enjoy warm weather, the outdoors, vacations, and spending quality time with friends and family. If you’re in town over the summer, here’s how you can take advantage of all that the Boston area has to offer on a student budget.
Nurture Yourself with Nature
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, a museum of trees dedicated to plant education spanning 281 acres across the Jamaica Plain and Roslindale neighborhoods of Boston, is free and open every day. Plan a visit to explore its living collections, herbarium, and library and archives, or take advantage of one (or more!) of its many educational events, like an evening firefly walk on June 23 or a tour of arboretum aromas on June 27. Want to get even closer to nature? Jump in the car and drive out to the Harvard Forest, an ecological research site in Petersham, MA.
Need to get out of town but don’t have a vehicle of your own? You’re in luck. Rides on the MBTA’s Commuter Rail system—which takes you to the museums and universities of Providence, Rhode Island, historic sites like Concord, and the beaches of Manchester-by-the-Sea—are free on Fridays throughout June, July, and August, no tickets required (CapeFLYER, Boston Stadium, and special event trains excluded). Or ride the system for an entire weekend (and select holidays) with a $10 pass. Get all the details on the Commuter Rail website.
More the seafaring type? Through Outings and Innings, you can also access discounts for whale watching, the Provincetown Fast Ferry, and more. What are you waiting for? Plan your next day trip to enjoy time by the water or explore a new town!
Get Artsy
Enjoy the magic of live performance at Harvard’s American Repertory Theater, which offers many discount options, including advance, student rush, and limited $5 tickets. Boston’s Huntington Theatre also provides discounts for students, including limited pay-what-you-wish tickets. Prefer dance over drama? The Boston Ballet offers $30 student rush tickets for shows that aren’t sold out, making world-class performances more accessible.
When the weather gets too hot, you can cool down and luxuriate in the magnificent artwork at the many museums in the Boston area, including the Harvard Art Museums, which are always free. On the last Thursday of each month, enjoy an evening of art, fun, and food with Harvard Art Museums at Night, happening next on June 25. And don’t forget, your Harvard ID also gives you free access to Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Fine Arts.
Summer Celebrations
Summer brings the FIFA World Cup—maybe the globe’s biggest party—to eastern Massachusetts. Join thousands of fans at Boston’s City Hall Plaza through June 27 for the FIFA Fan Festival™ Boston, which includes food, drink, entertainment, and live match broadcasts every day.
Staying close to campus? On Sunday, June 14, join the Graduate Commons Program, the Harvard Griffin GSAS Office of Culture, Community, and Engagement, and the Student Center at Harvard Griffin GSAS for the annual Family Pride Party! The celebration will include a drag story hour, craft stations, music, brunch, and bubble machines.
On July 4, enjoy the free Boston Pops Spectacular at 7:00 p.m. on the Esplanade, followed by fireworks over the Charles River at sundown. Later in the month, on Saturday, July 18, head down the road to Somerville’s ArtBeat festival, a celebration of our neighbor city’s arts communities.
Skill Up
Want to brush up on your Spanish skills over the summer? Join the Student Center Spanish Language Table on Mondays at 4:30 p.m. for a weekly virtual conversation with other graduate students learning the language. If you’d rather work on your singing, you can audition for the Harvard Summer Chorus. Harvard community members are asked to fill out an interest form and submit a video recording singing a piece of their choice by June 14. To improve your fitness, check out Harvard’s extensive athletic facilities and activities.
Harvard University Health Services is hosting a weekly series from June 10 through July 14 called “Befriending the Inner Critic,” designed to teach graduate students how to respond to critical inner voices mindfully, with self-compassion and effective coping mechanisms. Finally, if, like a lot of researchers, you’re crunching a lot of numbers, join Harvard Library’s Data Discussions on Wednesday, June 17, to learn key data management practices.
Throughout the summer, be sure to check Engage, which is updated regularly with events. In the meantime, stay cool, wear sunscreen, and see you in September!
