MONROE - With the dog days of summer just passed, parents and children are taking to the outdoors to ensure they soak up the last of the 70-degree days before school bells start ringing and trees begin to change color.
Some people take to the beach, like Monroe resident Lois Meinert and her daughter, Emily Zarling of Browntown. The pair brought Meinert's four grandchildren to Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area on Tuesday afternoon, a common stomping ground for the kids.
"It's been a good summer; fast," Meinert said. "We try to come here or to the city pool. They love the opportunity to just swim and be playing in the sand."
Zarling said they traveled to The Wilderness in Wisconsin Dells to spend time at a water park, though noted travel there is more often done in winter. The group also trekked up to a family cabin near Rhinelander, to go tubing and fishing.
Argyle student Brinley Meinert, who turns 9 on the final day of August, said fishing was her favorite part of the trip. She plans to make the best of her final days before school begins again by enjoying an owl-themed party put on by her family.
Mason Zarling, 6, Monroe, said visiting Wisconsin Dells was the best part of his summer vacation and does not look forward to beginning first grade. Brinley's brother, 10-year-old Braelyn, said he doesn't mind the opportunity to return to school, if only to take part in his favorite subject, physical education.
As the group created a "pit of doom," which 9-year-old Hudson Zarling said was a hole dug to knee-deep or higher, they enjoyed the 72-degree weather and talked about the semi-functioning boat they took out on the lake while on vacation.
Despite being stuck in the middle of the lake a few times, the kids "still did a fair amount of tubing," Braelyn said. It was still speedier than the alternative.
"We used to go tubing with our pontoon, but ... it got too easy for us, then we were like 'ugh, boring,'" Brinley said.
Emily said the kids love going to spend time on the playground and the variety of activity Cadiz Springs provides for the children so the day outside lasts longer.
"When they get tired of the water, then they can come up here and play in the sand and build castles or pools or whatever for a while," Meinert said.
Playground equipment at Twining Park has been in frequent use over the summer by 4-year-old Autymn Norton of Juda.
Autymn's mom, Kelly Norton, said she has been staying close to home because of the recent arrival of her 3-month-old son, Kenneth. Kelly, a school nurse in DeForest, said Monroe Public Library programs and a monthly art class at Monroe Theatre Guild keep Autymn occupied. They also took an overnight family trip to Dubuque, Kelly said, to visit the Mississippi River Museum recently. Kelly said she brought Autymn and 10-year-old Ella Dundee to Twining to get some time under the sun and in the fresh air.
"I like when it is nice and hot, so I love, love wearing my sunglasses," Autymn said. "They're princess, and they have sparkles and jewels on the side, and they have a butterfly."
Autymn has enjoyed the sunny months of summer at the public pool, or what she calls the "ducky pool," and in summer school. She will start 4-K in September.
"I don't know what I'm going to do there, but I did go to summer school," Autymn said. "We played some games and watched some videos. Also one boy got in trouble because he ran in school. Ms. Zimmerman was our teacher. I didn't know her but then I got to know her."
Dundee went horseback riding on vacation and said she was excited to try zip-lining at the Mall of America in Minnesota. She said she spends a lot of her summer vacation with her family but also looks forward to seeing her friends each day when she begins fifth grade in Juda, even if it includes math.
Some people take to the beach, like Monroe resident Lois Meinert and her daughter, Emily Zarling of Browntown. The pair brought Meinert's four grandchildren to Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area on Tuesday afternoon, a common stomping ground for the kids.
"It's been a good summer; fast," Meinert said. "We try to come here or to the city pool. They love the opportunity to just swim and be playing in the sand."
Zarling said they traveled to The Wilderness in Wisconsin Dells to spend time at a water park, though noted travel there is more often done in winter. The group also trekked up to a family cabin near Rhinelander, to go tubing and fishing.
Argyle student Brinley Meinert, who turns 9 on the final day of August, said fishing was her favorite part of the trip. She plans to make the best of her final days before school begins again by enjoying an owl-themed party put on by her family.
Mason Zarling, 6, Monroe, said visiting Wisconsin Dells was the best part of his summer vacation and does not look forward to beginning first grade. Brinley's brother, 10-year-old Braelyn, said he doesn't mind the opportunity to return to school, if only to take part in his favorite subject, physical education.
As the group created a "pit of doom," which 9-year-old Hudson Zarling said was a hole dug to knee-deep or higher, they enjoyed the 72-degree weather and talked about the semi-functioning boat they took out on the lake while on vacation.
Despite being stuck in the middle of the lake a few times, the kids "still did a fair amount of tubing," Braelyn said. It was still speedier than the alternative.
"We used to go tubing with our pontoon, but ... it got too easy for us, then we were like 'ugh, boring,'" Brinley said.
Emily said the kids love going to spend time on the playground and the variety of activity Cadiz Springs provides for the children so the day outside lasts longer.
"When they get tired of the water, then they can come up here and play in the sand and build castles or pools or whatever for a while," Meinert said.
Playground equipment at Twining Park has been in frequent use over the summer by 4-year-old Autymn Norton of Juda.
Autymn's mom, Kelly Norton, said she has been staying close to home because of the recent arrival of her 3-month-old son, Kenneth. Kelly, a school nurse in DeForest, said Monroe Public Library programs and a monthly art class at Monroe Theatre Guild keep Autymn occupied. They also took an overnight family trip to Dubuque, Kelly said, to visit the Mississippi River Museum recently. Kelly said she brought Autymn and 10-year-old Ella Dundee to Twining to get some time under the sun and in the fresh air.
"I like when it is nice and hot, so I love, love wearing my sunglasses," Autymn said. "They're princess, and they have sparkles and jewels on the side, and they have a butterfly."
Autymn has enjoyed the sunny months of summer at the public pool, or what she calls the "ducky pool," and in summer school. She will start 4-K in September.
"I don't know what I'm going to do there, but I did go to summer school," Autymn said. "We played some games and watched some videos. Also one boy got in trouble because he ran in school. Ms. Zimmerman was our teacher. I didn't know her but then I got to know her."
Dundee went horseback riding on vacation and said she was excited to try zip-lining at the Mall of America in Minnesota. She said she spends a lot of her summer vacation with her family but also looks forward to seeing her friends each day when she begins fifth grade in Juda, even if it includes math.