6 Things I Did During My Sober Summer (from our college intern)

written by Savannah Behr

When you’re a teen or a preteen, summer is the best time of year. There’s no school, the weather in Marin County is gorgeous, and you’re never far from a forest or a body of water. Regardless, when you get to around fourteen, the season can get a little boring. I’ve known people to drink and smoke weed much more during the summer because they just want the time to pass. That might feel good in the moment but you end up blurring memories and dulling connections with people and experiences. 

One summer, my friends and I decided to embark on a little experiment. All home from college, we wanted to prove to ourselves that we could still have just as much fun completely substance-free.

We absolutely did. 

We reconnected with the activities we loved as kids and took full advantage of where we lived. I remember those three months so vividly and fondly; we were all completely present. 

Here is a list of my favorite things we did that, as long as you’ve got a licensed driver (parent works too), you can do as well. 

Lean into Cheap Movie Nights
Because people don’t take advantage of movie theaters as much as they could, theaters often have great deals. Cinemark theaters do eight-dollar movies on Tuesday. One of my friends had a subscription to AMC theaters and, going twice a month, I think the six of us only had to pay a couple of dollars each. Get some popcorn, a slushie, and go watch that movie you want to see before it gets spoiled on TikTok. 

Get Outside (And Climb a Tree)
Marin is, in my opinion, one of the most naturally beautiful places in the world. Pack some food or maybe grab a burrito and drive up to Bolinas Ridge for a sunset picnic. Go on a hike, go find a tree, and climb it. 

With the right weather, the beach will never not be fun. You can lie out with a book or, if you’d prefer more activity, dig a big hole and bury one of your friends up to their arms. Or make them a mermaid tail. You can also go sea glass hunting or bring sketchbooks and draw. If you’ve got access to paddleboards, kayaks, or even boogie boards, that’s a game-changer.

Learn a Hands-On Craft
Embroidering, sewing, bedazzling, and making stamps to print on clothes were my favorites, but the possibilities are endless. A lot of these things are easier than they look, and though the supplies may be initially expensive, you can typically get a lot of use out of them. We also once brought painting supplies to a park and tried to do portraits of each other. One or two turned out quite good, but even better, the rest were hilarious. 

Find a trampoline!
Either in someone’s backyard or a trampoline park. We went to a friend’s trampoline on a whim one night, and it became one of our favorite activities. 

Many of these things become more fun as you get older because they gain an element of ridiculousness. Four adult-sized people playing Dead Man is so much fun, and that’s partly because it’s a little ridiculous. Be careful, though, being double-bounced by a six-foot boy is no joke. 

Tackle an intense recipe
Baking is fun, too, but we found that some savory recipes were more involved as well as more rewarding. One day, my friends and I set out to make birria tacos. They were quite a bit of work, mainly because we had no idea what we were doing, but the process of finding the ingredients, figuring out the recipe together, sampling, and finally sitting down to eat them was so much fun. They also turned out delicious, and our friends who had only shown up for the eating part were very impressed. 

Brave a night swim
Night swimming deserves its own category. My most cherished summer memory was one particular night when we swam at the Strawberry Docks. We all jumped in, hand in hand, screaming and laughing at the cold, before hauling ourselves back up and collapsing into a giggling pile. 

Something about braving the freezing water with people you love is such a special feeling. You’ll be walking back soaking wet and shivering, but with the biggest smile on your face. 

The Takeaway

Summer doesn’t have to be a time of drinking and using drugs because you don’t know what else to do. It can be a time of making memories, emphasis on the remembering part, and trying new things with your friends. Doing things that are exciting or a little challenging, like birria tacos, and feeling all the feelings that come with them because you aren’t muting or dulling anything. I know there are plenty of people, both parents and young people, who may find this hard to believe, but for my friend group of college sophomores and juniors, our sober summer was genuinely our most fun yet. 

Savannah Behr is a Marin native and student at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she covers student health and safety for the CUIndependent. A Tam High alum, Savy brings lived experience with teen cannabis addiction and a passion for helping youth and parents better understand the real impact of underage substance use. Through her writing, research, and peer connection, she aims to support informed, prevention-focused conversations in the Marin community.