By G. Jayashanker, Contributing writer

Summertime is a great opportunity to relax and refresh yourself before the next year begins. Kids should use this time wisely to make sure that they improve their minds in new and creative ways.

Children can expand their horizons, and with some assistance travel, get a job or engage in community activities that are not only enjoyable, but also good for their academic resumes. After all, competition for college is fierce. This does not mean that summertime has to be completely productive, just that kids need to use that time wisely. The following are some ways they can do just that.

Get A Job Or Internship

While the children of yesterday spent their summers running lemonade stands, today's kids are getting sophisticated positions caring for animals, recruiting customers for life insurance and running local community organizations.

Students may need to choose between an unpaid position that may look excellent on their resume or a paid job that is less flashy but could allow for a travel budget. Kids just need guidance on how to find jobs, according to Kiplinger.com.

Experience Travel

Traveling is the kind of learning that cannot be had from a book or during the school year. Not only will students get exposed to new cultures and ways of life, but also they enjoy themselves and learn in new ways.

By traveling, kids get their horizons broadened, according to GlobalGateway.org. Students who travel are more likely to have significant life experiences that assist them with making big decisions. They are more responsible and are more worldly.

They also tend to not be as conceited and arrogant about themselves. There are a lot of benefits to travel for people of all ages.

Community Service Activities

There are many service-based activities available in your area, no matter where you are. You can invent your own or coordinate a new activity through social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook.

Try New Activities

Summer is the perfect time to try out new activities. Try to build a rocket from a kit or go dune buggy riding. Spend time at a local library or go to an opera. There are several activities that people do not seem to do often enough on a daily basis. Trying new activities can be great for kids and will go a long way toward staving off summertime boredom.