Summer Break 2023 Resources

For Carolina students who find themselves in the Chapel Hill area for some or all of Summer break, there are still many services available and plenty of activities to keep you busy.

Where to Eat 

Resources for students facing food insecurity: 

For students interested in other resources to address food insecurity, the UNC Writing and Learning Center shares a blog post: How I Dealt with Food Insecurity on Campus. 

Things to Do Around and Off-Campus 

• Triangle on the Cheap is a resource that helps you find free and cheap things to do throughout the Triangle every day of the year:  
• Start your weekend off with Fridays on the Front Porch every Friday evening beginning April 7th at the Carolina Inn. Enjoy live music and cuisine from a weekly food truck lineup.  
• Shop for local produce at farmers’ markets in your area. There are many markets in the Triangle but here are a few: Chapel Hill Farmers' Market, Carrboro Farmers’ Market, Durham Farmers’ Market  
• Visit the North Carolina Botanical Gardens  
• Twilight Thursdays at the North Carolina Botanical Gardens: Every Thursday from April 6 to June 15, the NCBG are open until 7 pm.  
• Visit the Sarah P. Duke Gardens  
• Attend free events on the Southern Village Green including the Sunday Music Series 
• Carolina and the surrounding area offer many opportunities for nature walks and hikes. Our Healthy Heels blog outlines many ways students can get outside and explore nature around UNC-Chapel Hill.  
• Explore history on Free Museum Days 
• Get active with Free Fitness Classes and Events 

Service Hours

During summer break, on-campus services hours may change. Visit the department's website for additional information and the most updated hours of operation. 

Using Campus Health and CAPS during the Summer

Many of the main services at Campus Health and CAPS are already paid for with the Campus Health Fee, a mandatory fee that all degree-seeking students pay through fees/tuition each term. In general, you can use Campus Health and CAPS in the summer by paying the health fee. 

Students and post-docs who paid the spring semester Campus Health Fee can still use services over the summer with the following caveats:  

• Graduating students: Can access services for 30 days after graduation, which this year is until June 13th.  
• Summer school: Students who take summer classes typically pay the health fee in tuition and fees for that summer term, making them eligible for care over the summer. 
• Returning students: Those not taking summer classes but returning for fall classes may pay the summer access charge (equal to the Campus Health fee) to be eligible to receive care during that summer term.  
• Rx: All UNC-affiliated persons are welcome to use  Campus Health Pharmacy and Student Stores Pharmacy regardless of whether they pay the health fee. If you need to transfer your prescription, ask the pharmacy where you would like your Rx to call and request the transfer.  

Remember, the Campus Health Fee benefits students because copays or coinsurance do not apply for most services. This approach ensures cost is not a barrier to access for students requiring medical and mental health services. During the summer, when many students travel away from the area, the Campus Health Fee is only charged to those students accessing services or taking classes on campus instead of all students.