Yellowknife (Aug 22/03) - Most kids faces go pale as their minds flash forward to the first day of school. It's coming soon, and students of all ages are cramming fun into what is left of their summer.

Catholic school children re-enter hallways on Aug. 27, while public school students have until Sept. 2 before heading back.

Yellowknifer hit the streets to ask kids what they have planned for their last days of freedom.

Amelia Wiseman, 10, and Gillian Waugh, 11, were in-line skating down 52nd avenue with Gillian's dog, Peppi.

Having more sleepovers is on their agenda, and they are definitely going to do more swimming in the lake.

We asked the girls if summer holidays were long enough for them. Amelia replied, "school is too long, and summer is too short."

At Wade Hamer Mini-Golf, Adam Harriot and Simon Austin would prefer to spend the whole year playing, rather than learning.

"The summer always goes by too fast," complained eight-year-old Simon.

The two friends will squeeze tubing, camping, and lots of playing in before Labour Day, and then reluctantly put their noses to the grindstone.

We did find one exception to the anti-school rule.

Eight-year-old Keegan Anatiw loved his fishing trip this summer, and tubing down the Yellowknife River, but he doesn't mind going back to school.

When asked if his summer was long enough, Keegan shrugs his shoulders and says, "Yeah, it was."

Over all, times don't seem to have changed much. Most kids still say they don't like going back to school in the fall.

Maybe as the weather turns crispy in the fall, students aged five to 18 will be glad they are safely huddled in a warm classroom.