The end of summer is a bummer.

That was the prevailing sentiment Monday at the Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center, where about 1,000 swimmers splashed in the pool and soaked up rays on Labor Day before the pool closed for the season.

Some consider the start of school in mid-August or the official start of fall Sept. 23 to mark the end of summer.

But die-hard swimmer Regan Keller said summer ended Monday, when she packed away her swimming suit for the winter months. Surrounded by friends in the heat, she was waxing poetic about the waning hours of the pool.

“We need to soak up all the goodness of the pool we can and let it out little by little all over the year,” the 10-year-old said.

Regan and her sisters  Rachel, 12, and Sadie, 5  had a special reason to be at the pool Monday. They were helping their father, Tim, celebrate his 43rd birthday.

“It’s the last day of summer,” Tim Keller said. “My birthday’s a national holiday. It’s so nice the whole nation takes the day off just for me.”

For 10-year-old Kyle Longabach, summer ended several weeks ago when Lawrence public schools started classes.

“I don’t like getting up early every day,” he said. “I’m so used to getting up at 11.”

His friend, Jonathan Van Vliet, 10, agreed. He already was missing time with friends.

“For me, I’m not really in any of my friends’ classes,” he said.

Area lakes also were popular destinations this weekend.

Joey Rayl, park ranger at Clinton Lake, said he didn’t have an official estimate for lake attendance but said the lake had been busy.

“It’s one of the slower holidays compared to Independence Day and Memorial Day,” he said. “But most of our campsites are full. The beach is busy. The shelters got a lot of use from picnics.”

Bunnie Watkins, park manager at Perry Lake, said about 30,000 people camped, picnicked and swam at the lake this weekend. She said the crappie and bass were even biting better than usual for fishermen.

“It’s been a great, safe, happy weekend,” she said.

Watkins noted that Perry campgrounds remain open until Oct. 15.

“There’s plenty of great fall weather to enjoy the outdoors,” she said.

Back at the pool, 10-year-old Gabe Ballard said he was sad about the end of summer. But he had his sights set on the future.

“Sledding’s kind of cool,” he said.