Life Happens Outside Challenge – Teens to Trails
The Life Happens Outside® Challenge is a way for an entire middle school community to intentionally spend lots of time outside for one week.
Every minute outside counts — from sports practice to dog walking, camping in the yard, or doing homework in the park!
It’s best when the whole school takes part and the community supports them.
Dates: May 10-17, 2024
Participants: Students and faculty at Maine Middle schools (grades 5-8)
The prize: The top 8 schools with the most outdoor minutes will win $1,000 to use towards outdoor activities for your school.
Teens to Trails
1. This contest is open to all Maine Middle Schools. Register for free to join the challenge.
2. Faculty, staff, and students in grades 5 – 8 may contribute their outdoor minutes. Make it a community event!
3. Eligible activities include anything outside! Examples: yard work, recess, picnics, building a fort, hanging out with friends, outdoor lunch, sports practice, homework, napping, or camping out!
4. Activities can take place before, during and after school, or at home with friends and family.
5. The Life Happens Outside® Challenge runs from Friday, May 10th 12:00 p.m. to Friday, May 17th 12:00 p.m.
6. Try our custom Life Happens Outside® App for tracking time (see below for details). Record minutes earned each day on this handy time-tracking spreadsheet.
7. Challenge Coordinators will tally total minutes and submit with quotes about how they promoted and supported the Challenge. They’ll also submit student quotes to track how they felt while spending more time outdoors (visit here).
Photos, with permission to republish, are also encouraged. Email pictures to info@teenstotrails.org or tag us on Facebook or Instagram @teenstotrails.
8. Challenge Coordinators submit their school tally by 5:00 p.m. May 23 through the final report.
9. Teens to Trails will calculate the winner based on total minutes divided by school population to equalize large and small schools chances to win.
10. On May 29th, the top schools with the most minutes/student (adjusted for size of school) will each be awarded $1,000. The winner should anticipate media attention, it will be worth shouting about!
Promote Your School – Download Poster
