NORWAY — The Maine West initiative is challenging people across the Oxford Hills, greater Bethel and River Valley areas to earn cash rewards for local food pantries by getting outside for healthy activities during the upcoming school vacation week.

Starting Friday, Feb. 12, people can sign up for the Second Nature Adventure Challenge and start tracking trail-based winter hikes, walks, cross country ski trips and fat bike rides on Maine Trail Finder, a website that connects people to trails across the state. If 100 area residents sign on and record an activity between Feb. 12 and 21, Maine West will contribute $3,000 to help area food pantries respond to food insecurity driven by the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last fall Maine West donated $6,000 to food pantries after Second Nature Adventure Challenge participants logged 709 outdoor activities. This time, organizers are shifting the goal to focus on the number of people getting outside to recreate over the school vacation week.

“Winter is a great time to enjoy outdoor activities in Maine, but we know not everyone is comfortable getting out in the cold and snow,” said Brendan Schauffler, facilitator of the Oxford County Wellness Collaborative and program coordinator for the challenge. “The Second Nature Adventure Challenge can help people find outdoor activities that match their comfort level while also supporting important work by local food pantries to respond to COVID-19-related hunger in our communities.”

Beneficiaries will each receive $1,000 contributions if 100 Maine West area residents sign on and log an activity. This year’s beneficiaries include: Bethel area, Woodstock Food Pantry, Woodstock; Oxford Hills, Daddy O’s Act of Kindness Foundation, Oxford; and River Valley, RSU 56 Food Pantries, Dixfield.

To sign up, visit secondnaturemaine.com.

The Second Nature Adventure Challenge is a project of Maine West (mainewest.org) ― a partnership of local and regional organizations working to enhance community well being in western Maine through increased collaboration across the economic, education, health and conservation sectors.

Maine West works across the Oxford Hills, River Valley and Bethel-Mahoosuc areas of northern Oxford County, to provide network-based, collaborative programming in three areas: active communities, broadband access and adoption, and educational attainment and aspirations.