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

Starting February 19, people can sign up for the Second Nature Adventure Challenge and start tracking all types of outdoor recreation activities—from skiing and snowshoeing to ice-skating, sledding, and walking.

If 200 area residents sign on and track an activity between February 19 and 27, Maine West will contribute $3,000 to help local groups increase opportunities for kids to get outside by organizing outings, providing outdoor gear, and other efforts.

Over the past two years, more than 500 people have teamed up to complete over 1,000 outdoor trail activities and secure $15,500 in community reward funding for food pantries and local after-school programs in Western Maine.

Past program beneficiaries have included Destination Paris, Mahoosuc Kids Association, Western Foothills Kids Association, Agnes Gray Elementary School Food Pantry, Bethel Food Pantry, and Servant’s Heart Food Pantry in Peru.

Beneficiaries of the 2022 Winter Second Nature Challenge will each receive at least $1,000 in contributions if 200 Maine West area residents sign on and log an activity as part of the Challenge. This year’s beneficiaries include:
•  Bethel Area: Bethel Recreation Department
•  Oxford Hills: Oxford Hills Bill Koch Youth Ski Club
•  River Valley: Chisholm Ski Club

“Funding from the Second Nature Adventure Challenge will help us continue to connect River Valley youth to skiing and snowboarding opportunities,” said Roger Arsenault, a board member of the Chisholm Ski Club. As the director of the Bethel Recreation Department, Mary Scanlon is excited about the support that Second Nature funding can provide to the town’s popular new ice rink.

“From young children putting on skates for the first time to experienced hockey players playing a pick-up game in the evening, the Bethel Community Ice Rink is getting many people outside that may have not done so otherwise,” shared Scanlon.

“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 local groups that are helping kids get out and enjoy the outdoors as well.”

Signing up for the Second Nature Adventure Challenge is free and easy. Visit www.secondnaturemaine.com to get started. The Second Nature Adventure Challenge is a project of Maine West (www.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.

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