Teens to Trails is set to kick off the Life Happens Outside Challenge for Maine students in grades six to eight on Friday, Oct. 21.

The challenge is designed to get students and teachers outdoors, so they can experience all the positive benefits of spending time outside.

Brunswick-based Teens to Trails has made it easy for schools to participate. Any activity outside counts, such as homework at a picnic table, biking to school, sports practice or camping in one’s own backyard, according to a news release from Jennifer Hazard, communications manager.

The three schools that tally the most outdoor minutes, based on school size and population, each will win $1,000 towards outdoor programming for their school community.

“We are so excited to bring back the Life Happens Outside Challenge for our middle schools,” said Teens to Trails Executive Director Alicia Heyburn. “Last year, despite a rainy week, students, staff and teachers amazed us with their creativity. One PE class biked every day at lunch, students at an island school created a Slip and Slide for their classmates at recess, and a teacher boosted her school’s score by sleeping on her front porch. We can’t wait to see what schools do outside this year.”

The challenge runs from 3 p.m. Oct. 21 through 2:59 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. Rules and tally sheets can be found at teenstotrails.org/life-happens-outside-challenge

Winners will be announced in early November.

To learn what schools are signed up in area, contact Hazard at 207-749-0249 or j[email protected].

Check out other upcoming area events!