The Challenge has often benefitted local out-of-school care programs by providing funding to help support getting kids outside and active, like this group from the Mahoosuc Kids Association (seen at Mt. Will in Bethel)

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 food pantries by getting outside for healthy outdoor activities this summer.

The Summer 2023 Second Nature Adventure Challenge kicked off on July 4 and will run through Labor Day. The event encourages people to get outside and active, then track activities of all types via a mobile-friendly survey. This participation is counted toward a collective goal of 1,200 outdoor, nature-based activities by September 4. When this goal is reached, Maine West will contribute $4,500 to area food pantries. Activities can include hiking, biking, rolling, swimming, paddling, disc golf, and more—it’s being outside and active that matters.

“We know people sometimes need a little extra incentive to make time to get out and enjoy healthy outdoor activities,” said Brendan Schauffler, facilitator of the Oxford County Wellness Collaborative and program coordinator for the Challenge. “To provide that extra incentive, the Second Nature Challenge encourages people to combine their enjoyment of nature and outdoor activity with an opportunity to do good for local organizations.”

Once participants reach the challenge goal of 1,200 recorded activities, Maine West will contribute $4,500 ($1,500 each) to help three local food pantries. Beneficiaries of the Summer 2023 Second Nature Adventure Challenge include:

• Bethel Area: Bethel Food Pantry

• Oxford Hills: Community Lunch/Food Distribution at the Norway UU Church

• River Valley: Old School Food Pantry, Rumford

In the past three years, hundreds of Second Nature Challenge participants have completed thousands of outdoor activities and secured over $20,000 in contributions to help area non-profits address food insecurity and help get kids active outdoors.

“Food costs have gone way up recently due to inflation,” said Allie Burke, Executive Director of River Valley Health Communities Coalition—the organization that runs the Old School Food Pantry in Rumford. “It’s been hard for many pantries to stay stocked up with the food needed to meet the need in our communities. Funding from Second Nature will definitely help.” 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.

The group also operates a Recovery Outings program for those in recovery from substance use, and their friends and families, in partnership with the Western Maine Addiction Recovery Initiative and the Larry Labonte Recovery Center. In addition, Maine West provides an outings program for older adults in the River Valley and Oxford Hills areas, in conjunction with River Valley Health Communities Coalition and Healthy Oxford Hills, respectively.