The new year brings a new challenge for Edgecomb Eddy School students. This month, students at the pre-kindergarten through grade six school will participate in the first ever WinterKids Winter Games.

The event is a four-week series of physical activity and nutrition challenges designed to keep kids active in the winter and learn healthy habits. Each school is encouraged to involve volunteers, parents, healthy eating and active living organizations in their community, and hold a winter carnival to close out the month’s events.

WinterKids selected one school in each of Maine’s sixteen counties to participate in this new program. Schools compete for weekly points based on the total percentage of the student body that participates. Edgecomb Eddy is the Lincoln County school for 2018.

Schools competing in the WinterKids Winter Games receive a toolkit full of resources and incentives to help students earn points, including the award-winning WinterKids Guide to Outdoor Active Learning – an easy to use resource helping kids move, learn, and explore outdoors while meeting education standards, according to WinterKids.

“Our students are excited for this opportunity to promote a healthy lifestyle and enjoy the splendor of Maine in winter. We are thrilled to be selected to participate in the Winter Games with fun outdoor activities and lessons focused on nutrition and winter exercise,” said Edgecomb Eddy Principal Ira Michaud.

The school has planned a series of events including a whole-school winter games kickoff, outdoor competitions and learning activities, nutritional lessons with Lisa Packard of Morris Farm and Angela Trombley of Tarbox Farm; family engagement activities; learning opportunities with environmental educator Tracey Hall of Boothbay Region Land Trust; and a winter carnival including a closing ceremony and engaging activities at Midcoast Conservancy’s Hidden Valley Nature Center.

Schools earn points for each competition. The top three schools earn a cash prize. The gold medal school earns $5,000. The silver medal school receives $2,500. The bronze medal school wins $1,500.

WinterKids is a nonprofit organization which helps children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun outdoor winter activity. The organization delivers innovative outdoor programs for families, schools and communities.