Communities across the province will have another chance to participate in a 10-day challenge designed to encourage communities to get outside and play, and maybe even win.

The inMotion Community Challenge offers an opportunity to compete for a $10,000 grand prize to go toward a project that gets kids and families out to play.

The challenge takes place in February, when participants can log their activity. After the 10 days is up, the community with the most activity minutes wins.

“We really see how it brings the community together, especially successful communities plan a lot of events and community activities to make sure that people are getting their minutes,” explained Kim Herberger. “It’s really exciting to see that happening when the communities come together to get beside a project.”

She said activity minutes are logged daily, and the community with the most activity minutes wins the grand prize.

“Starting February 14th, individuals can create profiles on the challenge website, and you can go in daily and log your physical activity minutes, and you choose which community you want your minutes to go toward,” she explained.

This means members of communities that are not participating this year can still log minutes for another community.

“Even if you live in a community that does not participate in the challenge, you could still support it.”

Herperger explained that not every community has a project on the go in a given year, but there is still time to put together a plan. For example, does Weyburn have any inner-city playgrounds? Is there a way to get a plan for one together before February 8? Is there an outdoor play activity that requires funding that can be put forth in a timely manner?

The challenge has awarded $120,000 to 14 communities over the past 10 years. Winners have built trails and play spaces, and revitalized parks, rinks and swimming pools.

Anyone with ideas can act now, maybe even in time for the early-bird registration of December 14. Registering early is rewarded with extra minutes added to the total.

“Part of the registration process is identifying what your project is, and there’s some information there on the registration form that includes for example a high-level budget and a little bit of a plan in terms of what you want to do,” Herperger said.

“One of the things we ask for, for example, is that your Mayor signs off on the project, so that they’re aware and involved,” she explained. “We ask how the project will increase opportunities for kids to be active outdoors, some rough timelines and a short description of the project as well as a budget, including other money besides ours, if there is money from the municipality or fundraising, that kind of thing.”

Check the inMotion challenge web page for more information and the full contest rules and regulations.