It’s time to unplug, step outside, and soak up some fresh air! Teens to Trails just announced the 2025 Life Happens Outside® Challenge — a fun week-long event happening May 9–16 that encourages Maine middle schoolers to spend more time outdoors. Students in grades 5–8 across 22 schools (and counting!) will be lacing up their sneakers, grabbing their bikes, and logging outdoor hours — everything from hiking and sports to just hanging out in nature.
And there’s a little friendly competition involved, too: the top three schools with the most outdoor hours will each score $1,000 to put toward even more outdoor adventures in their communities!
Last year, 13 schools racked up over 35,000 hours outside. This year, Teens to Trails is aiming even higher — and they’ve got awesome support from sponsors UNUM and First National Bank to make it happen.
Alicia Heyburn, Executive Director of Teens to Trails, says it best: “We continue to hear from students, teachers, and parents about the profound impact spending time outdoors can have on mental health. This challenge is an opportunity to celebrate that connection and inspire our next generation of outdoor enthusiasts.”
Want to learn more or support the challenge? Visit teensotrails.org! 
