Have you heard of the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge?
I’ve been hearing about this online and many people are trying it out!
This is a challenge to help kids spend 1000 hours outside in 2021. There is a website and free printables to track your hours outside.
We printed one of the full year trackers and the first 100 hours tracker.
Of course, it’s for anyone, and all outdoor time counts, whether it’s in Minnesota or anywhere else!
So…where to begin? Especially here in Minnesota during COVID?

Here are some tips for getting started!
1.Start with the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge website and Facebook page. Print free tracker sheets to fill out with your family!
2. Explore Minnesota! Minnesotans are pros at outdoor fun in the summer, since it goes so fast here! But in the winter, there are many places to go hiking, sledding, skiing and more. Start with shorter outings on these shorter days and expand to longer outings as we get closer to summer.
Some websites worth checking out to find outdoor fun:
Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board
-Check out free Adventure Hubs in Minneapolis!
-Check out the Tree Gnome Scavenger Hunt!
I posted on my Facebook page a question – “Favorite Sledding Hills in the Twin Cities?” And here’s what you said!
-My backyard! -Amanda N.
-Tamarack Nature Center! – JC
-Lions Park, Valley Place, Crystal – Kathy D.
-Keys Park, Columbia Heights – Shawn E.
-Tablyn Park, Lake Elmo – Brooke S.
Kelli M. suggested the “Get Out and Try – St. Croix Valley” Facebook page for ideas and the best sledding hills on the east side of the Twin Cities!
3. If you have a fourth grader in Minnesota, sign them up for their FREE parks pass and Minnesota Ski Areas Passport! The free parks pass will get your family free admission to parks nationwide! And the Ski passport will give your child free ski passes all around Minnesota for a one-time passport fee.
4. Print this FREE Winter Scavenger Hunt! Just click and print here:
FREE PRINTABLE!
Do you plan to do the 1000 hours outside challenge?