WinterKids has opened the application window for the 2024 WinterKids Winter Games. The nonprofit organization will select 16 schools (one per Maine county) to compete in the four-week competition, set to take place from Jan. 8 through Feb. 2.

WinterKids is dedicated to helping children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun outdoor winter activities.

The Winter Games is an academic challenge promoting outdoor physical activity, teamwork and all things winter for children in grades preschool through eight. Each of the four weeks has a different focus — outdoor physical activity, nutrition, family engagement and winter celebration, with schools earning points to win cash prizes, according to a news release from Julie Mulkern, executive director.

Participating schools will receive a free, comprehensive toolkit, complete with PLAYBooks, four-weekly incentives and Winter Games wristbands. This year’s theme is The Little Things. Throughout the games, children and adult participants alike will see that little things can make a big difference in how people look at, and are seen in, the world.

Cash prizes will be awarded to all competing schools, with the top school earning $5,000. In all, WinterKids will share over $20,000 in cash and prizes to these schools.

The application is open until Monday, Oct. 23. Interested schools and teachers can find more information and access the Winter Games 2024 application by visiting WinterKids.org.

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