Recreation Wellness

Get Hygge! Check Out Wintermission’s New Winter Challenges

seven challenges encourage locals to embrace winter (and maybe win cool prizes)!

Rebecca Mennecke, photos by Andrea Paulseth |

Cross-country skiing at Lowes Creek County Park outside Eau Claire.
Cross-country skiing at Lowes Creek County Park outside Eau Claire.

If you’re wondering what the heck “hygge” is (or how you can integrate the word into your everyday vernacular), check out Wintermission, Visit Eau Claire, and Eau Claire Healthy Communities’ new winter challenge that encourages you and your family to get outside and stay active!

Seven challenges will be posted on the Wintermission Facebook page and EauWinter.com in the next two weeks. If you share a photo of your “Hygge moment” with the hashtag #EauWinter, you may be one of two lucky participants to win a $50 gift card to Altoona Family Restaurant or a $50 gift card to EC/DC.

These challenges are a fun way to get outside and enjoy Eau Claire’s beauty as well as a way to stay healthy, according to Wintermission’s partners. Eau Claire Healthy Communities says getting outside in winter can help you keep up a good exercise routine, soak in some Vitamin D, and relieve stress. The first two Hygge challenges have already been posted, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give ’em a shot!

Hygge Challenge #1

Tag a friend who YOU challenge to wear proper winter attire. We humans are like onions in the winter: We must dress in layers to stay warm! Share your winter outfit with us with #EauWinter!

Hygge Challenge #2

Tag a friend who you challenge to bake some warm, delicious treats! Don't forget to ask them to share the goodies with you too. 😉 Show us a photo of the yummy warm treats you make with #EauWinter! 🍪 ❄️


Check out facebook.com/wintermissioneauclaire to keep up with the latest hygge challenges (and to get a full definition of what “hygge” means). 

If you’re looking for more new ways to enjoy winter in Eau Claire, check out Visit Eau Claire’s winter bucket list here. For wintery resources and tips for things to do, check out www.visiteauclaire.com/winter.