GET MOVIN'! Chippewa County launched its first "On the Go in the Snow: Chippewa Winter Challenge" promotion encouraging folks to go have fun outdoors and earn prizes for doing so.

If you’re already getting your groove on outdoors this winter – or looking for a reason to do so – you could earn prizes from Chippewa County for doing it. Chippewa County has launched its first-ever On the Go in the Snow: Chippewa Winter Challenge in hopes of encouraging locals to explore outdoor fun in the area.

The health coalition and tourism branch of the Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is behind the recreation-boosting promotion, which is being held from January through March. To participate, all folks need to do is engage in any outdoor activity for at least 30 minutes, snap a photo, and send it to the Chamber of Commerce via email (visitorcenter@chippewachamber.org) or to the Chippewa Health Improvement Partnership (CHIP) Facebook page. The email should include your contact information, the date, and the location of the activity you did in the photo. 

Prizes include a “Go in the Snow” sticker and entry into monthly drawings for more prizes. 

Go Chippewa County’s website offers a ton of ideas for locations to go have wintry fun and some ideas for outdoor recreation. 

“We are so fortunate to have amazing amenities during our winter season that can take us out of our walls to create memories, have purposeful movement, and experience our beautiful county,” Go Chippewa County Tourism Director Jackie Boos said. “Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, and hiking are just a few of the many options available.” 

Despite all of the outdoor recreation the Chippewa Valley offers, it can be challenging for some folks to get movin’ and groovin’ during the colder months. According to the latest County Health Rankings, only one in four Chippewa County residents report engaging in physical activity outside of work in a typical month.

Besides the opportunity to take full advantage of the beautiful outdoors in the Valley and the array of recreation opportunities, CHIP Coordinator Melissa Ives also noted that physical activity plays a key role in preventing and managing a host of chronic diseases, from heart disease to dementia to Type 2 diabetes and more. 

“Winter may make it even harder to remain active, but the risks associated with chronic diseases do not go away just because there is snow on the ground,” Ives said.

So, get outside and snap a photo of your wintry fun for a shot at free prizes! 

Visit gochippewacounty.com for more information or the Chippewa Health Improvement Partnership Facebook page.