PINE RIVER — Winter in Minnesota can be tough, but sometimes all it takes is a little encouragement to step outside and embrace the inevitable.
Happy Dancing Turtle, a Pine River-based nonprofit, offers 24 reasons on their seasonal winter bingo scavenger hunt card — a creative way to explore nature and enjoy the outdoors.
The organization launched the activity in December 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as a way to keep people connected to nature. Each season, participants can grab a new bingo card filled with themed outdoor challenges, snap photos of their finds, and submit them via email or the Cluster app for a chance to win fun prizes.
Happy Dancing Turtle program manager Nora Woodworth joined the KAXE Morning Show's "The Bright Spot" recently. She said, "There's so many benefits from spending time out in nature all year long, so even getting out in winter is super important."
Items on this winter's bingo card include a tree that's bigger than a hug, a stump and something exhilarating. Woodworth said, "We've been getting lots of great sledding and ice skating pictures."
Some families have participated in every single bingo scavenger hunt offered by Happy Dancing Turtle. "It's like we are watching their kids grow through these photos," Woodworth said.
This year's winter bingo scavenger hunt runs through Jan. 20, so you still have time to participate!
Back to Basics: a celebration of sustainable living
In addition to winter bingo, Happy Dancing Turtle is preparing for its annual Back to Basics sustainable living event on Saturday, Feb. 15, at Pine River-Backus schools.
The day includes keynote speaker Benjamin Winchester, who will speak on rewriting the rural narrative and many workshops throughout the day. Vendors and exhibitors will showcase over 50 different booths highlighting locally made goods, educational materials and more.
Happy Dancing Turtle is a nonprofit organization based in Pine River with a stated mission to grow good stewards of the planet by providing education, programs and experiences for youths and adults that inspire wonder and empower change.
Is there a Bright Spot in your community? Let us know!
The Bright Spot is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
