A couple of communities close to Estevan have entered the Saskatchewan In Motion Community Challenge in an effort to win $10,000 for recreation projects.

Bienfait and Lampman have submitted bids for the contest. Bienfait would use the money to assist with their efforts to construct a new outdoor pool. Lampman would earmark the money for a new spray park.

Communities from across the province are vying for the money.

The contest requirements are simple: residents need to track how long they've been physically active each day, log onto the In Motion website, and submit their daily minutes of activity. The competition began on March 1, and it will continue until March 15.

People can submit up to 90 minutes of activity a day. They don't have to live in the community to support the bid, either; friends and family of people who live in a community can also register.

Bienfait resident Lucille Michel, who submitted Bienfait's bid, said she decided to enter Bienfait because she knows that the outdoor pool is a project that the community needs, and that it's worthy of support.

She said that people can submit any sort of physical activity.

“Use your gym time, your recess time at school, sporting events such as hockey, basketball, swimming or anything else,” said Michel.

People can run on the spot, or they can even use their time spent shovelling snow.

Lampman recreation director Haley Ingham said they want to build a spray park because they community is always looking for projects that will result in more activities for children.

“I think it's really important, especially with the high rates of childhood obesity,” said Ingham. “We're really trying to nip that in the bud, and get funding for kids to stay active.”

Ingham said that winning the $10,000 would be fantastic, but her biggest goal is to teach everybody the importance of physical activity and the various forms of activity. It can range from running on a treadmill in a fitness room, to taking a dog for a walk.

Michel and Ingham said that people in their respective communities have taken a keen interest in the challenge, and want to win the money.

The community with the most minutes of physical activity will be declared the winner. The competition's victor will be announced March 18.

Elbow won the inaugural contest last year.