The Timaru District Council is once again hosting its annual Sunsational Challenge.
The challenge encourages U18s to complete nine different challenges at council-owned facilities such as the Aigantighe Art Gallery, South Canterbury Museum, Temuka Library, Geraldine Library, Geraldine Historical Museum, Timaru Children’s Library and the Temuka Courthouse Museum.
There are also five outdoor challenges which involve visiting statues and sculptures around the region as well as a photo competition.
After completing each activity, participants receive a stamp on a special card that is given out at one of the facilities.
A badge is awarded for collecting three stamps, a free swim at a council swimming pool for six stamps and the chance to win prizes like a Chromebook or speakers by having nine stamps.
Aigantighe Art Gallery curator and Sunsational Challenge co-ordinator Izzy Hillman said the challenge was getting more popular each year.
"We're seeing good trajectory.
"Lots of families from out of town are also coming in, which is really cool.
"Last year I think we produced just over a thousand challenge cards and they all got handed out, so this year we’re hoping for slightly higher numbers and have made 1500 cards.
"It’s going well so far, the first week started on [January] the 6th and we’ve handed out a good 400 cards already.
"I’ve had the library and museum asking for more cards which is great and personally myself, I’ve already handed about 20 badges out."
She said the challenge was a great way to get families from outside the district to visit, but also to remind local families of what is available in their backyard.
"It's a really great opportunity nearing the end of the school holidays when sort of kids are running out of fun, exciting activities to do.
"To really hone into and reconnect with what's locally available for kids and what will be there consistently throughout the whole year is great.
"There's always great educational activities at all of the facilities all-year-round."
The challenge was also very beneficial for the facilities involved, she said.
"I'd say every second person through the door [at the gallery] was here specifically for Sunsational.
"So it's definitely a huge driver of numbers.
"It's great at that period in the holidays as well where people could just be at home just mulling in the last few weeks of their holiday to be getting out and doing something that's a free activity.
"It’s been very enjoyable to put together and we all look forward to seeing the kids come in and just run towards the activities.
"It’s exposing kids to more of the council facilities, especially the art gallery as some families would maybe just go to the library or the museum."
The challenge ends on January 23 and a prizegiving will be held at the Aigantighe Gallery on January 25 where the top prize winners will be announced.
