Step Into Spring with Crow Wing Energized

 A community steps challenge launches May 4 — and the data shows it works

Spring is here, the trails are calling, and Crow Wing Energized is inviting you to answer. Mark your calendars for May 4–25 and get ready to lace up your shoes for the seventh annual movement challenge, this time reimagined as a pure steps challenge called Step Into Spring.

Whether you’re a casual walker looking for motivation, a retiree wanting to get outside more, or a parent hoping to model healthy habits for your kids, this challenge was built for you. Grab a group of up to four people: friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors, or sign up solo and Crow Wing Energized will find you a team. Everything is tracked through a simple, free app that’s easy to pick up regardless of your comfort with technology.

After six successful challenges that brought together over 500 community members, Crow Wing Energized made a deliberate choice for this round: steps only. No converting workouts to steps, no double-dipping. Just walking: one foot in front of the other. That decision comes directly from feedback gathered after past challenges, where participants noted that converting other activities to steps sometimes felt unfair and took away from the pure, shared joy of walking together. This challenge is about building a simple, sustainable habit: getting outside and moving your body every day.

Before each challenge, Crow Wing Energized surveys its participants about their activity levels and goals. Before joining, the average participant rated their current activity level at just 51 out of 100 — right in the middle of the road. A significant number, more than 10%, reported exercising zero days per week, and nearly a third exercised just one or two days a week.

After the challenge? The difference is remarkable. When asked whether the challenge motivated them to exercise more frequently, participants gave an average score of 88 out of 100, with the majority scoring it a 95 or above. And a full 90% said they would recommend the Crow Wing Energized challenge to friends or coworkers.

What are people hoping to get out of it? The pre-challenge surveys reveal a consistent theme across hundreds of responses: accountability. Over and over, participants wrote that they wanted someone, a teammate, a leaderboard, a friendly nudge, to help them stay consistent. Post-challenge, that’s exactly what they found, with participants describing team walk breaks, group encouragement, and a renewed sense of energy and well-being.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the timing of this challenge couldn’t be more fitting. Research consistently shows that regular physical activity reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety and can be as effective as antidepressants for mild to moderate depression. Studies show that people who exercise regularly have better mental health and emotional wellbeing and lower rates of mental illness. And here’s the encouraging part: exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous or take a long time! Low or moderate intensity activity is enough to make a meaningful difference in mood and thinking patterns. A daily walk around the block counts. A stroll at lunch with a coworker counts. Every step adds up, and every step is good for your mind as much as your body.

Crow Wing Energized is proud to partner with generous local businesses who have donated prizes for participants, including The Legacy, CTC, Pine Haven Cleaning, the Brainerd YMCA, Northland Arboretum, Grand Casino, and more. This kind of community support is what makes Crow Wing County such a special place to live, and it’s a reminder that when we take care of ourselves, we do it together.

The challenge runs May 4–25. Registration is free and easy. Scan the QR code to sign up, build your team, and take the first step toward a healthier, happier spring.