Safe Routes to School National Conference. Save the date: August 19-21, 2009 – pre-conference health workshop on August 18, 2009, at the Hilton Portland, Oregon. Please check www.saferoutesconference.org for registration information.

 

Call for proposals – Feb. 2, 2009 deadline

 

The conference will offer 90-minute workshops and interactive 180-minute training sessions directed at a single age group or geographic location (urban, suburban, rural). Anyone who is actively involved in Safe Routes to School can submit a proposal on any of the following topics: Transportation, Infrastructure and Safety; Empowering Families and Youth; Education and Encouragement; Health and Evaluation; Growing the SRTS Movement. Please visit www.saferoutesconference.org to submit a proposal by February 2, 2009. For more information, e-mail scottyelton@btabikes.org.

 

Communities across New Jersey participate in iWalk Month

Joining a worldwide community of children, parents, teachers and local leaders, students throughout New Jersey participated in International Walk to School (iWalk) Month this October. Communities in over 40

countries are using iWalk events to promote walking and biking to school. Students at 69 schools throughout New Jersey were among more than 3,000 schools nationally to celebrate iWalk Month. New Jersey events varied from community to community, including:

• In Edison, students at the Menlo Park Elementary School celebrated their first iWalk event.  Students created posters with walking themes to carry during the walk to school.  Once they arrived at school, “I Walked to School” stickers were given to all walkers to wear during the day, qualifying them to enter a raffle for a chance to win gift cards.
• In Tenafly, children at the Mackay, Maugham, Smith, and Stillman elementary schools were encouraged to walk to school with their parents. In addition, middle school students met at their former elementary school to walk together with signs. Many teachers and principals also walked. Once the children arrived at school, they were greeted by the school staff and members of the local police department. Each walker was given a sticker and a bracelet printed with the community’s own unique “Safe Routes to School Walk on Wednesdays” logo.