Picture the first Wednesday of October: students, parents, teachers, and local officials from around the world all walk to school together to celebrate International Walk to School Day. With a focus on health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment, International Walk to School Day has become an excellent event to spread the joy of walking to school, remind the community of the health benefits of regular daily activity, and bring attention to the need for safe places to walk and bike.

 

But what happens the next day? The next week? The next month?  Knowing how walking or biking to school increases a child’s sense of freedom and responsibility and provides beneficial outdoor exercise, why limit Walk to School Day to a once-a-year event?  Instead, why not use International Walk to School Day to kick off a full year of fun and healthy walk-to-school events?

 

Keep On Walking

International Walk to School Day events can often be large in scale, involving parents, schools, police officers, crossing guards, local officials, nonprofit groups, and journalists. Events often involve volunteers greeting walkers with stickers, giveaways, and healthy refreshments, and culminate in a welcoming ceremony where school principals or police officers can remind children about pedestrian and bicycle safety. With all of the planning and preparation that goes into organizing

a highly visible and memorable celebration of International Walk to School Day, the thought of organizing a full year’s worth of walk and bike to school events can seem daunting. But the task need not be overwhelming.

 

There is no one way to run a walk and bike to school program; each school and community will find their own ways to encourage kids to walk and bike.  Successful programs can be as simple as a few kids and parents meeting to walk or bike to school together, or more elaborate programs with detailed walking school bus and bike train routes.  Events can be held weekly, such as “Walk and Wheel Wednesdays,” or they can be held monthly as themed events.  Whichever schedule is chosen, the most important key to success is maintaining interest and momentum.

 

Walking With Purpose
With all the benefits of walking and biking to school, many different highlights or themes can be used to make events both informative and entertaining.  Themes to focus on include:

 

• Promoting Healthy Lifestyles – integrating physical activity, helping students, parents, and school staff to incorporate walking and biking into their daily routines.  Encouraging children to walk to school can be a great way to help ensure they complete the 60 minutes (or more) of daily activity recommended by the Centers for