International Walk to School month

Today we have a guest post from Janet Barlow from the Ecology Action Centre. Thanks Janet!

October is International Walk to School month! Will you be walking with your kids? By participating in this fun event, schools and groups show their support for health, safety and the environment. They can participate for one day, one week or the entire month and register at www.saferoutesns.ca (click IWALK) to receive a free Organizer Kit. Remember, schools with bussed students can organize walks on school property, in the community or on a local trail. Ask your child’s school if it’s registered yet. If not, consider taking the lead for your school and helping to organize an event.

Registered schools qualify for some great prize draws including:

• StepsCount school pedometer kit
• Green Teacher magazine one-year subscription
• Ecology Action Centre one-year membership

We thank Green Teacher and StepsCount for their generous prize donations.

Have kids not yet in school? Daycares can participate too. Even if it’s not possible to walk there, you can still have an intentional walk once everyone arrives. Consider having a walk in the neighbourhood, at a local park or on a nearby trail.

Schools and groups can add a special touch to their events by purchasing I Walk to School resources at the Active & Safe Routes to School Virtual Store. Order hats, t-shirts and more from www.mprusso.com/iwalk/home.asp.

New this year is WOW – We Often Walk (or Wheel), which promotes weekly walking days. By registering for WOW, a school or group receives free posters to promote its WOW day as well as a WOW card for each participating student. Students check off a box on the card each time they walk or wheel to school. The school arranges for rewards for students who fill up their WOW cards. Schools or groups may register at www.saferoutesns.ca (click WOW).

About IWALK

International Walk to School Month is an initiative of Active & Safe Routes to School (ASRTS), which encourages more children, youth and their families to use active transportation – such as walking and cycling – for the environment, physical activity and traffic safety. It is coordinated in Nova Scotia by the Ecology Action Centre in partnership with the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection, as part of the Active Kids Healthy Kids initiative.