Millions expected to bike, walk and roll to school Oct. 7

Millions of children around the world are getting ready to hop on their bikes or lace up their shoes to get to school in fun and active ways. Walk and Roll to School Day Oct. 7 celebrates and encourages students getting to school in healthy ways. This year we are expecting more participating schools than ever.

The day is part of Safe Routes to School, an international movement that works to get kids to use active transportation to get to and from school.

At Hatch Elementary in Oak Park, teachers plan to walk to school together on Walk and Roll to School Day and administrators will greet children at the door.

“I think it’s really important to bring an awareness to student and their parents so it becomes a community event,” said Sandy Noel, a P.E. teacher at Hatch Elementary. “The children can see it’s an event for them, but it’s supported by adults who care about their health and well-being.”

Safe Routes focuses on barriers ranging from driving culture to broken sidewalks. Find out more here.

Easy DIY Walk and Roll to School Day ideas

Walk and Roll to School events can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. The national Walk to School Day website (www.walktoschool.org) is chock full of great ideas for planning your own event. Here are some of their quick tips for getting started:

1. Get partners. Ask the school principal, the local police department, parents and students to partner with you. Invite local officials and community leaders to attend the celebration.
2. Plan. Consider what kind of event best fits your school and community. Is it health? Environment? Safety?
3. Register. Your event can be listed as a Walk to School Day event when you register at www.walktoschool.org. It also connects you to resources and publicity opportunities.
4. Promote. Use flyers, press releases and signs on the day of the event to announce your celebration to the public.
5. Have fun! Walk and Roll to School Day should be fun and remind families and neighbors about the simple joy of walking or rolling to school.

Send us photos of your event! We want to see all the smiling faces and spinning wheels. Email margo@activetrans.org.

Keep it up! Walk Across Illinois Mileage Challenge

Walk and Roll to School Day Oct. 7 can inspire schools to keep up the fun and active habits all year.

The Walk Across Illinois Mileage Challenge is a perfect way to keep that momentum going.

The contest is a free, customizable, online program for any school. Students earn Mileage Challenge “miles” for their actually biking, walking and rolling trips. They use those miles to track their progress on virtual historic Illinois routes like the Underground Railroad, Cherokee Trail of Tears and Lincoln Highway.

Schools can tailor the program to meet their needs. The Challenge can range anywhere from 95 to 230 miles, and it can last as little as eight weeks or as long as 20 weeks. Plus, teams can register as a classroom or an entire school.

The Mileage Challenge, which is funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation, is one of several Walk Across Illinois programs that help students and teachers use physical activity to improve their health, the environment and our communities. Join the Challenge at www.walkacrossillinois.org.

Congratulations to our mini-grant winners!

The Active Transportation Alliance awards mini-grants to schools for a Walk and Roll to School Day celebration.

• Blaine Elementary, Chicago
• Finkl Elementary, Chicago
• Neil Elementary, Chicago
• H.R. McCall Elementary, Waukegan
• Washington Elementary, Evanston
• Scarlet Oak School, Oak Forest

Grant winners receive $500 to execute a Walk and Roll to School Day celebration, T-shirts, signs and Clif bars.

Thanks to this year’s supporters! AAA, FedEx, Active Transportation Alliance, Safe Kids, Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Village Cycle Center, Clif, Chipotle Stakeholders Collaboration to Improve Student Health, Cook County Department of Public Health, Illinois Principals Association, League of Illinois Bicyclists and Walk Across Illinois.