Mini-grant winners get ready for Walk and Roll to School Day

Six local schools will be cranking up their Walk and Roll to School Day programs on Oct. 6 thanks to mini-grants from the Active Transportation Alliance.

For Walk and Roll to School Day, millions of people around the world will be shining a spotlight on the need to get more kids walking and biking to school.

To mark the event, schools hold a variety of programs and activities—whether it’s a rally, an assembly, a contest, or any number of other possibilities that show students, parents and teachers the simple joy that comes with walking and biking to school.

Six area schools won a grant of $500 to help produce fun celebrations Oct. 6.
• Anne Sullivan Elementary School, Prospect Heights
• Horace Mann Elementary School, Oak Park
• Jackson Elementary School, Elmhurst
• Jane Addams Elementary School, Chicago
• Peter M. Gombert Elementary School, Aurora
• Stephen Gale Math and Science Academy, Chicago

All schools are invited to participate in Walk and Roll to School Day. The best Walk and Roll to School Day activities build momentum for ongoing efforts to increase safe walking and bicycling year-round. Some schools use the day to show how biking and walking to school can boost physical health, improve air quality, and help to create a community that is more walkable.

Schools also use the day for mapping walking and biking routes, organizing walking and wheelchair school buses, setting up bike trains, and holding walking audits and lunchtime walks. For more event ideas, visit www.walktoschool.org.

In addition to the $500 mini-grant, winning schools receive school safety patrol equipment, a banner to promote the event, snack bars, T-shirts, safety vests, signs, and stickers, as well as a Safe Routes to School consultation for the entire school district and safety resources for a Walk and Roll to School Day assembly.

The 2010 Walk and Roll to School Day mini-grant sponsors include AAA Chicago, Clif Kids, Village Cycle, Fruit2O, Honest Tea, Safe Kids Chicago, and FedEx.

Each year, Walk and Roll to School is held the first Wednesday of Oct.