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Schools announce International Walk to School plans

Imagine your morning commute if kids were able to walk or bike to school? Almost 25 percent of morning traffic is attributed to parents driving kids to school. International Walk to School Day (IWSD) began in the in the U.S. in the 1997, and every year since more schools participating, including Idaho.

Schools and communities participate in IWSD for many reasons. Sometimes it’s to promote physical activity, pedestrian safety or concern for the environment. Each year we see more schools involved with the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) programs. Last year, there were 3,500 events registered to participate at www.walktoschool.org, this was a 30 percent increase over the previous year.

Participating in IWSD is often the first step in making it possible for kids to walk and bike to school regularly. IWSD highlights a convergence of issues ranging from childhood obesity, to environmental pollution and rising fuel prices that are pushing families to rethink how they travel, including the daily trip to school. Here are some of the ways Idaho schools that have been awarded SR2S funds plan to participate:

Idaho Falls: This Bonneville School District held its first IWSD event in October 2007, at one school; now all 24 elementary schools are participating. The Bonneville Metropolitan Planning Organization is helping organize this year’s events with the help of local parents. The mayor will have lunch with the school that has the most walkers.

American Falls: We are holding a "take a walk on the wild side" (our theme for the year is Wild about Learning) walk-a-thon in the evening that typically draws a very big student and parent crowd. We utilize and promote the designated safe routes paths that lead to and from our elementary school. This shows the parents the routes and encourages them to get their kids and themselves walking to school via Safe Routes.

Kimberly: Our elementary students have been challenged in each classroom to meet on Oct. 5 to walk or bike together to school. The classroom that has the most students walking Wednesday will win a class party. Teachers and school staff have been invited to park their cars for the day and walk along with their students. The students will get a double punch on their mileage cards for walking from one of the three starting points in town.

Nampa: We currently have four schools registered for Walk to School Day. Ronald Reagan Elementary and Birch Elementary will both be walking on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Lone Star Middle School and Sherman Elementary will be walking later in the month. The routes are intended to be 1-1.5 miles long. The schools have been working closely with parents, bus companies and local law enforcement to establish safe dropoff locations. Mayor Tom Dale, and Vallivue Superintendent Pat Charlton plan to walk with Birch students on Wednesday.

Mountain Home: East Elementary School will participate in its first International Walk to School Day. The event will include several “walking school buses,” one of which will be an escorted walk down a local street with support from numerous public agencies. The walk will be escorted with the help of Mountain Home Police Department and Mountain Home Fire Department as well as both the mayor and superintendent of Mountain Home Schools.

Wood River Valley: Blaine County School District and Mountain Rides are partnering for a fall Bike or Walk to School Challenge. Five Wood River Valley schools (four elementary and one middle school) will compete for top honors, and winners will be crowned in both “percentage” and “most participants” categories. Some schools are participating in a week-long challenge, and all are participating on Wednesday’s International Bike or Walk to School Day.

Lewsiton: Local schools participating in this year's event are Centennial Elementary leaving from the Boys & Girls Club on Burrell at 8:30 a.m., McSorley Elementary leaving the Southway boat ramp on Snake River Ave., at 8 a.m., Orchards Elementary leaving the Orchards public pool parking lot on Airway Ave. at 8:30 a.m., Webster Elementary leaving the Southway boat ramp on Snake River Ave. at 8 a.m., Camelot Elementary leaving the Tammany View Baptist Church parking lot on 20th Street at 8:30 a.m. The Boys & Girls Club of the LC Valley also is joining the fun. This is the fourth year for local schools to participate. The Lewiston Fire Department will be at some of the start locations to remind students about helmet safety.

Treasure Valley: There are at least 35 Boise-area schools participating in IWSD, and 12 between the Meridian and Caldwell school districts under the direction of the Treasure Valley Y’s Safe Routes to School program. IWSD events are preceded by in-classroom educational activities at each participating school to increase student knowledge of basic bike safety skills and bike maintenance, with an emphasis on pedestrian safety skills for K-6 students.

Moscow: All eight schools are walking on Oct. 13 because of school schedule conflicts with the official date. We will have four district elementary schools, two charters, a junior high and a parochial school participating. We are thrilled that all are on board now. The high school is participating on its own, which is a major milestone for local efforts. There is a lot of momentum for active travel in Moscow.

Priest River: To celebrate the completion of our newly completed sidewalk that was funded by SR2S, we plan to hold our IWSD event on Oct. 13. All grades will be invited to participate. School buses will drop students who live too far to walk everyday at a location where they can join regular walkers on the route to school.

For more information, visit www.walktoschool.org, or call Jo O’Connor (208) 334-4475 or joconnor@itd.idaho.gov