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October is International Walk to School Month!
IWALK Day: Wednesday, October 8, 2008
IWALK Week: October 6-10, 2008
International Walk to School Month gives children, parents, school teachers and community leaders an opportunity to be part of a global event as they celebrate the many benefits of walking. In 2007, millions of walkers from around the world walked to school together for various reasons - all hoping to create communities that are safe places to walk.
In Ontario, an organization called Green Communities Canada runs the Active & Safe Routes to School Program. The program is a comprehensive community-based initiative that taps into the increasingly urgent demand for safe, walkable neighbourhoods. Active & Safe Routes to School promotes the use of active and efficient transportation for the daily trip to school, addressing health and traffic safety issues while taking action on air pollution and climate change.
International Walk to School Month (IWALK) is the annual, premier event of the Active & Safe Routes to School program, taking place each October. It is a mass celebration of active transportation and its related issues are used to introduce communities to the Active & Safe Routes to School (ASRTS) program. To learn more about this international event visit www.iwalktoschool.org .
Get your class to participate!! You can register here: http://www.saferoutestoschool.ca/registration.asp
The Active & Safe Routes to School web site provides resources, tools, information and links for schools and communities to create their own unique Active & Safe Routes to School program. Schools can choose to implement walking activities to school or at school, through fun and innovative actions like the IWALK Club. All of our resources are linked to the Ontario Curriculum using the Curriculum Unit planner and are available in English and French.
DID YOU KNOW? If just nine families participate regularly in a Walking School Bus they can collectively prevent almost 1,000 kg of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.
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Just think. Every trip begins and ends with walking. why do we always have to put a car in the middle of it?
When you really think about that it seems quite ridiculous doesn't it? Of course walking isn't always an option due to distance, time, weather and other factors, but whenever possible ask your parents to take the heel toe transit instead!
The heel toe transit is also known as walking! And there's no better way to get on the heel toe transit than by accepting the 10,000 steps a day challenge!
The challenge is simple...take 10,000 steps. Each day. Every day. Every member of the family.
The 10,000 Steps a Day Challenge
The first step is to get a pedometer. A pedometer is a battery-powered, pager-sized device worn on your belt that records and displays the number of steps you take based on your body's movement. They are inexpensive and you can pick one up at any major department or sports store.
Have some fun with the 10,000 steps a day challenge! For example, whoever does the most steps in a day gets out of their daily chores. Whoever does the fewest steps that day, has to do the winners chores!