South St. Paul School District was looking for ways to keep kids moving last summer, with support from Dakota County Public Health and funding from SHIP SSSPS was able to pilot StoryStroll. StoryStroll is a fun, educational activity that places a children’s story along a popular walking route. StoryStroll inspires students, caregivers and community members to be outside, support physical activity and build an interest in reading. Each page is spaced along a route on a yard sign allowing kids to move from page to page.
Partnering with their park and recreation department, the district featured a trail near a local community park with the help of books from the South St. Paul Library. The story featured an English/Spanish story on a yard sign spaced along the trail. Through heavy promotion with our Safe Routes to School partners, many families and community members enjoyed the book along the trail for a couple weeks.
The school district has expanded the StoryStroll pilot by integrating the program during the hybrid learning model this past fall. New books have been included into the StoryStroll library, allowing classes to talk a walk outside and read stories at the same time. A unique way to encourage active learning and a joy for walking.
Winter Walk to School Day – students still need physical activity!
Since school looks different for everyone this year, our annual Winter Walk to School Day event is adapting for different school formats. Whether it’s walking to school for in-person classes or exploring your neighborhood with family, we hope you will get out and enjoy this wonderful, wintry season!
After all, this is Minnesota, the land of ice fishing, hockey, cross-country skiing, fat biking and sledding –getting outside is especially important during these stress inducing times. Dig out your hats and gloves, organize your volunteers and get stepping for Winter Walk to School Day, Feb. 3, 2021.
The idea is simple: go for a walk for at least 15 minutes, and don’t let the cold scare you off. Celebrations can start small or include the entire school – just do something!
Get registered for Minnesota’s Winter Walk to School Day and we’ll support your efforts with fun ideas and downloadable materials! (Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we are unable to provide event kits this season.)
Student transportation COVID-19 Resources
With schools returning to in-person or hybrid, many will be looking for transportation opportunities with minimal spread of germs. We have resources to support walking and biking to school, a low viral transmission way to arrive to school ready to learn.
Find tool and ideas at MnSRTS COVID-19 resources for Safe Routes to School.
Safe Routes National Partnership has released back to school recommendations for Safe Routes to School programming and SRTS school messaging guide.
Please reach out to saferoutes.DOT@state.mn.us if you need any technical assistance.
Upcoming events
Jan. 14 at 10:00 a.m. - MN SRTS network call
Feb. 11 at 10:00 a.m. – MN SRTS network call
Share and learn with those working on SRTS from across Minnesota.
To join the Minnesota Safe Routes to School Network, email center.communications@bluecrossmn.com
More about MnSRTS
Visit: mnsaferoutestoschool.org
Follow us on Facebook! facebook.com/MinnesotaSafeRoutestoSchool
MnDOT invites and encourages participation by all. If you need an ASL, a foreign language interpreter, or other reasonable accommodation, or need documents in an alternative format (such as braille or large print), please email your request to Janet Miller at ADArequest.dot@state.mn.us or call 651-366-4720.
|