Safe Routes to School news
Kids with walk to school sign
In Minnesota, when the weather outside is frightful, we put on our hats, gloves and jackets and get ready to have some fun. Minnesota Safe Routes to School’s 5th annual Winter Walk to School Day is Feb. 2 and it’s a celebration of walking, biking and playing in the coldest and snowiest days of winter.
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!
After all, this is Minnesota, the land of ice fishing, hockey, cross-country skiing, fat biking, and sledding – why wouldn’t we throw a Walk (and Bike) to School Day party in the middle of the winter? Dig out your hats and gloves, organize your volunteers and get stepping for Winter Walk to School Day, Feb. 2, 2022.
Help your school win the “Golden Snow Boot” Award! During each Winter Walk to School Day our MnSRTS team asks participating schools to submit stories and photos of their event to compete for the Golden Snow Boot Award. Submit your stories and photos to dave.cowan@state.mn.us by Feb. 11, 2022 to enter.
See some sample messaging below or check out all the Winter Walk to School Day resources on the recently updated SRTS Resource Center. We’ve got social media posts, flyers, post cards, frequent walker punch cards, and sticker templates for you to use!
Register here by Jan. 21, 2022 and we’ll support your efforts with materials and incentives to get your school moving.
MnSRTS funding available – last chance!
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Boost grant – Intended to boost local walking and bicycling efforts, SRTS Boost grants fund non-infrastructure strategies to help support current SRTS plans or programs. Applications are due Jan. 10, 2022.
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Planning assistance - Grants to schools and communities to develop comprehensive SRTS plans. Plans are completed by regional development organizations or a statewide SRTS consultant. Applications are due Jan. 10, 2022.
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Infrastructure grant – Grants to fund stand-alone infrastructure projects to support safer routes for children to walk and bike to school. Applications are due Jan. 7, 2022.
Safe Routes in the News: Richfield Public Schools
Richfield Public School Bike Trailer
For Will Wlizlo, Safe Routes to Schools coordinator at Richfield Public Schools, encouraging students from the youngest ages to embrace those healthy options is not only what he is paid to do, but something he lives every day.
“We encourage all students and families to try starting and ending their school day with a relaxing walk or leisurely bike ride. Even a little bit of physical activity has been proven to activate the brain’s learning centers, helping students focus in class and get the most out of their classroom time. Walking and biking to school has positive effects on physical, mental and social health; improves the air quality around the school; and is just plain fun. Plus, families who switch from driving their children to walking or biking with them will find the stress of pick-up and drop-off traffic gone from their lives – as if by magic.”
Read the rest of the article here
Join the Safe Routes National list serve
There is a Safe Routes National Partnership list serve to ask questions and learn about work from across the country. You can either view the history of discussion in the google group or as emails come in.
If you have a Google account, you can join through this link. If not, you can email Brittany at brittany@saferoutespartnership.org and she can add you.
Upcoming events:
Dec. 9, 10-11:00 a.m. – MN SRTS Network Call
Feb. 2, 2022 - Winter Walk to School Day
May 4, 2022 - Bike to School Day
Resources
Order free MN Bike Maps and MN Bicycle Handbooks for your organization’s events!
Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum, bike fleet trailer request, and future training opportunities.
More about MnSRTS
Visit: http://www.mnsaferoutestoschool.org
Follow us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaSafeRoutestoSchool/
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