Walking School Bus Video

I found this great video on YouTube about walking school busses. I'm hoping to produce something similar in Omaha soon... but in the mean time, here is a good one that was made at an elementary school in Seattle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td7jRsmneds

Dundee Elementary put a nice display in the school lobby to organize their walking school busses.

Next Up: Field Club Elementary!

We can add more names to the list of fantastic school staff members we've met with lately! 

Prinicpal Barb Wild and P.E. teacher Jill Parkert were great to chat with this afternoon about the possibilities of bringing the Walk 'n Roll movement to Field Club Elementary.  Walk 'n Roll Wednesdays are a possibility, as are some walking school busses.  It was great to hear about how they view neighborhood communication and interaction as a positive benefit to their school.  Field Club is a beautiful and historic part of town, and it will be great to work with them.

We're looking forward to chatting with their PTA soon and getting things rolling after spring break! 

Walk and Roll the only option!

Here is a link to an interesting article about a school in Toronto that just opened recently.  The principal has designated it a "walking only" school as "...part of a broader initiative at the Halton District School Board to stop traffic jams around schools and get students moving."  They've set up walking school busses from designated points, among other things.

Parents often cite weather as a barrier that keeps their kids from walking to school.  If they can get it done in Canada, surely we can get it done in Omaha!   What can we learn from their great example?

Meet the Green Wave!

We had an energizing meeting with the 4th Graders at Saddlebrook Elementary school today!  This is the group that will be utilizing the $1000 mini grant we received from the National Center for Safe Routes to School.

These very bright and creative kids will be taking the lead with this project:  developing and performing a school assembly about the benefits of walking/biking to school; coming up with the best way to evaluate our Walk 'n Roll to School project; and testing a hypothesis about how weather impacts student travel modes. 

All the while, they will also be learning some of their science and math curriculum using cool bike-themed equipment, and collecting and manipulating data they collect. 

Best of all, we have already begun talking about what "advocacy" means, and know that the leadership potential from this group will carry on as they move up to middle school and beyond. 

Stay tuned this semester to see what these awesome kids come up with!  Can't wait to work with them.
Special thanks to Saddlebrook principal, Mark Suing, and 4th Grade teacher, Robert Zook, for their help and support for this project!

Safe Route Sunday

Here is a chance to make a difference to help keep kids safe on the sidewalks.  No formalities, no rsvp's ... just find a drift that is blocking a sidewalk and clear it.  Corners, especially closer to schools, are in serious need of help so that kids can get across the streets without having to scale giant snow/ice mounds. 

Spread the word to your friends! 

Thanks, Prairie Wind!

 We had a great time getting to know some of the dedicated staff and parents of Prairie Wind Elementary yesterday.  This is a school that is ready to take action to make it a safer and easier choice to walk to school every day.   Walking School Busses are a great possibility for this school, as are some policy changes regarding traffic flow.  This is a very big school, but even little changes can make a big impact. 

We are looking forward to working with them this spring to get the Stallions walking and rolling!

Thanks, Columbian!

Thanks to the Columbian Elementary PTO for having us out last night to talk about Walk 'n Roll to School!  Columbian is a great neighborhood school with some awesome potential for walking school busses starting at a designated drop off area. 

Now is a great time to start thinking about the potential for spring.  Church parking lots make excellent locations for walking school bus starting points - publish the location and starting time for your Walk 'n Roll days...instant walking school bus!

Here we go again!

It bears repeating:  please shovel early and often for the school kids.  Even if you think kids in your neighborhood won't be walking to school, they are likely to still be walking to the bus stops!

Webinar: Bicycle and Walking Policies

America Walks provides fantastic webinars through their Safe Routes to School Coaching Network.  They last exactly 1 hour, are free of charge, and only require a PC for video and a phone line (via toll free number) for audio. 

This month's subject:  Bicycle and Walking Policies:  addressing policies that hinder and implmenting policies that help. It will be shown on January 26 from 1p -2p central time. click here to register 

If you have questions, please let me know:  jharris@activateomaha.org

BRRRRR!

Holy Cow!  It's COLD! 

School is starting up in Omaha again this week.  Between the cold weather and the piles (dare I say, mountains) of snow piled up everywhere, walking to school is going to be challenging! 

First, please remember that although many kids will be arriving via family car, there are still plenty of kids that will be braving the elements.  Please be extra cautious as you drive near schools, and keep an eye out for little people emerging from behind show piles as they attempt to cross the streets.

Second, please keep these little folks in mind when you are trying to decide if/when to shovel your sidewalks.  Many kids don't have a choice but to walk to school, and they deserve to get there safely - as do the kids that have to walk a short distance to their bus stops - so shovel early and often for their sakes!  (And don't forget to go around the corner if you live in a corner lot!)

Third, don't let the cold weather be a barrier to walking with your kids to school.  If you dress in layers, it can be done quite comfortably!  Once you get moving, you'll be surprised at how quickly you will warm up.