WALKING AND BIKING TO SCHOOL WHEN SCHOOL IS SO FAR AWAY...

Marilyn Bruce - School Health Coordinator for Teller County Public Health

Special Points of Interest:

• Strategies to make changes
• Forming mutually beneficial partnerships
• Lessons learned
• Resources local, state, and national

Partnerships:

• Pulbic Health
• Public Education
• City Governments
• County Governments
• Worksites
• Communtiy Groups

Turf Challenge:

• Common goals
• Wellness Policy
• Infrastucture needs
• Active community
• Environments
• Prevention Initiatives
• Silos

First Steps  What? Who? Why? When? Where? How?

Second Steps  * Partners    * Keep messsage tailored to the audience - Green, Safety, Fitness, Brain-based

Structure - Coordinated School Health Teams:

• In every building
• Includes students, staff, and parents
• School Health Improvement Plans (SHIPs)
• Resources available to community and school
• Team concept
• Assessment
• Best practices
• Reach

Elements of Safe Routes to School:

• Education
• Encouragement
• Enforcement
• Engineering
• Evaluation

"Safe Routes to School" and "Walk to School Day":

• Great Fit!
• Early in the school year
• Weather potential is better
• Resources availbable
• Outreach
• Media ready
• Measureable
• Sustainable
• Positive impact
• Win Win

LESSONS LEARNED...

• Walking Wednesdays can be on any day
• Annual Bike and Hike to practice route
• Schools can "Walk AT School Day"
• You don't have to walk the whole way
• Themes help
• Look for a Champion
• Invite everyone and publicize it
• Ask for help from local police, sheriff, and fire departments; hospital
• Businesses
• Include senior citizens and other community groups
• Celebrate upon arrival
• Say thank-you after the event

Click on the Following Resources:

• National Center for Safe Routes to School
• Colorado Safe Routes to School 
• Colorado Walks
• International Walk to School Day
• Boulder Valley Schools
• City of Ft. Collins and Poudre School District

For more information, contact Marilyn Bruce, School Health Coordinator