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Children, teachers, from Rose Elementary School along with parents and sponsors walk to school on Walk and Bike to School Day last year. The day encourages active and healthy lifestyles for kids and walking/biking safety tips.
Five Douglas County schools will participate in the international “Walk and Bike to School Day” Wednesday.
This year's participating schools include Rose Elementary in downtown Roseburg, Oakland High School and Oakland's Lincoln Middle School, Sutherlin High School and West Intermediate School, also in Sutherlin.
The walk/bike day began in 1997, sponsored by the Partnership for a Walkable American, and was modeled after a similar program in the U.K., according to a press release from the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The press release said that by 2002, the American version had gained traction, with participation in all 50 states involving almost 3 million walkers.
“We see schools come up with all kinds of ideas to encourage walking and biking,” said Julie Yip, ODOT Safe Routes to School program manager, in the press release. “Whether it's an entire community event or parents meeting at a park to walk with their kids, participating in this event shows the many benefits of walking or biking to school, such as finding a safe route, getting some exercise and just having fun.”
Lincoln Middle School Principal Larry Watts said the school will receive a $10,000 grant from the North West Healthy Foundation after completing the walk that begins at the city park and two other meeting points.
The grant will go toward the rerouting of campus traffic based on a plan that a group of last year's sixth-graders drafted to improve safety and vehicle flow at the school.
For the Rose Elementary students, who are taking the walk for a second year, buses will drop students off at Eagles Park where students who already walk will meet up with them.
Principal Tim Wilson said students, school staff, parents and other invited community members, such as Mayor Larry Rich, will then hoof it to the school as a “walking school bus.”
Last year he said about 20 volunteers took the hike up to the neighborhood school with students.
This year DCIPA, The Physicians of Douglas County, will also participate, supporting the “worldwide movement to encourage children to be more active.”
Wilson said the hike to school last year, which is roughly a third of a mile, made some students huff and puff enough to realize they were out of shape.
This year, he said the school's goal is to motivate students to be consistently active and walk with their families.
• You can reach reporter DD Bixby at 957-4211 or by e-mail at dbixby@nrtoday.com.
This year's participating schools include Rose Elementary in downtown Roseburg, Oakland High School and Oakland's Lincoln Middle School, Sutherlin High School and West Intermediate School, also in Sutherlin.
The walk/bike day began in 1997, sponsored by the Partnership for a Walkable American, and was modeled after a similar program in the U.K., according to a press release from the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The press release said that by 2002, the American version had gained traction, with participation in all 50 states involving almost 3 million walkers.
“We see schools come up with all kinds of ideas to encourage walking and biking,” said Julie Yip, ODOT Safe Routes to School program manager, in the press release. “Whether it's an entire community event or parents meeting at a park to walk with their kids, participating in this event shows the many benefits of walking or biking to school, such as finding a safe route, getting some exercise and just having fun.”
Lincoln Middle School Principal Larry Watts said the school will receive a $10,000 grant from the North West Healthy Foundation after completing the walk that begins at the city park and two other meeting points.
The grant will go toward the rerouting of campus traffic based on a plan that a group of last year's sixth-graders drafted to improve safety and vehicle flow at the school.
For the Rose Elementary students, who are taking the walk for a second year, buses will drop students off at Eagles Park where students who already walk will meet up with them.
Principal Tim Wilson said students, school staff, parents and other invited community members, such as Mayor Larry Rich, will then hoof it to the school as a “walking school bus.”
Last year he said about 20 volunteers took the hike up to the neighborhood school with students.
This year DCIPA, The Physicians of Douglas County, will also participate, supporting the “worldwide movement to encourage children to be more active.”
Wilson said the hike to school last year, which is roughly a third of a mile, made some students huff and puff enough to realize they were out of shape.
This year, he said the school's goal is to motivate students to be consistently active and walk with their families.
• You can reach reporter DD Bixby at 957-4211 or by e-mail at dbixby@nrtoday.com.
