News - News releases
October 6, 2008
More than 200 Pennsylvania schools will participate in International Walk to School Day
Event promotes physical activity through safe walking and biking routes
Hershey, Pa. – On Wednesday, October 8, 225 Pennsylvania schools will join with Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition & Activity (PANA) to celebrate walking and biking to school as part of International Walk to School Day.
International Walk to School Day brings together millions of walkers from around the world in hopes of reversing declining trends in children walking to school, improving poor air quality, reducing congestion, and improving daily activity rates of today's youth. Research indicates that less than 15 percent of students between the ages of 5 and 15 walk to or from school - compared to 48 percent of children walking or cycling to school in 1969.
In Pennsylvania, PANA coordinates Walk to School Day celebrations to promote physical activity for today's youth by encouraging regular Walking School Bus programs and local Safe Routes to School projects, which aim to improve the safety and walkability of communities located within two miles of a school. Allison Topper, the executive director of PANA, explains, "physical activity of any kind is great for kids, but walking or biking to school is a wonderful opportunity for parents and kids to spend quality time together and promote a healthier lifestyle for the whole family."
In addition to partnering with PANA to provide promotional materials to schools, PennDOT also provides funding for PANA's Safe Routes to School Academy. The Academy is Pennsylvania's response to the federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) initiative established in 2005 to encourage and promote walking and biking to school and improve infrastructure with the construction of bike lanes, crosswalks, sidewalks and more.
"The Safe Routes to School Program was originally created to help in the fight against childhood obesity by promoting healthy, sustainable transportation choices at an early age; yet, the recent escalation of energy costs has quickened the pace at which schools are beginning to embrace walking and bicycling as a viable, cost-effective transportation choice for its students," notes PennDOT's Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Chris Metka. "Together, PANA and PennDOT are working to increase safe walking and bicycling opportunities for students in kindergarten through eighth grade."
Through the Academy, PANA educates schools and communities about safe walking and biking practices by providing actionable strategies, mini-grants, and technical assistance to those communities interested in implementing SRTS initiatives; International Walk to School Day is just one of the strategies schools can implement to encourage regular walking programs. PennDOT manages federal funds that help schools pay for physical improvements to the walking and bicycling infrastructure around schools.
For a list of schools participating in this year's Walk to School Day celebration, please visit www.srtsacademy.org and click on Walk to School Day for a list of participating schools broken down by county.
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Since 2003, Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity have worked
collectively to make it easier to be healthy in the places where we live, learn, work
and play. By bringing together health and wellness champions at the local,
regional and state level, the network is changing environments to support healthy
eating and physical activity options. For more information about PANA's
programs, campaigns and events, please visit www.nrgbalance.org.
“The stellar interaction between the Center and administrators at six PA public schools led to a very successful week-long health ride. I enjoyed working with the Center and would highly recommend them as partners in any future projects.”
