press releases ·
“Walking School Bus” Kick-Off
Mitchell Elementary School -Ann Arbor, MI
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, May 7, 2004
A walk to school program known as the Walking School Bus started on Friday, May7th at 8 AM in the morning. Ann Arbor Public School kids grade K-5 participated in an intentional walk to school program to improve the environment and health of young people. This Walking School Bus program is designed similarly to the Center for Disease Control’s Kidswalk –to-School program (www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/kidswalk/) and the international Walking School Bus (http://www.walkingschoolbus.org/) project.
With hopes of motivating children to walk for personal physical fitness and to limit the use of pollution producing automobiles, Ann Arbor’s Walking School Bus program is a blending of a nature awareness field trip and a walk around the block. Naturalists, parents, and volunteers will lead groups of young people to observe natural elements such as the weather and wildlife as they cruise on foot to school by way of a predetermined mapped route.
The program is being piloted in two Ann Arbor Public Schools; Lakewood Elementary and Mitchell Elementary. Proven to improve overall health and concentration skills, it is no surprise Mitchell Elementary School Principal Kathy Scarneccia thought a walking program would be successful in her school “Many students at Mitchell walk and enjoy arriving early for special programs. The Walking School Bus is something they will really enjoy!”
Seven children signed up to walk to school as part of the kick off on Friday, May 7th. Some of them walked to school for the first time. Ann Arbor’s Walking School Bus as conceived by Ann Arbor Community Education and Recreation, Ecology Center and Washtenaw Bike and Walking Coalition’s John Hritz, has the potential to change the average American’s physical fitness patterns as well as providing the opportunity to increase nature appreciation in children and their families.
The Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan, who helped fund the project expect to see more people going outside as more people learn of the incentives. For more information contact Tawny Gapinski (734) 995-5888 x111.