Walk and Roll back to school with Walk to School Day, October 6th, 2021!
We are all trying to find a bit more normal this year and we are bringing back our annual Walk to School Day event! Whether it’s walking to school for in-person classes or exploring your neighborhood with family, we hope you will join us in walking during Walk to School Day, October 6, 2021! We’ve got plenty of resources to help you celebrate and encourage kids to just be kids and get out for a walk.
Photo: Post Bulletin newspaper – Longfellow Elementary Rochester Public Schools Traci Westcott / twestcott@postbulletin.com
We may not all be able to walk to school, but walking before, during, or after the school day still provides students and families the opportunity to reconnect with the simple joys of a walk. More than ever, students will benefit from physical activity, fresh air, and increased focus. No matter if your school is in-person or at home, the resources below will help you find ways to get involved in Walk to School day this year!
Resources for Everyone
Check out these Ideas for Walk to School Day 2021 from the National Walk and Bike to School Day website for inspiration at the family, neighborhood, or school level.
Then check out some of our resources—these can be used in-school, by classroom or Phy. Ed. teachers in a distance-learning context, or by families at home:
Join our Photo Contest and share where you love to walk to. We will highlight winning photos all month long. Help us encourage more walking in Minnesota!
Walking Bingo: Places to Go
Walking Bingo: Things to Do
Walking Bingo: Things to Find
Walking Word Search: Easy and Hard
Walking Safety Crossword
Mileage Tracker
Walk! Bike! Fun! Distance Learning curriculum
Get Registered
To allow participation across learning environments, families, neighborhoods and schools are all invited to register participation this year. Walk to School Day activities might happen at home, around the neighborhood or at school…there’s room for everyone!
Reflect on why you and your community care about walking to school and use Walk to School Day to solidify commitments and work towards needed changes.
Keep it Going Beyond Walk to School Day
The start of a new school year brings a sense of new beginnings and an opportunity for a fresh start, even for those of us who finished going back to school years ago! A new school year is a perfect time to build a healthy habit into your routine, like walking around the neighborhood before class, during lunch or after a long day of learning.
If you enjoy walking this week, keep it going by supporting walking and biking efforts at your school and advocating for improvements for safe walking in your community. As a start, try a walk audit of your neighborhood to identify areas for improvement.
Photo Contest
Help us commemorate this Walk to School Day by submitting your photos! For inspiration, your submitted photo should showcase your walk to school or Walk to School day events. We want to see you how your community celebrates walking!
Post your photo by October 15 to the MnSRTS Facebook page, with the hashtag #mnwalks. The winning photo will receive statewide bragging rights!
Here's what we would like to see:
Photographs that:
- Are suitable for possible use in Minnesota Safe Routes to School materials
- Convey a walking or bicycling message
- Are original, creative and include students walking/biking
- Show students wearing masks and practicing social distancing, in accordance with Minnesota Department of Health guidelines
By submitting a photo, participants give permission to the Minnesota Department of Transportation to use the photo in Minnesota Safe Routes to School promotional materials.
Questions? Email dave.cowan@state.mn.us.
Find more information about the photo contest here.