Minnesota Winter Walk to School Day is February 1, 2023
Bundling up and playing in the snow is a cherished activity for students, so we are celebrating our annual Winter Walk to School Day once again! Whether it’s walking to school for classes or exploring your neighborhood with family, we hope you will get out and enjoy this wonderful, wintry season!
After all, this is Minnesota, the land of ice fishing, hockey, cross-country skiing, fat biking, and sledding – why wouldn’t we throw a Walk (and Bike) to School Day party in the middle of the winter? Dig out your hats and gloves, organize your volunteers and get stepping for Winter Walk to School Day, February 1, 2023.The idea is simple: go for a walk for at least 15 minutes, and don’t let the cold scare you off. Celebrations can start small or include the entire school – just do something!
Click here to get registered for Minnesota’s Winter Walk to School Day and we’ll support your efforts with fun ideas and downloadable materials!
Winter Walk Day Marketing Toolkit 
Instructions for Winter Walk Day Toolkit (Word)
Social Media Image #1 English/Spanish/Somali/Hmong (JPG)
Social Media Image #2 English/Spanish/Somali/Hmong (JPG)
Social Media Image #3 English/Spanish/Somali/Hmong (JPG)
Social Media Image #4 English/Spanish/Somali/Hmong (JPG)
Social media images (editable) English/Spanish/Somali/Hmong (PPT)
School Flyers English/Spanish/Somali/Hmong (PPT)
Winter Walk Day Sample Text (Word)
Walk Zone Postcards (English/Spanish/Somali/Hmong (PPT)
Winter Walker Stickers (PDF)
Frequent Winter Walker punch card (PDF)
Golden Snowboot Award
Each Winter Walk to School Day Minnesota Safe Routes to School asks participating schools to submit stories and photos of their event to compete for the Golden Snow Boot Award.
Submit your event by sending photos and stories to saferoutes.dot@state.mn.us before Feb. 17.
In 2017, Pilot Knob STEM Magnet School participated in their first Winter Walk to School Day by dropping almost 100% of students at a community center about a mile away from the school. Pilot Knob said they "traveled through parks and trails, crunched through the snow, slipped on some ice and traversed some hills. It was a cold and fairly slow journey, but we enjoyed watching the beautiful sunrise and great community building during our walk.”
Winter Walking 101
Winter has arrived, but that doesn’t mean an end to children walking to school. With the right preparation, walking to school in the winter can be fun and enjoyable! Follow these six helpful tips to encourage students to continue walking to school all winter long:
- Check the forecast and avoid days that are too cold, windy, or snowy.
- Dress in layers to help regulate your body’s temperature
- Keep your toes warm by wearing winter boots and warm socks
- Take your time, and enjoy a leisurely pace
- Wear hats and mittens to keep your head and hands warm
- Stay hydrated by drinking water before and after your walk to school