Safe Routes National Partnership
How to Plan Walk To School Day (Full Guide)
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Coordinating an event is easy. It can be as big or small as you’d like to make it. This year Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 4, 2023! If another day in October works better for your school, choose a different day. Encourage students to start their school day with a walk to school.
There are countless ideas to make Walk to School Day a success. This planning guide was developed to make planning an event simple!
Registration takes about five minutes to complete: Click Here
2. Promote your event
Be creative. Here are a few ideas:
- Post your event on your school’s social media page. Use the hashtag #ImWalking and #WalkToSchoolDay.
- Identify local media and send them a press release.
- Make sure families know about the event through fliers, school newsletters or electronic notifications.
Visit the Customizable and Printable Resources page for templates of these materials. For schools with students on campus, don’t forget to hang your banners and signs around your school.
3. Day of your event
Have fun! Ask families to snap photos of their walk and post them on your school's social media pages! Looking for more ways to have fun and learn about safety? Walk 'n Roll Scavenger Hunt activity sheets are included in your toolkit! Encourage Families to play as they walk to school or around their neighborhood. Hold a poster contest and have students come up with safety messages or design artwork illustrating safe walking skills! Encourage posting students' artwork on social media. Use the hashtags, #ImWalking and #WalkToSchoolDay.
Reward students who participate with incentives like stickers and silicone bracelets found in your toolkit. For schools enrolled in distance-learning, reward students with digital certificates and school-wide recognition!
4. After your event
This is just the beginning to walking and all year round! Contact us about starting a walking club and for other fun ideas. Complete a short online survey that will be emailed to you so that we can improve year after year.
Need help planning your event? We can help!
Contact Rebecca Miller at rmiller@ochca.com or (714) 834-6610.
Page Last Updated: August 18, 2023
