"International Walk to School Week - October 4 - 8
Over 50% of residential CO2 emissions come from transportation, and even though Canada is a big country, most trips we make are rather short, such as to the local grocery store, to pick up a movie or to drop someone off at school. We can reduce our ecological footprint by reducing the number of small and often unnecessary trips we make over a year. Walking to school is a great place to start, providing you live in town.
Why walk to school:
• raise awareness about the environment
• raise awareness about safe walking routes
• reduce pollution and carbon dioxide emissions
• ease traffic congestion
• increase our level of physical activity
• arrive at school fresh and awake
You are not alone:
The International Walk to School Day was first started in Denmark in 1975 and last year over 28 countries participated. In Canada, over 1,900 schools got involved!
How does it work:
In Alberta the International Walk to School Day is organized by Go for Green, a non-profit organization. Participation is easy:
- visit their website
- register your school
- download materials on how to organize the event
- get students at your schools to participate
- a good participation might even win your school one of many awards
I live in the country:
You don't have to walk all the way to school to particpate. Get someone to drop you off somewhere closer to school and walk the rest of the way.
