On Thursday, September 21 over 45 students, parents, sheriff’s deputies, Vikings football players, and community volunteers participated in the Walk to School Day with three Walking School Bus routes. The next one will be Wednesday, October 4 for the International Walk to School Day with Border Patrol officers.
Instead of taking to the football field, on the morning of September 21, players on the Cook County Vikings football team left the turf to tackle the concrete. It was the first Walk to School Day of the 2017-18 school year, with three routes of “Walking School Buses” in Grand Marais heading to Cook County Schools and Great Expectations School. Nearly 50 students, parents, sheriff’s deputies, community volunteers, and Vikings football players made their way on foot and bike under sunny skies to school.
“A big thank you to the Vikings Football Team for helping with Walk to School Day and being role models for the younger students in choosing an active lifestyle,” said Safe Routes to School Coordinator Maren Webb. “The Safe Routes to School Committee would also like to thank the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office for their ongoing support and commitment to keeping kids safe and active.”
This is one of many initiatives spearheaded by the local Safe Routes to School Committee, working to make it safer and easier for students to walk and bike to and from school. The Walking School Bus routes take advantage of the sidewalks, several which were built after being identified as being key connections for safe walking routes to school and other community locations.
The next opportunity will be International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 4, sponsored by Border Patrol. If your student normally gets a ride to school, come in a little early and walk or bike with the Walking School Bus from one of the starting locations: the Cook County Courthouse (7:30 a.m. departure), Birchwood Apartments (7:40 a.m. departure), or County Road 7 and 7th Ave. East (7:40 a.m. departure). Students and community members are welcome to join along the route or meet at the starting location.
Cook County Safe Routes to School (SRTS) strives to improve the health of kids and our community by making walking and bicycling to school safer, easier, and more enjoyable. For more information about Safe Routes to School International Walk to School Day, to volunteer, or for a Slow Down lawn sign, contact SRTS Coordinator, Maren Webb, at 218-387-2330 or maren@sawtoothmountainclinic.org. This work is supported by the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership/ Minnesota Department of Health through Healthy Northland.
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