Green Guru Network

The Center for Disease Control offers the Community Transformation Grant.  The grant aims to create healthier communities by building capacity to implement broad evidence and practice-based policy, environmental, programmatic and infrastructure changes,in large counties, and in states, tribes and territories, including in rural and frontier areas.  Supporting implementation of interventions in five strategic directions: changes in weight, changes in proper nutrition, changes in physical activity, changes in tobacco use prevalence, and changes in emotional well being and overall mental health. 

Complete Streets offers technical assistance from the Safe Routes to School National Partnership and the National Complete Streets Coalition in preparing your application. They are prepared to help you achieve your goals in the strategic directions of Active Living and Healthy Eating, and Healthy and Safe Physical Environment.

This week is Walk to School Week for the Hastings on Hudson school district.  This innovative international program helps families to focus on the importance of walking to school.  Children are rewarded each day that they arrive at school by walking or biking.  Schools are abuzz with conversation about the walks and there is some serious competition to collect and display the prizes.  

In 1969 most kids who lived within a mile of school walked now only a handful do.  Parents site danger as the number one reason for not letting their kids walk.  Yet one of the most prevalent dangers to kids on their way to school is traffic and drop off hazards caused by parents trying to drive their offspring.  Increased inactivity and obesity among children is a rapidly growing health hazard.    One way to beat these real dangers to kid’s health is to invest the time in teaching children how to walk to school safely. 

Check out Safe Routes to School:

http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/

They have great ideas like the “Walking Bus”; parents take turns walking with kids to school, creating a livelier alternative to carpooling. 

Umbrellas and rain boots are making a come back as quintessential school gear for young children who commute on foot to school.  New friendships are being formed, restless students get to walk off some energy before being asked to concentrate on math, grammar and remembering the names of all the capitals of all the states!  All walkers get a look at the natural world before spending the day indoors Parents get a chance to walk and connect with their kids early in the day while everyone is still fresh.  For those who can’t spare the time to walk both ways leaving the car behind in just one direction, either coming or going, saves half the gas and carbon emissions!

If your school offers Walk to School Week give it a try, it’s the stuff great memories are made of.  If your school doesn’t yet offer Walk to School Week contact me at lea@greengurunetwork.com  and I’ll help you find folks to help you get one started!