Safe Routes 2 School

A hands on program to encourage walking and biking to to school.

Walk to School Day


On October 5, thousands of students, parents and volunteers will walk or bicycle to school to celebrate International Walk to School Day. In the spirit of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign to end childhood obesity, this year's Michigan Walk to School Day theme is "Let's Move Together." 

  • Walk to School Day encourages physical fitness
  • Walk to School Day heightens awareness of traffic, safety and environmental concerns around schools
  • Walk to School Day helps kick-off a community Safe Routes to School initiative

In addition to walking or bicycling in groups to and from school, we encourage students to 'bust a move' by doing the “Ped Safety Dance,” a choreographed, pedestrian-safety themed version of the song “The Safety Dance,” (recently featured on the television series Glee).  View the "Ped Safety Dance" video below.

Different versions of the song and dance have been recorded to accommodate students from a variety of age and ability levels, and there are so many ways to incorporate the “Ped Safety Dance” into your Walk to School Day activities:

  • Perform the “Ped Safety Dance” as a PE, classroom-based, or after-school activity, as part of a Walk to School Day assembly, a friendly Walk to School Day competition, as a Walk to School Day themed cheer or athletic activity or as a "lip-dub" or "flash-mob-style" dance.
  • Sing the song along the Walk to School Day walking routes, possibly with a local celebrity or school mascot.
  • Produce a “Ped Safety Dance” music video, a pedestrian-safety themed public service announcement, or a re-mixed version of the song using Auto-Tune.
  • OR make up your own activity!
     

Planning for Walk to School Day

Register your school for International Walk to School Day on our website or by calling (800) 434-8642. Registered schools will receive:

► Recognition as an International Walk to School Day Participant.
► Free Walk to School Day materials including stickers and certificates of completion
► Assistance connecting with local officials about your Walk to School Day event
► The opportunity to showcase your Walk to School Day/”Ped Safety Dance” activity on Michigan’s Safe Routes to School website.

Download materials you can customize, including flyers, invitations, permission forms, press releases and more.

View classroom activities you can share with your students.

Learn facts about Walk to School Day.

Explore other ways you can get your school involved.

Learn answers to some frequently asked questions about Walk to School Day.

Fill out a post-event response form and share stories from your event.

Complete a Safe Routes to School Photo Release form and email photos to the Michigan Fitness Foundation for inclusion in SR2S educational materials.

Read Walk to School Day success stories from around the state.

NOTE: International Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 5, 2011. If October 5 does not work for your school, simply choose an alternate date for your walk. The entire month of October is Walk to School Month!

For additional questions about Walk to School Day or performing "The Ped Safety Dance, please contact Linda Patrick, Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator at (517) 908-3830, lpatrick@michiganfitness.org.
 

Let’s move together for International Walk to School Day 2011!

Special thanks to our Walk to School Day partners: Michigan Department of Transportation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, National Center for Safe Routes to School, and Living Arts Dance Studio for supporting the creation and development of our 2011 Walk to School Day "Ped Safety Dance" activity.