The school year has come to a close and summer is here! Summer is the perfect time to get caught up on all of the things that were put on the back burner during the business of the school year. We want to take advantage of this time to let you know about some wonderful webinars that you may have missed over the school year.
Webinars are a great way to gain education about SRTS and also to learn about creative ideas that others have tried and seen success with. We encourage you to use the time this summer to make new plans for your SRTS program to bring new momentum to it in the upcoming school year.
Let's Walk to School! Reducing Liability Concerns for SRTS WebinarIn August 2010, NPLAN hosted a training on SRTS programs, policies and liability concerns for advocates and school officials. Presenters put liability concerns in perspective, explained how SRTS programs may leave schools with a lower risk of liability than existed prior to the program, and provided best practices for implementing SRTS programs and policies.
In 2005, the PedNet Coalition of Columbia, MO, tried something new. Four parents each agreed to recruit four or five other families, create a weekly parent rotation, and walk the kids 1-2 miles to school every day for four weeks.
Overview of why it is important to seek law enforcement involvement in Safe Routes to School programs and how to best involve officers in SRTS efforts.
Using technology to assist with recruitment, walk and bike to school counts, evaluation and mapping can be extremely helpful. This webinar covers how "high-tech" solutions can help advance the success of SRTS programs.
At many schools, some basic physical improvements are needed to provide a more safe and desirable environment for walking and bicycling. But which engineering treatments provide the greatest impact for Safe Routes to School?
With limited and sometimes diminishing resources, communities across the nation are challenged to provide children and adults with opportunities for physical activity.
Concerns about children's personal security can sometimes serve as a roadblock to developing a Safe Routes to School Program. What are the personal security issues that children may face when walking to school?
Inspiring and empowering parents of would-be walkers can be a challenge. This webinar teaches how parents and educators can help support safe walking and bicycling.
What is Safe Routes to School (SRTS)? How can I get a program started in my community? Who can I partner with? This webinar helps to answer these questions.
In early June, the National Center for Safe Routes to School updated the online data system used by local SRTS programs to enter the Parent Survey and Student Travel Tally questionnaires and to view summary reports of those data.
Paul Staso Completes PACE Trek 2011
Congratulations to Paul Staso on completing PACE Trek 2011!
Along with Paul, the students logged 60,120 miles! That is over 2 1/2 times around the world! Some of the notable accomplishments include a school in Germany that logged 3,352 miles from 450 students, which averages to be 7.5 miles per student. Another is from a school in South Dakota that had only 12 members but logged 685 miles, which averages to an amazing 57 miles per student, all in 17 days!
Here are some sites you may want to visit to find out more information.
August 16 - 18, 2011. It's the time to energize your Safe Routes to School (SRTS) planning, strengthen your networks and elevate the vision of how we all can create healthier kids and communities.
Minneapolis, Minn. It's the place to discuss ideas, resources, projects and best practices that will help you improve the health, safety and environment of children in your state through policy, partnership and infrastructure.
Proponents and professionals. They're the people who will inspire you - and who you will inspire:
advocates
city planners
community members
elected officials
engineers
law enforcement
parent organizations
program representatives
public health officials
school professionals
state coordinators
transportation professionals
Join others for this dynamic conference, advance your important work and build the connections-in your schools, streets and communities.
