Schools in Marion County to Celebrate International Walk to School Day Wednesday

The event promotes health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment.

Walk to School Day is this Wednesday

(SALEM) - Approximately 1,200 students from five schools in Marion County will be joining schools from around the world in celebrating International Walk to School Day on Wednesday.

Students from Grant, Pringle, Morningside and Englewood Elementary Schools in the Salem-Keizer Public Schools district and Eugene Fields Elementary School in the Silver Falls School District will be part of several "walking school buses" that day along with parents, teachers and community leaders.

Now in its tenth year, International Walk to School Day is expected to include 3,500 schools from all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

The idea is to walk to school together with a purpose: to promote health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment.

Walkers in the United States will join children and adults in 36 countries around the world.

The event is part of a month of festivities celebrating October as the International Walk to School Month.

The walking school bus will begin about 45 minutes before school starts with kids, parents and community leaders walking from a variety of locations to the schools. Walkers will arrive at the school in time to pick up a snack before the regular school day begins. Other special activities associated with the walk include:

* Poster contests promoting the theme of walking and biking to school

* Essay contests on the importance of regular physical activity for children

* Activity punch cards that encourage children to continue to be active every day, whether by walking to school or participating in other physical activities, such as soccer.

The event is being organized by the Marion County Health Department and the Healthy Active Oregon Coalition.

Community sponsors who donated items to enhance the event include the Marion County Health Department, the Transportation Safety Division of the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Oregon Walk + Bike to School Committee, Great Harvest Bread Co., the City of Salem, Fred Meyer, South Salem Connectors, WinCo, Costco, Big 5 Sports, the YMCA, Grocery Outlet, BiMart, and Mallorie's Dairy.