What is the Safe Routes to School project?
Continuing the youth leadership formula that we have seen work so well, we found funding through the department of transportation to pursue the national Safe Routes to School program, engaging Green Forest students and utilizing teen leaders as peer presenters and group leaders.
Safe Routes to School encourages students who live near their school to walk to class rather than ride the bus or have their parents drive them.
After a successful first year, we were funded to write a kindergarten thru high school curriculum replicating what we taught in phys-ed classes, lessons that conform to state frameworks while their parents drive them. There are multiple benefits, including giving kids a fun and healthy activity that ensures they arrive for class alert and ready for a great day.
Click HERE to see "BULLIES, ZOMBIES & HEROES: The Safe Routes to School Movie" filmed and produced in Carroll County ... as a hilarious group of kids learn how to walk to school safely!
- Teaching in physical education classes how to safely cross streets as
- well as why walking to school is fun and healthy.
- Utilizing teen leaders to lead "walking school buses" in which pre-teen students met at a central location then walk to school together.
- Rewarding participants through a variety of incentives, including recognition and awards.
The Arkansas Safe Routes to School Curriculum
We're collaborating with Jeremiah House to provide locally sourced food to local school cafeterias.
The key goal was instilling the Safe Routes to School concepts of walking for fun and health. We also produced eight videos to go with lessons.
The curriculum and videos have been made available for free download by schools nationwide. The curriculum's features include:
