Wednesday Is Winter Walk To School Day in Minnesota

Wednesday is the day thousands of kids across Minnesota will be putting on the boots, hats, mittens and winter jackets and hoofing it to class for Winter Walk To School Day.

When I was a kid growing up back in central Wisconsin, we only lived about 6 blocks away from my elementary school (shout-out to Rothschild Elementary in the D.C. Everest Area School District!), so we pretty much walked to school every day (unless it was raining, that is, then my parents or one of my friend's parents took turns driving us to school.)

But today, walking to school is cool again-- literally-- as Minnesota observes Winter Walk To School Day. It's an event put on by Minnesota Safe Routes To School, which describes the event like this: "The idea is simple: go for a walk for at least 15 minutes, and don’t let the cold scare you off. Celebrations can start small or include the entire school – just do something!"

There are incentives for schools to get as many students involved as possible. Here in Rochester, many schools are participating, including Jefferson Elementary, which will be hosting a press conference, of sorts Wednesday morning. Heather Nessler, Executive Director of Communications, Marketing and Technology for Rochester Public Schools, explained what else is taking place.

"Community Action Team Officers will be cheering on students who walked and biked to school. The PE teacher will lead walks around the playground to engage bus riders and other students to get active. Some of our other sites will have activities in the gyms, fire department “cheerleaders,” and more," Heather said in an email.

So watch out as you drive into work this morning for more kids than usual on sidewalks around the Med City, as they bundle up and walk to school!

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