A Step Ahead: Children learn healthy habits while walking to school
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With backpacks secure and pockets full of healthy foods, more than 100 children took a step towards healthy living as they joined Ronan Superintendent Andy Holmlund and University of Montana mascot Monte in walking to school. Youngsters gathered at Ronan/Bockman Park bright and early to grab healthy breakfast items, while some chose to pose with Monte before embarking on their journey to school during the annual International Walk to School Day.
“I was very delighted and excited to see parents and students come out,” Holmlund said. “To get Monte to come up was great for the kids.”
Ronan Parks Director Jennifer Rolfsness said this is the third year Ronan School District has participated in the international event, noting this year’s turnout was larger than expected. She emphasized the importance of the walk, as it teaches children the reasons to get out and exercise.
“(The walk) is more environmentally friendly, promotes exercise, and reduces congestion around busy interceptions in town,” Rolfsness said. “When I was younger, I walked to school. I think we’ve gotten into a pattern of not doing that anymore.”
“We’re a country that’s growing in the waistline,” Holmlund added. “Anything (the school district) can provide to increase healthy living is good.”
As the group of children marched towards school, Ronan Police Officers Dan Wadsworth and John Mitchell manned crosswalks at busy intersections.
The movement to increase activity in children by walking to school began in 1994, when the Hertfordshire County Council Travelwise team in Great Britain piloted the first walk to school week in just a few of its schools. It wasn’t until 1997 that the United States launched its first walk day in Chicago and Los Angeles through Partnership for a Walkable America. Since then the walking frenzy has taken off, with more than 3,500 events held solely in the United States last year.
The goal of the walk is to bring permanent change to communities across the globe. The international walk is more than just getting together and walking, however, as children are encouraged to participate in physical activity, raise awareness of how walkable a community is, raise concern for the environment, reduce crime and traffic congestion and to share valuable time with local community leaders, parents and children.
Rolfsness would like to thank the Lake County DUI Task Force for providing pedometers for the youngsters. She also appreciates the help from Women for Wellness, St. Luke’s Hospital, Ronan Parks and the Lake County Community Development Center for providing healthy snacks for checkpoints.
“It was great,” Holmlund said. “Jennifer put together one of the finest events in Montana.”
