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Improving Community Health with Walking and Biking to School
In September, Healthy Central Florida hosted its 6th annual Walk n’ Bike to School Workshop. The free workshop brought together advocates and leaders to make walking and biking to school safer for our children.
During the workshop, area school representatives shared their creative efforts to help make walking and biking to school safer, and more fun, for their students and families.
Dommerich Elementary
Created a breathe free car line with an idol free zone. They promoted the breathed free car line and idol free zone through letters to parents, emails and on the morning news. Additionally, they purchased banners and signage to hang in the car line.
Brookshire Elementary
On International Bike to School Day, students wearing helmets properly had their picture taken and posted on bulletin board in school — The Wall of Fame. Those that had an improperly fitting helmet were fitted by a local bike shop.
Lakemont Elementary
On International Bike to School Day, Lakemonth Elementary hosted a Roll-a-thon on their track where students could bring anything on wheels except for a skateboard. Students were rewarded with a banana that they were able to decorate with a marker. Students loved it!
Lake Sybelia Elementary
Lake Sybelia Elementary has had great success with the Walking School Bus. Parents obtained administration support then parent support through robo calls to obtain interested volunteers. The school now has two active routes on Wednesday mornings that have been going strong for six years. Bonds are formed between students and adult volunteers.
Maitland Middle
The school installed a bike pump in front of the school. Dommerich Elementary is looking to replicate and install in back of their school. The bike pump is open to community. Maintenance is split between the school and PTA.
Congratulations to Healthy Central Florida and these schools for their efforts to improve child health, increase learning, create greener communities and enhance fun and a sense of community – all by simply getting kids walking and biking to school.
2,200 Participate in International Walk to School Day
Kids walked and rolled in record numbers on International Walk to School Day, Oct. 4, 2017. At Winter Park consortium schools, parents walked with kids (and dogs) on this annual day that celebrates the simple joy of walking to school. Kids created posters at Lakemont Elementary School, where a record 148 participants joined the colorful parade to school. “Don’t text and Drive”, “Keep Kids Safe”, “Slow Down” – were the key messages. And…”Walking is fun!”
We agree – walking is fun. And it’s healthy and helps children be ready to learn. The more you burn, the more you learn!
In all, 2,201 students from ten area schools participated, along with the mayor of Maitland, Dale McDonald and School Board Representative, Nancy Robbinson and several city council members, parents and advocates from Maitland, Winter Park and Eatonville.
Click here to read more from our friends at Healthy Central Florida, including a news story and more pictures.
MOVE60 CHALLENGE kicks off Oct. 1
Back by popular demand! Healthy Central Florida’s Move60 Fall Challenge kicks off Saturday, Oct. 1st! It’s FREE and you can participate as an individual or recruit a team (work, school, faith community, friends). Get a super-soft t-shirt, great weekly prizes, team rewards and some new surprises are in store for all.
Walk, run, bike, dance, do Yoga – just be part of the MOVEment to make our community the healthiest in the nation.
BONUS! School Fundraiser – The Winter Park Consortium public school with the most participants signed up and actively posting and logging steps will win $400 for their organization. PTO/PTA – no selling chocolate, gift-wrapping or any selling. Just get people moving and make money for your school.
CLICK HERE to register and learn more.
Walk and Roll Workshop – Sept. 21
Healthy Central Florida (HCF) is hosting its 6th annual Walk n’ Bike to School Workshop on Thursday, Sept. 21. The workshop is free, open to all, and designed to bring advocates and leaders together to make walking and biking to school safer for our children. Join parents, school personnel and city leaders to share updates, creative ideas and strategies to improve safety and walk and bike-ability around our area schools. HCF will also offer $10,000 in grants to *qualified schools. Attendance is mandatory to be eligible for a grant.
A free light breakfast will be served. All are welcome but an RSVP by Sept. 14th is requested. Here are details (HCF Walk N Roll Workshop Flyer):
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017
Winter Park Community Center
721 West New England Avenue
8:45 – 10:45 am
Free event | RSVP by Sept. 14 – jhamiltonbuss@healthycf.org
Light breakfast provided
WHO’S INVITED:
Parents
School principals
Healthy school team leaders
City officials and police representatives
Pedestrian/cycling advocates
PTO representatives (Fundraising opportunity!)
HIGHLIGHTS:
Free Walk n’ Roll promotional materials
Tools and resources to promote safe commutes
Complimentary breakfast for registered participants
To RSVP call (407) 303-1347 or for more information, email JHamiltonBuss@HealthyCF.org
*Winter Park Consortium Schools (those that matriculate to WP High School) are eligible for the grants during this grant round.
Free Family-Friendly Bike Rides on May 6
Like to Bike? Join a fun, kid and family-friendly ride in one of our cities on Saturday, May 6th. It’s Free and each city will have various activities for children and families, including face-painting, the blender bike, helmet fittings and free refreshments to promote bike-riding in our region. These rides range from 2.7 miles to 5+ miles. All are designed for families to ride on trails or bike-friendly, low-traffic routes. See the flyer for more information.
May is Bike Month in Florida – Join the movement – Get out and ride!
Join Healthy Central Florida’s Move60 Challenge
March 1st – April 29th
Get Moving, Have Fun and Win Prizes!
Be part of the MOVEment! Walk. Bike. Swim. Dance. Garden. Do yoga… Just get moving for 60 days!
And when you do, you’re entered to win great weekly prizes like mini-memberships to RDV Sportsplex, Fitbits, restaurant and movie gift certificates and more!
It’s Free, Fun and Easy. Register as an Individual or recruit a team of friends, co-workers, school/PTO parents or your faith community.
Free T-shirt and Timex Pedometer – Every registered participant will receive a super soft, free T-shirt and Timex pedometer while supplies last. And, everyone who participates is eligible for great weekly prize drawings. Win great health, more fun and great prizes – simply for being active.
SCHOOL CHALLENGE: The Winter Park Consortium public school with most registered participants that are actively weekly posting and logging steps and time amounts can WIN $400 for their organization.
Join together as we become the healthiest community in the nation and Get Moving!
Special thanks to Healthy Central Florida Move60 sponsors – Florida Blue, Winter Park Health Foundation, Florida Hospital and the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.
Register online at https://hcf.walkertracker.com/
Lake Sybelia Elementary Wins Walk90 School Category
Congratulations to the Lake Sybelia Elementary Dolphins for winning the school category of the Healthy Central Florida Walk90 Challenge and its $1,000 prize!
Lake Sybelia staff and families are looking forward March 1st when the Spring Move60 Challenge kicks off.
The new challenge will begin on March 1 and run through April 29. Details will be announced soon and the sign up page will go live in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned for more information.
$25,000 in Mini-grants Available
Health Innovation Grant Workshop – Wednesday, May 11 from 7:30-10:30 a.m.
CLICK HERE to view video from last year’s Grants Workshop.
Join Healthy Central Florida and hear two rock stars of health – Jeff Speck, nationally-known walkability expert and author of The Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America One Step at a Time, and Dr. Brian Wansink, world-renowned eating behavior expert for over 25 years. Dr. Wansink is a professor at Cornell University, and formerly was appointed by the White House appointed to lead the US Dietary Guidelines (MyPlate). Both speakers will bring cutting edge strategies for creating healthier environments to our communities. Don’t miss out!
Attend this free workshop and your organization could be eligible to receive one of the mini-grants totaling $25,000.
Register here – seating is limited.
Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (program starts promptly at 8:05 a.m.)
Where: Bush Auditorium at Rollins College ▪ 1000 Holt Ave. ▪ Winter Park, FL 32789
The workshop is free and open to anyone in Central Florida. Grant applicant projects must primarily serve the residents of Eatonville, Maitland and Winter Park and applicants must attend the workshop to be eligible to apply. All grant applications must target one of these Healthy Central Florida focus areas: Get active or Eat healthy. Individuals are welcome to attend but grants will be made only to recognized 501(c)(3) organizations for implementation. Collaborations are encouraged. A light breakfast will be provided. Sign up early to ensure your place – seating is limited.
Questions? Please email info@healthycf.org or call 407-644-2300 ext. 241.
National Bike to School Day – May 4
Join our friends at Healthy Central Florida as they celebrate National Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 4. All Winter Park Consortium elementary and middle schools, 10 schools total, have registered their National Bike to School Day events on the national website.
Events in our areas include bike safety education in PE, principal cycling with student group to school, bike parades, bike decorating contest, bike tune-up clinic, Wall of Fame (students wearing helmets), mayor and council members walking to school with student groups and a middle school bike/ped safety video contest.
Wondering why your child should participate in National Bike to School Day? See the top five reasons, listed below, from the National Center for Safe Routes to School.
Walking and bicycling bring a sense of joy and independence.
The trip to school is a chance for children (and adults!) to get the physical activity they need.
Replacing car trips to school with walking or bicycling can reduce congestion and air-polluting emissions.
Building sidewalks, providing education programs and adding traffic calming measures are some of the ways to improve safety. Encouraging walking and bicycling to school can help build support for infrastructure improvements in the broader community.
Reducing traffic congestion, boosting a sense of community, and improving neighborhood connections benefit the community.
Share your National Bike to School Day pictures with us!
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