(Las Cruces) – The New Mexico Department of Health’s Healthy Kids Las Cruces program, Las Cruces Public Schools, and Las Cruces Safe Routes to School will join schools from around the world to celebrate International Walk to School Day this week.
An estimated 3000 students and 750 parents from all 25 Las Cruces elementary schools will be walking and riding bikes to school throughout the week along with parents, teachers and community leaders.
International Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 5th, but local events are being spread out over several days this week in Las Cruces. This is the second consecutive year every elementary school in the district will be participating. You can find Walk to School event dates and times for your local school at https://nmhealth.org/publication/view/general/2924/
Walk to School Day helps local students meet the New Mexico Department of Health Healthy Kids Las Cruces Program’s 5-2-1-0 Challenge of being active for at least one hour a day. The 5-2-1-0 Challenge motivates children to eat more healthfully and live more actively and is based on American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations to improve children’s health.
Walk to School Day events also raise awareness of the need to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion and concern for the environment. The events build connections between families, schools and the broader community.
Organizations supporting International Walk to School Day in the United States include America Walks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Highway Administration, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the National Center for Safe Routes to School, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safe Kids Worldwide, and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.
For additional local information, please contact Las Cruces Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator Ashleigh Curry: acurry@lcps.net or 575-202-1317.
More information on International Walk to School Day can be found at www.walkbiketoschool.org orwww.saferoutesinfo.org
Las Cruces schools to celebrate International Walk to School Day
