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Walk to school one day a week

All Practically Green: 90 or so people have DONE this action so far.

All Practically Green: 10 or so people have ADDED this to their action plan so far.

Why is "Walk to school one day a week" green?

Many children live within a mile of school, but don't walk regularly. By choosing to walk to school once weekly instead of driving or even taking public transportation, families can lower commuting costs, avoid the use of non-renewable resources for fuel, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide their offspring with a green-and-valuable lesson.

There are physical and emotional bonuses to walking, too. Sure it’s important to be a part of the transportation solution, and reduce your carbon footprint, but it’s also fun. It’s a stress buster, a strength builder, and generally feels great to be outside together talking and observing the seasons and changes in the landscape.

Modify your schedule to allow extra time for the walk. If your morning routine is just too hectic to add walking on top of everything else, try walking home at school pick-up.

How to: Walk to school one day a week

Some towns and cities are much more pedestrian-friendly than others. Plan a route that is safe and pleasant with plenty of sidewalks. Wear comfortable shoes.

Ask friends to join in; get a group of parents and kids involved. Adults can take turns leading the kids to school, like a "walking school bus."

If it will take more than thirty minutes to walk, consider driving or taking public transportation only part of the way and walking the rest. The goal is to get 60 minutes of walking vs. transporting time into the day.

Work your way up to more than one day a week.

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    • (2 Ratings)

    Perfectly sized for a kid's lunch, these stainless steel bottles are available in a variety of colors (including just plain stainless), sizes, and cap styles (including one that makes it a sippy cup for the young ones). Klean Kanteen says their bottles are BPA free.

  • Reuseit: Lunch Bags and Boxes
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    Reuseit stocks a wide (and fun!) selection of reusable lunch bags and boxes for you and your kids--the perfect waste-free lunch companion for school or the office.