Nearly 3,000 South Bay Students Participate In Walk-To-School Day

From Beach Cities Health District:

Nearly 3,000 students from 14 elementary schools across Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach chose kid-power over horsepower early Wednesday morning as part of Beach Cities Health District’s (BCHD) Oct. 2 International Walk to School Day events. Although, walking to school isn’t a once-a-year phenomenon in the Beach Cities. Instead, students walk on a weekly basis as part of BCHD’s “Walking School Bus” and “Walking Wednesdays” programs.

BCHD’s Walking School Bus program rolled into elementary schools in the Beach Cities in 2011. The program is held in partnership with Hermosa Beach City School District, Manhattan Beach Unified School District and Redondo Beach Unified School District. The engine of the Walking School Bus are the parent volunteers who safely guide children to school each morning along designated routes. Local police departments, City Councils and Mayors also joined students on their walk to school.

Recently, the program expanded to include “Walking Wednesdays,” an initiative encouraging parents to walk with their children to school at least once a week. Kids in the programs log thousands of miles, save unnecessary car trips and burn excess calories. Best of all, walking to school allows students to gain valuable social connection and interaction with their peers.

For more information on BCHD’s walk-to-school programming, visit bchd.org/schools.