IMAGE GALLERY: Smiling Students Walk the Walk Wednesday

More than 180 smiling elementary school students and staff members packed Hampton's sidewalks on a warm Wednesday morning as part of the town's annual fall Walk to School Day.

and elementary school students did more than just walk from to their respective buildings, though, as several also rollerbladed, scootered and biked to class, an experience many said they fully enjoyed.

"It's awesome," said Haley Brown, 10, a fifth grade student at Marston.

Most of the students said they typically ride a bus to school and said they enjoyed the opportunity to have fun while exercising, which is part of what Walk to School Day is all about.

"If you just sit, you won't get up and get the exercise you need," said Emily Ellis, 10, a Marston fourth grader who said exercise is important and said she doesn't always like taking the bus. "Sometimes you just need the fresh air."

Marston Assistant Principal Dan Mitchell, one of the coordinators of Walk to School Day, said he was impressed with the , as he said it will go a long way toward promoting healthy opportunities for area children.

He said it also did a lot to raise awareness about the Safe Routes to School Initiative, which looks to improve the safety and walkability of American communities.

"I think drivers [along the walking routes on Winnacunnet Road and High Street] couldn't help but be aware," said Mitchell. "Beyond the safety, it reinforces healthy decisions and I think it shows the community, pun intended, we walked the walk. It was a nice way to start the day."

Students, administrators and staff, which comprised the majority of the walkers Wednesday, weren't the only ones who said they enjoyed starting their day with the walk, though.

Many parents and grandparents also participated in Walk to School Day, and they said they liked the advocacy portion of the message as well as the fact that the event gave them a chance to share a new experience with their children.

"I think it's a great idea to give them a feel of what other kids do in the morning," said Ann Grimbilas, who walked with her grandsons Joseph Enright, 7, and Thomas Enright, who celebrated his sixth birthday Wednesday. "It gives them the feel of walking."

Mitchell said the two schools will hold another Walk to School Day in the spring, and possibly even one in November, as the schools want the event to become a monthly occurance in the downtown Hampton area — something which many students said they would support.

"I think it's a pretty good idea to choose to do it once a month so we can get energy in us every month," said Brown.

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