The morning was wet and drizzling, but instead of hitching a ride a couple of blocks to the classroom, 18 umbrellas were taken out of storage and 36 elementary school-aged feet walked a slightly damp route to school. For the first time at Lincoln Elementary School, the Walking School Bus, a Vitality Cities program, was on a roll.
“The Walking School Bus is an opportunity for children to be able to walk or incorporate fitness in a way that doesn’t feel like an exercise program,” said Veronica Flores, Blue Zones Vitality City Manager forVitality City. “Walking to school is something kids used to do 15 years ago; now there is an inability to think about walking as a way to improve fitness.”
“We just don’t live in the days when you could send your kids out the door to walk to school on their own,” said parent Lora Dapoz. “When they are little you just can’t do that. It’s a great way for kids to walk to school in a safe way with volunteers who are going to keep them safe.”
The children met at a specific pre-planned spot in their neighborhood and waited for the group to come together. Volunteer parents accompanied the group, reminding them about safe practices on the street and chatting with the other parents who joined the cluster along the way.
“It went well despite the rain,” said Jeff Winckler, principal of Lincoln Elementary. “I see it working out in Redondo Beach. We have a community that is aware and will gravitate to something like this.”
The Walking School Bus program was created to cater to the children, but it is a great way for parents to get involved in additional physical activity as well. “When parents walk with their kids it creates an opportunity for them to incorporate fitness into their lives as well,”Floressaid.
Parents trailed behind the students, talking to each other and laughing. The students, slightly ahead and of various ages, jumped puddles and twirled their umbrellas, spinning droplets of rain onto the surrounding, brightly-colored rain jackets. Kate Fukushima, 5, clutched her manila envelope full of homework and focused on not touching any of the puddles. Her father and older sister Ella walked along with her.
“The morning traffic is crazy… and many times it is often faster to walk then drive.” Staci Sexton, a volunteer and a parent of two children at Lincoln Elementary said.
Vitality Cities first piloted the program in Albert Lea, MN, in the middle of winter. “If it can be done in the middle of winter in Minnesota in the snow, it can be done here,” said Flores. “In the Beach Cities in particular the majority of kids live less than a mile from their schools.”
The biggest concern the program had was the anxiety of lack of participation. So far, the response has been immense. Eighteen students participated in the soft launch on Wednesday, and with more volunteers signing up, more routes will soon be planned. According toFlores, parents and teachers are excited about the program and want to see it become successful.
“I hope it builds momentum,” said Lauren Nakano fromVitality City. “It was great to see that many kids out, especially in the rain.”
According to Flores, there was a huge response from many different sectors of the community. Patrol officers were on board, community members were excited, school districts were enthusiastic and parents were committed to the idea of creating a healthier community. “It was surprising to us,” said Flores. “People want to make it safe. The city has been really involved.”
Other schools that currently participate in the program are Grand View, American Martyrs, Hermosa View, Madison and Lincoln. They hope to expand to all area schools in the future.
