Initiative walks the talk

Schools are being encouraged to help students see walking as a normal activity in their lives.

To boost that shift in thinking the popular Feet First promotion has been changed from an annual event to an ongoing learning programme. The New Zealand Transport Agency has issued new resources and activities for schools to use this year.

Feet First Walk to School Every Week, as it is now known, includes an extensive array of curriculum resources to support walking initiatives that schools might already run, says NZTA education manager Jennie Gianotti.

“The Feet First events have been very positive ways to get walking into people’s minds. Now we want to create other opportunities for people to engage in talking and thinking about the benefits of active transport.”

She says the programme prompts students to explore the benefits of using active forms of transport.

“Walking is social and is sustainable – it has good outcomes for your wider personal well-being as well as your physical wellbeing.”

Teaching resources that cover road safety, walking and exploring, creativity and environmental sustainability will be available on a website. In addition, schools that register can share their stories of walking initiatives on the website, collect and analyse walking data and enter student writing competitions. www.feetfirst.govt.nz

Copyright: Wayne Erb, New Zealand Education Gazette

Contact Jamie Sitzia on jamie.sitzia@nzta.govt.nz.