October 2016

Safe Routes to School E-News
Issue #128: October 2016

Safe Routes to School E-News is a monthly email newsletter published by the Safe Routes Partnership. We are also on Facebook and Twitter. Join us!

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1. Happy Walk to School Day!
2. We're Hiring a Coalitions & Equity Manager
3. USDOT Sets Ambitious Goals for Biking and Walking
4. Fire Up Your Feet and Win Awards this October
5. Special Event in Portland Celebrates Walking to School
6. Active Schools Fundraising Partners
7. #BikesCanSolveThat
8. Partner of the Month: Skillastics/Fitivities
9. News and Events

1. Happy Walk to School Day!

Every year, thousands of kids, parents, teachers, and community members participate in Walk to School Day to support walking and its many benefits for physical and mental health, the economy, environment, and community.

That's why we couldn't be more excited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of International Walk to School Day today. To mark this special occasion, we're giving away a new $500 Fire Up Your Feet Walk to School Day Award -- and any school in the country is eligible to win! Click here for more details about how to enter, and have a wonderful day of walking!

2. We're Hiring a Coalitions and Equity Manager

We're hiring a Coalitions & Equity Manager to lead and advocate around the equity-related components of our work in support of active communities. The Coalitions & Equity Manager will play a key role in a national initiative creating significant policy change at the state and regional level in support of increased physical activity. Applications are due by October 23, 2016. See the full announcement and detailed job description here.

3. USDOT Sets Ambitious Goals for Biking and Walking

The Federal Highway Administration within USDOT has issued an exciting new Strategic Agenda for Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation, which has a goal of eliminating biking and walking fatalities within 30 years and increasing short trips made by foot or bike by 50 percent. They outline a number of priorities that would help infuse active transportation into all levels of transportation agencies and planning. Learn more in our federal policy blog.

4. Join the Fire Up Your Feet Activity Challenge October 1-31, 2016!

Did you know that the Safe Routes Partnership is awarding more than $95,000 to schools in participating states and regions* as part of theFire Up Your Feet Fall Activity Challenge? It's FREE to participate!

1. Sign up at fireupyourfeet.org. Registration is open now!
    
2. From October 1-31, participants track their physical activity online. Any activity counts – walking, bicycling, recess, sports, you name it.
    
3. Win! Top prizes go to the schools with the highest percentage of participation, plus schools can win in a variety of smaller prize categories. Learn more about available awards here.

*Schools in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Metro Atlanta, Nevada, Oregon, SW Washington, Virginia, and Washington, DC are eligible to participate.

5. Special Event in Portland Celebrates Walking and Biking to School

As part of the celebration of Walk to School Day, the Safe Routes Partnership joined with the Bicycle Transportation Alliance to host a special screening of the documentary, “The Slow Way Home” on Tuesday, October 4.  The documentary looks at why so few kids in the U.S. walk to school compared to students in Japan, and ways to increase percentages in the U.S. The screening was followed by a panel discussion with the filmwriter, Len Schoppa, and local parents featured in the film. 

6. Raise Money for Your School the Healthy Way with Active Schools Fundraising

We'd like to give a big thanks to our sponsoring partners above for providing discounts and promotions to help your fundraising dollars go even farther when you use Active Schools Fundraising.
 
October is a great month to fundraise and celebrate Walk to School Month! Join our upcoming webinar to learn more about Active Schools Fundraising and an offer from our partner Stand2Learn.

• When: Tuesday, October 18th 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET.
• Register here

8. Featured Partners: Skillastics/Fitivities

Skillastics/Fitivities is providing you a $5, $10, or $15 discount plus a 5 or 10 percent sale proceed to the Safe Routes Partnership for all orders that use code SRTS16 during the month of October. Learn more here.

9. News and Events