This Week is Walk to School Week!

This week (May 13^th – 17^th) is An Taisce Green-Schools Walk to School Week 2013. This annual event sees schoolchildren and their parents across Ireland abandon the car in favour of their feet.

During Walk to School Week Green-Schools across the country encourage pupils, parents and teachers to walk to school by holding events such as Walk to School days, Walk on Wednesdays, Feet First Fridays, sponsored walks and walking challenges. Schools also take part in National WOW (Walk on Wednesday) Day on Wednesday, May 15^th and will aim to reach the target of 20,000 students walking to schools all over Ireland on the day.

An Taisce’s Green-Schools Walk to School Week 2013 was officially launched by Mr. Alan Kelly, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Public and Commuter Transport on Tuesday, April 23^rd in Croke Park, Dublin as part of the annual Green-Schools Travel Awards*.  Helping Minister Kelly launch Walk to School Week 2013 were pupils from winning Green-Schools Travel schools who, on the day, won prizes for their work promoting sustainable transport in their schools and local communities.

*More information on the Green-Schools Travel Awards 2013 including a list of winning schools is available at http://www.greenschoolsireland.org/news.75.html.