(10/04/19) Each year on the first Wednesday in October, organizations around the world celebrate International Walk to School Day. On Oct. 2, Evergreen Park World Cultures Community School in Brooklyn Center partnered with North Memorial Health, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Safe Kids Worldwide and FedEx to help teach the importance of pedestrian safety while also encouraging students who live within walking distance, to walk to school. View photos.

“We love the idea of kids walking to school and having a chance to get some activity in,” said Sheila Nesbitt, injury prevention coordinator for North Memorial Health, who helped organize the event. “It can help kids come to school awake with some fresh air to start the day, but we also want to make sure that they are safe.”

Volunteers from North Memorial Health, Hennepin County, and FedEx were stationed along walking routes to Evergreen Park equipped with signs urging motorists to slow down and watch for pedestrians during the morning commute while also greeting students and helping them get to school safely using marked crosswalks.

“We know that when students are going to and from school, drivers are also going to and from work and might have a lot of things on their minds,” Nesbitt said. “We just want to remind drivers to be mindful of their surroundings and know that kids might be present at intersections at certain times of the day.”

After the school day began, students made their way back outside for a lesson on vehicle awareness. Students learned about blind spots and the dangers of playing or walking near busy traffic areas, but the most fun part was the opportunity to sit in the emergency vehicles and FedEx truck to see how they operate. Students also received safety tools, including bike lights and reflective stickers.