The Vision: 500 parents & caregivers from amongst Port Townsend’s K-8 schools giving extra time, attention & care to their kids during a spring walk to school, while also meeting other families in their neighborhoods.

1. Live far from School?
No Worries: “Park N’ Walk
Zones” are part of
the plan!
“Walk Your Child
to School Day”
Wed, May 4th, 2011
Port Townsend, WA

2. The Vision
Every child from Port
Townsend’s K-8 schools
receiving extra time,
attention & care from their
parents & caregivers during a
spring walk to school...while
also meeting & enjoying the
company of other families.

3. Why?
To help children feel special, know that they
are loved & strengthen family bonds.
To deepen community by meeting
other neighborhood families.
To promote healthy living & more sustainable
transportation.
To connect to the beauty & life of one's local
environment.
To inspire & support a potential ongoing
tradition & enrich local schools

4. Where did this idea come from?
Hi, I’m Leif Hansen, father of Zinnia Hansen, a 2nd grader at PT’s
OPEPO. The truth is that while I highly value having quality time
with Zin each day, I often don’t spend as much time as I’d like to
with her. Sound familiar? One thing we usually do at least once a
week is to walk to school together -it’s a really simple & sweet
time together that I love. Thankfully I live close enough to her
school and have my own business, which makes it a bit easier :)
The inspiration for “Walk Your Child to School Day” came from:
noticing that there were rarely any other parents getting to walk their
children to school
noticing the smiling faces of those walking or driving by when they saw us
feeling inspired when I imagine the possible results of more families walking
having a business whose mission is to help spark transformation for
individuals, communities & organizations

5. Ready to get involved?
Use the form below (or follow this link) to sign your child up.
Then put it in your calendar & tell your friends to join!
Volunteer to be a Walk-Buddy for parents who can’t make it
that day (you must have a child enrolled in a PT school.)
Volunteer to be a Classroom Lead to help promote & register
all the kids & families in your classroom.
Spread the word to other friends & parents:
The best way is usually to share in person that you’re
doing it and to encourage others to join you
Send people to www.SparkInteraction.com/walkday for info
Send them an email with an invitation to join you

6. Frequently Asked
Questions
What if I live too far away?
What if I work that morning?
One or Both Parents? Who should walk?
What if I have children in different schools?
What about home-schooled children?

7. What if I live too far away?
Better start runnin’ now...harharhar! :)
There are a number of creative possibilities for
you, but an obvious answer would be to bike or
drive part way and then walk 15-30 minutes.
• “Park N’ Walk” Zones are listed on the website
• Consider car-pooling with some neighbors?

8. But I work that morning!
Can my child still be involved somehow?
We know that there are circumstances where it can be very difficult,
or near impossible, to participate. We'd encourage you to think outside
the box though and consider a few possibilities:
Imagine you were an employer and your employee said "Do you mind if I take an hour off so I
can walk with my child to school for the 'Walk to Your Child to School Day'"? How would you
respond to something like that?...Exactly.
What about asking Grandpa or Grandma, or an uncle or an aunt? Even if you can't do it
yourself, there are benefits to your child still participating and walking with other family
members or parents in your school. If you don't know someone personally you could ask, let
us know on the registration form that you need a “Walk Buddy”
Ask your classroom lead for support in talking to your employer.
Take a day off and combine this with something else you've been wanting to do!

9. What if I have more than one
child in different schools?
Sounds like you're going to get some good exercise
that day! :) Seriously though, your options in this
case might be to:
• to have different family/caregivers each take a child
• ask for a "walk-buddy" in the form below for other
available parents/guardians in your neighborhood.
• choose one of them (we'd recommend the younger
one or the one who you think the walk would be
more meaningful to),

10. What if my child is
home-schooled?
Great question. We’d recommend simply
committing to go for a 15-30 minute walk that
morning with your child. You’ll still be
achieving all the goals of spending special time
with your child, meeting others in your
neighborhood & getting some fresh spring air!
Perhaps you could even coordinate a gathering
with other home-schooled families!

11. Who should walk
with my child?
The primary goal of this event is for our
children to feel special & to know that they
are loved. From that angle, if possible, it
would be wonderful to have the whole family -
even grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts
involved :) However, participating with one
parent/guardian or even just your child’s
friend’s parent is just as perfect!