Winter Walks have become an annual event as part of the Hunterdon County Safe Routes to School Program, coordinated by goHunterdon in Hunterdon’s K-8 walking school districts.  The goals of Safe Routes to School programming are simple: Where it is safe, get kids walking or bicycling; where it is not safe, make it safe.

“Safe Routes to School is a year round program; regardless of the weather,” says Ryan Fisher, goHunterdon Safety Programs Coordinator. “Students look forward to the seasonal events.  In the fall, Hunterdon schools celebrate “International Walk to School Day”. The winter brings “Winter Walk”.  In the spring, “Hunterdon County Walk and Roll to School Month” features a countywide competition for the Golden Sneaker Trophy, presented to the school with the highest percentage of students walking.

Winter Walk 2022, to be scheduled in mid-February, will include a competition as well. Schools will compete for the Polar Bear Trophy, to be presented to the school with the highest student participation.  As part of the Polar Bear theme, students will be encouraged to wear white or blue on their walk to school. Several schools will host “walking school buses”, chaperoned walks to school along designated routes.   Students are provided with pedestrian safety information, including using crosswalks, looking both ways before crossing, and walking safely on snow or ice.

“The event themes and competition are all in good fun,” says Fisher. “The important thing is that students are staying active and learning how to be safe pedestrians.”

The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program is a national program, funded in New Jersey through the New Jersey Department of Transportation and facilitated locally by non-profit transportation management associations like goHunterdon. The program includes educational and encouragement activities, including special events, safety presentations and lessons.

For more information about the Hunterdon County Safe Routes to School Program, contact Ryan Fisher, Safety Programs Coordinator, rfisher@gohunterdon.org or 908.788.5553.