SHIP stories
The Statewide Health Improvement Program
(SHIP) works to improve health through better
nutrition, increased physical activity and
decreased commercial tobacco use and exposure.
Schools are a key area in which SHIP works to
improve health through better nutition. As of June
2011:
•
Across Minnesota, more than 360 schools
and 22 school districts, serving more than
200,000 students, are increasing access to
local produce with Farm to School.
The school bus that runs on
sneakers and snow boots
The Kingfield neighborhood of Minneapolis was
excited when it gained a designated community school
in 2009. For many children, this meant attending a
school closer to home, just one of the many benefits
of a neighborhood school. For one group of active
parents, the boundary change meant they could create
four “walking school buses” with designated routes and
assigned adult volunteers.
“Even a small group of committed parents can make a
big difference in organizing a program like this,” said
Scott Bordon, a Lyndale Community School parent and
volunteer coordinator for the walking school bus. “But
the kids are the ones who really do the rallying by
encouraging their friends at school to walk with them.”
Besides obvious benefits such as increased exercise,
environmental awareness, and pedestrian safety
education, the Lyndale walking school bus has some
added kid-friendly bonuses. Incentives include “Fun
Fridays” with parents playing musical instruments
during the walk and handing out stickers that say, “I
walked.” But kids mostly join the walking bus because
it’s fun.
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/oshii
“We have children dragging their parents out the
door because they don’t want to miss the walking bus,”
Bordon said. “They love to walk with their friends to
school.”
With some routes boasting up to 20-30 kids regardless
of weather, Lyndale Community School has begun
tying in academics with walking to school. Kids are
encouraged to share what they like about walking
during writing lessons such as poetry or in art classes.
“We see the benefits of walking showing up throughout
the school day,” said Principal Ossie Brooks-James.
“Kids have created posters and signs in art classes
talking about the health and environmental benefits
of walking, and they’ve even carried them along their
routes.”
***
SHIP works with communities across Minnesota to help
create real, sustainable health improvement. Find out
how at www.health.state.mn.us/ship