Scott Williams, swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Contributed Photo Students from St. James Lutheran School in Shawano enjoy getting some exercise Wednesday while walking to school.
Contributed Photo Walking to school Wednesday at Olga Brener Intermediate School in Shawano are Vicki Heling, left, and her daughter Madeline.
Kids heading to school Wednesday in the Shawano area left behind the minivans and SUVs to try something new: walking.
A sunny autumn morning made for perfect weather for kids and their parents to get some healthy exercise as part of International Walk to School Day.
“It was a beautiful morning to be out there walking,” said Nancy Schultz, coordinator of the local group Safe Routes to School.
Schultz estimated that hundreds of students in Shawano County took a break from their normal routine to walk to school. And she hopes some of them will make it a habit.
Participating schools included Shawano Community Middle School, Olga Brener Intermediate School, Hillcrest Primary School, Bonduel Elementary School, Sacred Heart Catholic School and St. James Lutheran School.
School officials said they hope to eliminate obstacles — mainly fear — that prevent parents from allowing their kids to walk to school regularly.
Hillcrest Principal Troy Edwards said administrators are working with Shawano city officials to establish crosswalks on nearby Waukechon Street, a busy road that separates most families from the school.
Hillcrest has about 660 students in pre-kindergarten through second grade.
Edwards said he was encouraged to see so many parents willing to let their kids head for school on foot during Wednesday’s special event. Some even abandoned their vehicles a block or two away, he said, just so their children could experience a short walk.
“Parents went out of their way, even more so, to have their kids walk,” Edwards said.
Many school administrators offered students incentives to join Walk To School Day, including T-shirts, key chains and wristbands. Some also encouraged other healthy activities at school, such as walking laps in the gym or on the playground.
Olga Brener Principal Terri Schultz estimated that 40 percent to 50 percent of her students participated in some walking activity, compared with about 10 percent who walk to school regularly.
The intermediate school has about 550 third-graders through fifth-graders.
Schultz said she recognizes that some parents are hesitant to allow their kids to walk to school, out of concern for busy street traffic or other safety hazards. The school has taken steps to alleviate such issues by providing crossing guards, road signage and other safety measures.
Schultz said she was pleased to see so many kids giving walk-to-school a try.
“We want people to know those choices are there because the safe routes are there,” she said. “And they won’t know that unless they try it.”