On May 20, students at Traverse City West Middle School will have the opportunity to participate in a Remote Drop Off/Walk to School Day. Students who arrive by bus or car will be encouraged to "Hike Up the Hill" and walk to school, if only for a day. Buses will drop off students who wish to participate on the service drive near Franke Rd. Students who are regularly driven to school are encouraged to be dropped off at the tennis courts parking lot. Students dropped off at the remote sites will have volunteers along the route to school to ensure their safety.

TC West Middle School has been selected as a pilot school for the State of Michigan's Safe Routes to School program. During the 2009-2010 school year, efforts will continue toward developing an action plan to make improvements to the TC West Middle School community and vicinity which will provide a safe environment for walking and biking to school.

Forty years ago the national average for children walking to school was nearly 50%, today it is closer to 10% nationally and 3% at TC West Middle School. A desire to walk was expressed by student survey respondents, who indicated that if routes to school were improved, 20% said they would walk and 40% said they might.

Safe Routes to School (SR2S) is a national and international movement to make it safe, convenient, and fun for children to walk or bike to school. The benefits of SR2S are many. When routes are safe, students can get the regular exercise they need for good health by walking or biking to school. Studies have shown that in addition to better weight management, physically active kids have improved mood and concentration and that physical fitness is related to better test scores on some standardized tests.

To volunteer for Walk to School Day or please call Missy Luyk, Trail Program Specialist for TART Trails, at 941-4300.