SANDPOINT — Students explored, walked and rolled their way to school across Bonner County on Wednesday as part of International Walk and Roll to School Day.

All schools in Lake Pend Oreille School District had students braving the cold morning to participate in the event. Erin Billings, LPOSD Safe Routes to School coordinator, said that usually around 1,300 students participate in the annual event that took place last Wednesday, Oct. 8. 

Billings participated in the Farmin Stidwell group walk and said that all the students there were excited to be outside with their peers. She said that for a lot of the kids the path of the group walk was an area that they don’t live in, allowing them to explore a new way to school and see another part of their town. 

"The kids have fun doing it, they say ‘Hey, are we going to do this again next week?’ even though we only do the one walk to school day,” Billings said. “It helps students arrive a little more ready to learn because they’ve already gotten some exercise.” 

That excitement wasn’t limited to the Farmin Stidwell walk. In videos posted to social media in the Washington Elementary group, kids can be seen speeding toward school and giggling. 

Of the 15 registered events in Idaho, 10 of them are coordinated by Billings and LPOSD, according to walkbiketoschool.org. Billings said she thinks that the district has bought in like no other in the state because of what the focus of the event is and in how it encourages student independence. 

“It’s great to promote walking safety and to help alleviate the congestion of the schools. It’s always funny on the first day of school, how you see millions of cars down Division,” Billings said with a laugh. “The more people you can get to walk or bike, the better.” 

In the lead up to the event, Billings coordinated with physical education teachers across the district to put on walking safety lessons. In those classes, the students learned about crossing the street safely and were given reflective material for them to wear on the day of the event. 

Billings said that she encourages every principal in the district to participate and to put on group walks to ensure every student has a chance to walk. This year, Washington, Farmin Stidwell and Kootenai elementary schools all held group walks for students to participate in. 

LPOSD has been taking part in the annual event since 2003. The idea for a walk to school originated in the United Kingdom, but the came to the United States in 1997 with the first National Walk Our Children to School Day in Chicago.    

Educators at LPOSD have focused on encouraging physical activity with students. Events like Farmin Stidwell’s Bike Bus, a program that runs every Friday until the end of October picking up students who are biking to school along a predetermined route.  

“A couple of the schools have a Kindergarten learning to ride [program], teaching the students early how to ride a bike,” Billing said. “Less kids bike these days than they used, so trying to get as many to learn in the schools the better because they might not have that opportunity.”  

The Bike Bus is led by two teachers at Farmin Stidwell, however Billings said that she’s always looking for more individuals who are passionate and committed to spearheading weekly walks or other events like it.  

“I think it’s good for kids to have the independence to be able to walk and bike around the town,” Billings said. “[I hope] that some people find it is easier to walk [to school] than they thought.” 

    Dover Mayor George Eskridge taking part in Walk and Roll to School Day.