Mount Hope Elementary School in Lansing is gearing up for Walk to School Day on Oct. 2.

The walk promotes physical activity, concern for the environment, awareness of how walkable the community is, and what improvements can be made to make it easier for students to walk every day.

The walk also focuses on teaching students safe walking skills and identifying safe routes to school.

Mount Hope is one of 65 Michigan schools taking part in the state's first ever Walk to School Day.

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International Walk to School Day

• The first even International Walk to School Day took place on October 4, 2000.

• Canada, Great Britain, United States, Ireland, Cyprus, Gibraltar and The Isle of Man participated.

• Over two and a half million walkers were estimated to have participated.

• On October 4, 2001 walkers celebrated the second annual International Walk to School Day with a greater turnout. Twenty-one countries and nearly three million people walked to school.

• The goal of the walk varies from community to community. They could:
  
  • Encourage physical fitness.
    
  • Raise awareness of how walkable a community is.
    
  • Raise concern for the environment.
    
  • Reduce crime and take back neighborhoods.
    
  • Reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and speed near schools.
    
  • Share time with local community leaders, parents, and children.

• The countries that are participating in the walk are:
  
  • Argentina
    
  • Australia
    
  • Belgium
    
  • Brazil
    
  • Canada
    
  • Chile
    
  • Croatia
    
  • Cyprus
    
  • Denmark
    
  • France
    
  • Germany
    
  • Greece
    
  • India
    
  • Ireland
    
  • Israel
    
  • Italy
    
  • Mexico
    
  • Namibia
    
  • New Zealand
    
  • Saudi Arabia
    
  • South Africa
    
  • South Korea
    
  • Spain
    
  • Switzerland
    
  • United Kingdom
    
  • United States
    
  • Wales
    
  • Zambia

  Source: www.iwalktoschool.org (The International Walk to School Day Web site)