Students in grades K-8 bundled up for organized “Winter Walks” to school during the month of January as part of the Hunterdon County Safe Routes to School Program. Eight participating schools pledged to walk to school as part of their “walking school buses”, chaperoned walks along designated routes as part of the annual Winter Walk event.
Now in its tenth year, Winter Walk provides a fun way for students to learn about and practice safe walking behaviors in winter weather conditions. The annual event seamlessly connects walk and bike to school events that take place in the fall, winter and spring keeping students engaged throughout the school year.
Ahead of each scheduled Winter Walk, goHunterdon staff provided interactive lessons to teach students the importance of using sidewalk and crosswalk safety, dressing for colder weather, and how to safely navigate on snowy or icy sidewalks. This year’s “Winter Waddle Walk” encouraged students to mimic a penguin when dealing with icy conditions. This assured them a better traction over ice and snow. The recent inclement weather prior to some of the Winter Walks provided students with the opportunity to apply what they have learned and to practice safe pedestrian behaviors alongside peers, parents, and teachers.
As an added incentive, Winter Walk features a friendly competition among participating schools. The school that has the highest percentage of their school population walking as part of the event is awarded the perpetual Polar Bear Trophy. This year’s Polar Bear Trophy winner was Hampton Public School with 51% of their total school population, K-5, participating in their “Winter Waddle Walk” to school on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Recognition of outstanding participation included Mrs. Silverman’s 3rd grade class, South Hunterdon Regional Elementary School; Mrs. Marciano’s 2nd grade class Barley Sheaf Elementary School; Mrs. Kerr’s Kindergarten class, High Bridge Elementary School; and Mrs. Doyle’s 5th grade class, Frenchtown Elementary School.
Winter Walk also provided the ideal time express appreciation to local crossing guards. Customized greeting cards were distributed to crossing guard thanking them for “Having a Heart for Safety”.
The Hunterdon Safe Routes to School Program is facilitated by goHunterdon as part of the statewide Safe Routes program, funded by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The goals of the program are: “Where it is safe, get more kids walking or bicycling; where it is not safe, make it safe.”
