Actually, there is no bus at all. A Walking School Bus (WSB) is a group of families living in the same neighborhood who form a walking group to take children in their area to and/or from school. It can be a structured program with a regular schedule of trained volunteers or it can be more informal, with parents or caregivers taking turns escorting children to school. Walking School Buses can happen on a daily, weekly, or even monthly frequency, depending on volunteer availability and participant interest.
The organization of each WSB is really up to the school and the participants of each bus. What’s important is to simply start moving and help children discover that their journey to school can start with their own feet!
A WSB allows the kids get exercise that helps them focus in school. The walk to school is a chance for parents or route leaders to share, teach and talk with your kids without the stress of honking horns and backed-up traffic. It’s a chance too for you to meet your children’s friends, their parents, get to know the neighborhood, and teach your kids to be street smart and safe.
Each participating school will recruit a Walking School Bus Coordinator to run their program. This could be a teacher, principal, parent, or community member.
The Coordinator undergoes a background check before they are allowed to start working with the program. Walking School Bus Coordinators register students to participate, recruits and trains volunteer route leaders, promotes the program, and coordinates day-to-day activities.
The Coordinator, in partnership with the school and the Safe Routes to School program, will determine the meeting place and walking route (s) to the school. There are two different starting and meeting point options:
Walking School Bus Program at Clovis Grove ES in Menasha:
