Youth Engagement Program

About

The youth engagement program should empower student leaders, teachers, and adult facilitators in elementary and middle schools by providing the knowledge and resources to help youth and adults lead activities and events that support active transportation. The program will also assist teachers in incorporating curriculum that integrates bike and pedestrian safety for both urban and rural middle schools. Below is a breakdown of the variety of ideas to be implemented in to the Youth Engagement Program. 

 

Purpose

Youth engagement is about young people being actively involved in addressing issues that affect them personally and/or that they believe are important. Youth engagement means amplifying young people’s voices and leadership, creating safe spaces where they can discuss issues that affect their lives, and taking action. This project will take this approach to working on the issue of walking and biking to school as part of a larger Safe Routes to School program.

 

Project Ideas

  • Youth plan a SRTS event or school project with the guidance of an adult facilitator or school teacher (geared towards 5th-8th grade, use Three Steps Up Guidebook)
  • Physical education teachers instructing a comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian safety curriculum
  • Teachers facilitating bike and pedestrian safety education lessons to youth that are integrated into classroom subjects
  • Project RADAR (Reminding All Drivers About Responsibility) program where youth teach others about the responsibility of driving safe in a school zone. 
Youth Engagement Guidebook - Three Steps Up!