Fun Ideas to get Families Walking this Winter

When we ask kids about their favourite weather to walk in, we typically get two answers: (1) sunny summer or (2) snowy winter. Kids love walking and playing in the snow!

But did you know that walking has many other benefits for our health, our communities, and our planet? Whether you are a parent, guardian, teacher, or engaged community member, the children in your life will thank you for walking with them.

Discover our top three tips on making the most of walking this winter!

1. Celebrate Winter Walk to School Day!

Winter Walk Day is coming up on February 1st, so it’s a perfect time for families and educators to celebrate walking to school. Make the most of your snowy steps with these resources:

Schools & Teachers:

  • Winter Walk Day is officially February 1, but schools can plan Winter Walk Day events anytime in February.
  • If you are looking for ideas to plan an engaging Winter Walk Day event, check out the Walk to School Day Event Planning Toolkit.
  • Did you know you can also apply for a Pitter Patter Grant to help offset the cost of a school event?
  •  Encourage participation at your school by downloading and printing participation certificates and posting them in high-traffic areas at your school. 
  • If your school has a large number of students who travel by school bus, consider a school-wide outdoor event during the school day.

Families:

  • Learn about pedestrian safety tips and have fun by colouring in this Colouring Book
  • Do a scavenger hunt in your neighbourhood by completing this I Spy Bingo Game
  • Practice your math and colouring skills by filling out this Count My Steps Activity
  • Create your own Wordle game with winter walking words. 
  • Use the hashtags #GetYourWalkOn, #JourneyOutside, and #WinterWalkDay2023, on social media to share your journey. 
  • We realize many families are not able to walk all the way to school, so for families who drive, we encourage you to avoid the congestion and Walk-a-Block! Find your Walk-a-Block map here!

2.  Use the Hop! App to track your walks

Track your active trips and earn treasures with the free, kid-friendly Hop! App. Don’t miss the chance of participating in one of our Winter Walk Challenges in February!

Schools & Teachers:

  • Ottawa teachers are invited to join the Hop! Winter Walk Classroom Challenge!
  • Use the Hop! app to set up a team with your class and encourage them to log their walks to school or in the community.
  • The team that walks the farthest will win a $100 cash prize for their classroom!
  • To set up your team, email lisa.gander@envirocentre.ca.

Families:

  • Join the Hop! Winter Walk Challenge!
  • Use the Hop! app in February to log your walks to school or in the community.
  • Everyone who participates will be entered in a random prize draw to win a $50 gift card from Indigo/Chapters!

3. Learn about the benefits of active transportation

There are so many great resources that highlight the benefits of walking, cycling, and taking transit. Here are some of our favourites!

Schools & Teachers:

Families:

  • Watch our fun, educational video illustrating the five main benefits of active transportation. The video is available in English and French!
  • Curious to stay in the loop with School Active Transportation news in and around Ottawa? Sign up for our quarterly update newsletter!

No matter which activities you end up doing, we hope you have fun celebrating your steps!