Renee Callaway, the WisDOT Safe Routes to School Coordinator, is opening up another round of SRTS grants. Proposals are due May 6th.   Learn more in her Newsletter, reposted below and start thinking about what could be done to make the schools in your community better for walking and biking.

2012 Safe Routes to School application cycle open now

Applications are now available for the latest Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program cycle.  Funding is available for infrastructure-related projects as well as for projects related to education, enforcement, encouragement and evaluation.  Further, communities just starting their SRTS programs can apply for funding to help create a SRTS Plan.  Applications are due May 6.  Applications are available online at http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/aid/saferoutes-applications.htm.

SRTS Application Training Sessions

Will you be applying for SRTS planning assistance or for infrastructure or non-infrastructure funding in 2012?  Attending one of these SRTS application training sessions will help you better understand the process for receiving funding.  The training sessions will include an overview of SRTS planning, infrastructure and non-infrastructure project applications, discuss how to put together a good application and go over the criteria used to review the applications.  Locations and times are:

• La Crosse: County Administrative Center, 400 N 4 St, Room 3220 – April 2 at 10am
• Wausau: Marathon County Extension Office, 212 River Dr, Room 5 – April 4 at 1pm
• Waukesha: Lee Dreyfus State Office Building, 141 NW Barstow St, Room 314 – April 9 at 1pm
• Madison: Hill Farms State Office Building, 4802 Sheboygan Ave, Room 364 – April 11 at 1pm
• To register for this free training email srts@dot.wi.gov

Webinar – Tip and Tricks for Funding your SRTS Program

One of the greatest challenges that SRTS organizers face is obtaining funding for their programs.  Whether it is for small incentives, healthy snacks for walk or bike to school days, advertising for events, or eventually hiring a staff member, finding funding is an important part of growing your program.  In this webinar, presenters will help make fundraising less intimidating by providing tips and tricks on where to find funding and how to go about obtaining it.

• When: Tuesday, April 24, Noon-1pm CST
• Register Online: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/918436065

National Bike to School Day – Wednesday, May 9, 2012

The National Center for Safe Routes to School announced that it will be coordinating the first-ever National Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.  Bike to School Day builds on the popularity and success of International Walk to School Day, which is celebrated across the country – and the world – each October, and encourages a bike-focused celebration in the month of May. A newly redesigned version of www.walktoschool.org will be unveiled in early April with more information about Bike to School Day and new event planning resources and tools, including a new GIS-powered walking and bicycling route mapping tool. A “Win a Bike Rack” contest is also being planned to help build excitement and encourage registration of both events and resources for this inaugural event.

Weight of the Nation Public Health Campaign
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is sponsoring a conference called Weight of the Nation: Moving Forward, Reversing the Trend in Washington, D.C. on May 7-9.  To register or find out more about this conference, see: http://tinyurl.com/7ok5jep.  In conjunction with this conference is a greater Weight of the Nation Public Health Campaign.  There will be a four-part documentary series on different aspects of this health problem and its solutions, shown on HBO and HBO.com, beginning on May 14 and 15. The topics of the four films will be Consequences, Choices, Children in Crisis and Challenges. Supporting these films will be advertising, press releases, major market screening events, robust social media, bonus short videos online, DVD screening kits and online community action resources. Also on the HBO family network, three half-hour films will be shown, focused on children who have taken action against obesity personally and in their communities.  HBO channels will be available free the week of May 14 so everyone can see these films.

If you are interested in being involved in this larger campaign, you can sign up for an advance screening kit and electronic newsletter, and read more about the campaign at: http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/#.  This is also one place you can view the films beginning May 14. The kits include the entire series, discussion guides in English and Spanish, and tips and supplemental materials for hosting screenings.  CDC and its partners hope these essential tools will catalyze and support local efforts in communities that combat obesity across the country. This would be a great project for local health departments and SRTS coordinators based at hospitals to undertake. The press release on this project can be read at: The Weight of the Nation – Press Release, and their Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/theweightofthenation

Wisconsin Safe Routes to School Program

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/aid/saferoutes.htm

Renee Callaway – Safe Routes to School Coordinator

Wisconsin Department of Transportation
renee.callaway@dot.wi.gov
608-266-3973