Both children and youth deserve opportunities that encourage the use of active transportation (AT). By engaging them in the process, the Ecology Action Centre looks to make AT part of their daily routine. Our programs are oriented to best suit different age groups. Our We Often Walk or Wheel (WOW) program and Walking School Bus look to increase physical activity in younger children through regular, organized events. Our Youth Active Transportation Leadership is rooted in empowering youth, by engaging them in different AT initiatives that help define the mobility of their communities.
Active Transportation (AT) Youth Leadership
Active Transportation (AT) Youth Leadership
The Youth AT Leadership program offers the tools for youth to:
- Identify active transportation infrastructure gaps in their community that directly affect their ability to use AT
- Gain skill sets to build partnerships with community stakeholders and to co-develop a plan for AT Infrastructure/AT supports
- Work with partners to gather funding that will help implement their AT plan
Some examples of programs we offer include:
- Youth AT Workshops
- Youth AT & Art
- Youth-led AT Infrastructure Projects
How to Get Involved
To find out if your school/group is applicable for any of the above projects, please contact the Youth Active Transportation Coordinator for more details, stp-cb@ecologyaction.ca
Program funders
Youth Mobility Audit
Youth Mobility Audit
A youth mobility audit is an opportunity for youth to collect information about how they get around their neighbourhood and advocate for changes that support active transportation. Based on locations chosen by youth, they compile data on all aspects of AT infrastructure and supports (or lack thereof) and provide insightful information on what needs to be improved or celebrated. The youth take this data to develop a plan and report which they share with local decision makers. Youth perspectives give new ideas to plans that need a fresh re-vamp and are an important part of re-thinking how communities are designed.
Check out this Youth Mobility Audit Report from Parkview Education Centre for an example of what a youth mobility audit report looks like! To see some of the resources we use for our audits, you can check out our Urban and Rural Mobility Audit Checklists below:
How to Get Involved
The Ecology Action Centre leads youth mobility audits throughout the year. If your school or youth group is interested in planning one for your community, please reach out to the Youth Active Transportation Coordinator for more details, stp-cb@ecologyaction.ca
Program funders
About WOW: We Often Walk (or Wheel)
About WOW: We Often Walk (or Wheel)
WOW motivates children and youth to walk through regular weekly walks.
WOW is an easy way to promote regular walking & cycling. Even something as simple as designating one day a week as a walking or wheeling day helps to motivate children and youth to get moving. Entice them to walk more often by filling out their WOW cards each time they walk. Schools or groups then reward their WOW participants with recognition or prizes.
How to get involved
Register for WOW using the form below!
Once registered, you’ll receive a free WOW Kit including:
- Posters to help promote your weekly WOW day
- WOW cards for all participating children
- A How-to Guide describing how to run WOW at your school
Resources
Program funders
About the Walking School BusÂ
About the Walking School Bus
The Walking School Bus is a great way for students to travel to school. It's a group of students who regularly walk to school together, often led by adult volunteers. A Walking School Bus provides adult supervision, safety in numbers, physical activity, a great social atmosphere and fun on the way to school! Students arrive energized and ready for the day. A Cycling School Bus is a variation with bikes.
What is a Walking School Bus? See for yourself!
How to get involved
The Ecology Action Centre can assist your group in organizing a Walking School Bus. Register below for assistance organizing a Walking School Bus or contact us for a meeting or presentation.
When you register your Walking School Bus, please take advantage of the resources below to help you get started:
- Walking School Bus Guide
- Information on Making Tracks: Walking (or Cycling), our safety skills program that will teach students the skills and confidence to walk (or wheel) in their communities safely.
Additional Resources
- Walking School Bus Liability Concerns
- Walkability checklist to assess the infrastructure work that may be needed to improve the safety for students walking or wheeling to school, a version of which is available for both Urban and Rural school communities. This is also available in French.
- Walking School Bus Feet colouring page which can be used by students while parents/guardians attend a WSB information at school to create big posters.
Program funders
Register for our Walking Programs
Thank you for your interest in the Ecology Action Centre's active transportation programs for children and youth. Please complete the registration form below. Are you a parent looking for ways to create a WSB for just your family? Did you want to encourage your child/children to walk with WOW? Please reach out to us directly and we can provide you with an info package.