PE Links Article

Click for PE Links Archives Book Reviews Companies & Services Directory Health, Fitness, & Nutrition Higher Education PE Web Sites K-12 School PE Web Sites Online Information & Instruction Organizations & Associations PE Academic Areas PE Advocacy PE Forum Online PE Listservs & Newsgroups References & Resources Sports, Games & Physical Activities State AHPERDs State PE Standards Teaching Unit Plans Web Pages of PEHLS Professionals

Back to Elementary		Conference/Workshop Calendar

I have always been a big walker and hiker, journeying into state and national parks in this country and Canada. Walking and hiking are fun and healthy activities, and are considered to be some of the best forms of exercise, as well as activities that anyone can benefit from regardless of fitness level.

During a youth soccer game, a parent and teacher told me that her school has a new great walking course called the "Jukam Walking Trail." This is based on the "Feelin' Good Mileage Club" fitness program. She encouraged me to see it.

I called and visited Wanda Jukam, the school nurse at Fayetteville Elementary School in the Fayetteville-Manlius School District. The children love to journey many miles on it.

I presented this idea to our "Site-Based Team" at Mott Road Elementary School in the same district of which I am a member and a parent. I encouraged the idea because of my love of walking. I could also see that the setting could be perfect for a busy playground that has 200 children during a typical recess time. In my imagination, I could see a walking course circling the backyard play area, and an arbor that children would pass through as they completed each lap.

The "Site-Based team" discussed the walking trail several times and decided to pursue the project. Several people offered to help set the idea into motion. A grant application was given to me by the building's principal, Carol Reed. The school's nurse, Linda Dubansky measured out the 1/4 mile loop. We were fortunate to have a parent that was also a graphic designer, Christine Smith. Together we developed the text and illustrations for the grant application. This application was submitted to the "Onondaga County Partnership for Healthy Hearts Eat Well, Play Hard" mini-grant program.

We were awarded the grant! Hurray! $500 was awarded from the "Onondaga County Partnership for a Healthy Heart," and $176 was donated from the "Mott Road Elementary School Home and School Association."

Now it was time to roll up our sleeves and get to work! Our district's maintenance staff installed the trail and arbor, saving thousands of dollars in labor. They placed 60 flat 12" x 18" bluestone steppingstones at 25 foot intervals to mark the trail. Brightly colored footprints were painted on each stone. A giant wooden cutout of our school mascot "Eager Beaver" stands next to the arbor. He is holding a sign that says "Mott Road Walkabout 1/4 Mile" to greet the children at the beginning of the trail.

Mileage charts and awards were produced. They are shown below. The students keep track of their own laps. When they return to their classrooms after recess, they color in one foot on the card for every lap that they walked that day. They are on the "honor system."

Each of these cards (above) is worth 5 miles. When they complete another card; for another 5 miles, for a total of 10 miles, they are given the card below. There are more cards available to them when they accumulate 15, 20 and 25 miles. When a child completes every 5 miles, they also receive a small plastic "foot token" that can be attached to their shoe laces.

The walkabout opened on May 9, 2002. The 1/4 mile trail circles the perimeter of Mott Road's back fields. The course can be seen in its entirety by the recess supervisors.

The walking course will:

• Provide a noncompetitive, fun walking program for all students.
• Encourage students to set goals.
• Build a sense of accomplishment as they work toward their goals.
• Promote physical fitness by encouraging healthy choices in activity.
• Provide a "greenscape" for the children that will foster an understanding and appreciation for the environment.
• Allow the children to use their imaginations on the trail to plot a journey to other destinations.
• Enhance math concepts as they calculate their distance in 1/4 miles.
• Develop community building; everyone can participate.

Our Timeline:

• Apply for grants: 12/2001
• Course Construction: 4/2002
• Grand Opening: 5/2002

Steps to take to make sure that the project continues after funding:

The track is designed as a low maintenance project to be used every year. The physical education teachers will introduce its use at the beginning of each school year. Recess supervisors will encourage its use as one of the options available at recess. The only course maintenance involves trimming the grass around the arbor at the course's beginning. The bluestone steppingstones are set at ground level, so general mowing of the fields will not damage these stones. The school will continue to produce mileage charts and awards as needed.

Budget related to Walkabout Project:

• Walking course (approximately 1/4 mile) = 1,522 feet/25 feet = 60 stones

Flagstone (12" x 18") @ $4.28/sq. ft. x 60 = $256.50
Arbor (galvanized steel) $250.00 Paint = $62.98
Paint = $62.98
1,000 Toe Token Awards = $54.00
Total = $623.48

Mott Road School Site-Based Team

• Parent
  • Donna Coyle (Trail coordinator)
  • Karen Ayoub
  • Kris King
  • Laura Warren
  • Tracy Williams
  • Christine Smith
• Teacher
  • Ellen Cabrey
  • Kate Centola
  • Amy Dixon
  • Molly Tifft
• Principal
  • Carol Reed

Fayetteville-Manlius District Custodial Staff

• Russ McCarthy, Supervisor
• Judd Hale
• Bob Loope
• Bob Wall
• Bill Hurd