The National Center for Safe Routes to School (NCSRTS) announced 25 recipients of $1,000 mini-grants for projects designed to encourage safe walking and bicycling to school. The projects and programs funded by the NCSRTS mini-grants will be implemented during the fall semester of the 2011 to 2012 school year.  Many of the projects receiving funding were initiated by and will be carried out by students themselves.

Among the 2011 awardees is Sauganash Elementary School in Chicago, which will launch a year-round “Move-It Monday” program to encourage students and families to get to and from school using any active, non-motorized form of transportation, such as walking, bicycling, and riding scooters and skateboards.

The National Center also announced the call for Spring 2012 mini-grants applications.  As in 2011, there will be 25 grants of $1,000 each to enable and encourage children to safely walk and bicycle to school.  Applications are due by the end of the day today, Wednesday, October 19, 2011.