I ♥ rainbows

“Consider that you can see less than 1% of the electromagnetic spectrum and hear less than 1% of the acoustic spectrum. As you read this, you are traveling at 220 km/sec across the galaxy. 90% of the cells in your body carry their own microbial DNA and are not “you.” The atoms in your body are 99.9999999999999999% empty space and none of them are the ones you were born with, but they all originated in the belly of a star. Human beings have 46 chromosomes, 2 less than the common potato. The existence of the rainbow depends on the conical photoreceptors in your eyes; to animals without cones, the rainbow does not exist. So you don’t just look at a rainbow, you create it. This is pretty amazing, especially considering that all the beautiful colors you see represent less than 1% of the electromagnetic spectrum.” 
–Sergio Toporek

Our world is amazing.

Buzzzzzz

Have you heard of “walking buses” or “bike trains”?

Walking buses are groups of children who walk/bike designated routes to school under adult supervision, picking up kids along the way just like a bus. For some neighborhoods, it's a casual group walk/ride, while others set up a formal plan with adults scheduled to walk on certain days. 

Such a great idea!  

In my humble opinion too many kids are driven to school everyday.  (Obviously there are many factors and some locations/circumstances where walking/biking would not work but it’s worth exploring, perhaps seasonally.)

The benefits of a program like this seem almost endless:

• Encourage physical activity by teaching children the skills to walk safely, how to identify safe routes to school, and the benefits of walking.
• Raise awareness of how walkable a community is and where improvements can be made.
• Raise concern for the environment.
• Reduce crime and take back neighborhoods for people on foot.
• Reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and speed near schools.
• Share valuable time with local community leaders, parents, and children.

National Bike to School Day is May 7^th, 2014 and National Walk to School Day is October 8^th, 2014 this may be the perfect time to connect families and launch a walking bus or bike train in your community.

Resources: walkbiketoschool.org     saferoutesinfo.org     walkingschoolbus.org