Sharing our Roll Out Carbon Week with you
Schools, teachers, parents and students!
October is the perfect time to try riding your bike to school. You can make friends, find routes and test out your wheels before the snow.
To encourage students, we’re planning a week-long cycling event called Roll Out Carbon. It is thanks to the generous support of Calgary Foundation’ Neighbours Grant and other donors that we are able to host this event and have tons of prizes for the participants.
During the week of October 2nd to 6th, we encourage students and staff to consider their carbon footprint and walk, scooter, skateboard, bike, take the bus or carpool to school. Not only is this an excellent way to help reduce emissions that cause climate change, but we hope it builds some school spirit.
Thanks to our Neighbour grant, we’re able to offer this amazing incentive to participate. Schools can use it for bike racks, t-shirts, a giant pizza party, or to fund leadership activities. Spending it will be at the school’s discretion.
School with the highest participation wins $2000
Prizes for students who take part include a new EVO E-Bike from B&P Cycle (Value $2500) and two Bike Friday Folding bikes (Value $1800) that are perfect for students without a garage or place to store a bike.
We’ll deliver a box of swag to all 31 large Calgary Public and Separate High Schools and instructions for each school. Students will be able to sign up on www.CommuterChallenge.ca. Then, each day during Oct. 2-6 they make an effort to reduce carbon, they can log their commute.
How to sign up?
In a few easy steps,
- Find the QR Code on the posters around your school
- Register to the Commuter Challenge using a valid email address
- Login your daily rides
You can choose to be anonymous, or only submit a first name and last initial. But you MUST use a valid email address if you would like to receive any prizes or be entered into the bike draw. We will confirm your participation with your school before awarding any prizes.
We take on all the planning
Youth en Route will provide all materials you’ll need to engage students. We hope that at each school there will be a willing “school champion” taking the lead in supporting this initiative and that your bike, environmental and leadership clubs will join in. Schools will be responsible for handing out treats and school-prizes.
For schools keen to drive participation and work for the $2000 – we’ll provide an awesome donated and refurbished bike and new helmet to give away.
The purpose behind Roll Out Carbon Week
We know that 30 per cent of students would consider biking to school. But 21 per cent of the students are not aware of the safest route and another 20 per cent would like a friend to join them on their rides. We’re hoping having some prizes and snacks at school will provide the incentives youth need to give it a try.
We also know that there is improved safety in numbers. Groups of cyclists are easier to see than a single rider. This might give new riders confidence to tackle the trip to school.
We’ll deliver maps to schools and students can opt to ride together – simply by selecting a meeting place and time on the map. At some schools, Calgary Police Mountain bIke officers have agreed to provide an escort for students to school.
A big thank you to our donors
We could not do this without you!
