Schools nationwide have kicked off the month of March with a plan to change their travel habits for good. An initiative of the Green-Schools Programme, the Big Travel Challenge 2024 asks school communities to focus on modes of active travel like walking, cycling or scooting, and try to get as many people using that mode as possible over a period of 10 school days. Schools can also promote a range of awareness initiatives in their school communities where active travel is less practical.
48 Cork schools are currently working on the Travel theme of the Green-Schools Programme with the challenge being awarded a Green Flag for Travel. To date, more than 2,400 schools nationwide have been awarded a Travel flag.
This year’s challenge is celebrating seven years of successfully encouraging more students to enjoy the benefits of getting to school on foot, on wheels or by public transport. Walking, cycling and scooting to school are all beneficial to students’ physical and mental health, and can help reduce emissions from the cars on the road.
The overall winning school in 2024 will receive a cash prize of €1,000 to be used for their Green-Schools Travel programme, with four runners up each receiving prize of €500.
In 2023 St Brigid’s National Junior School from Meath Hill were named ‘Ireland’s Travel School of the Year’ following their efforts to increase the numbers of staff and students walking to school.
This year, county winners are being sought to make up the short list for selection of the national winners. Schools that take the top prize for their county will win €200 towards a pizza party, ice cream van, or other celebration of their choice.
Green-Schools are looking for all schools big and small, rural and urban, primary, secondary and education centres that will take on the challenge of achieving a measurable increase in sustainable modes of travel, or even an increase of awareness around issues connected to sustainable travel. Schools are asked to promote their initiatives and record their results to form an application to win the Big Travel Challenge.
BREAKING A HABIT
Speaking about the change of the competition’s format this year, Ciara Norton, Green-Schools Travel Manager, said, “Every year our Big Travel Challenge asks school communities to try new habits out and break old ones. This year I’m delighted that we have added county level prizes, so schools across Ireland can aim towards being their county’s Travel School of the Year. I can’t wait to see who wins in each county and look forward to a full two weeks of creativity and activity ahead!”
Find out more at www.greenschoolsireland.org and check out your local school’s progress on social media by searching #BigTravelChallenge
