Salem Green Apple Save the Date Sept. 28 2013

Apple Tree Blosoms

With Spring well under way, the 1st day of National Bike Month has begun. It is a good time to mark your calendar for the  international Green Apple Day of Service on September 28, 201. Last year was a successful day of learning and celebration in Salem, and we hope to build on this success for this year!

In the mean time, be sure to participate in the National Walk and Bike to School Day next Wednesday!

Event Success!

Thanks so much to everyone that contributed to the Salem Green Apple Event this past Saturday. About 50 kids and 20 or so adults attended the Bike Rodeo for bike tune-ups, safety class, and skills course. Later that morning about 40 kids and 20 or so adults took the 2 1/2 - 3 mile community bike ride from Grant Community School to McKinley Elementary School (some McKinley kids and adults had arrived on bike earlier in the morning). We had lunch and enjoyed a skills course setup by Salem Area Trails Alliance. About 20 Grant kids and 10 or so adults made the return trip that afternoon. I put up a few pics from my camera on flickr (http://bit.ly/RvA0Zg). Take a look!



Community Bike Riders taking a lap around the circle of State Flags at Willson Park next to the Oregon State Capitol.

Top Ten List...

Top Ten Reasons to Join Us September 29, 2012 for the Salem Green Apple Event:

1. Learn Bike + Walk Safety and Safe Routes to Schools
2. Get Ready for Bike + Walk to School Day Oct. 3rd
3. Train for Jog-A-Thon Oct. 4th and 5th at Grant
4. Prepare for Fun Run Oct. 5th at McKinley
5. Meet Your Neighbors
6. Explore Your Community
7. Enjoy the Outdoors
8. Learn About Your School Gardens
9. Eat Food
10. Have Fun!



BIKE



WALK



Event Flyer and Schedule

Join Us this coming Saturday, September 29th 2012 for a day full of events! You are invited to participate in any and all activities planned for the day. The Event Flyer and Schedule has all you need to know to start making your plans - whether you will be joining the bike ride between McKinley and Grant Schools to explore Safe Routes to Schools and your community, bringing your bike down for tune-up from Santiam Bicycle mechanics, learning bicycle skills and safety, or testing your skills on the Bike Rodeo skills course. No Bike - No Problem! Some bicycles and safety gear of various sizes will be made available, thanks to the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, for use during the Bike Rodeo.

This event is possible due to a collaboration between many community partners willing to contribute time, funding, and other resources toward making schools in Salem great places to learn and play. Thank you to everyone who made it possible to offer this event to our community!

Bike Ride, Bike Rodeo Planned Sept. 29th!

On September 29, 2012 Join Us for the Salem Green Apple Event! Activities will include a group Bike Ride to and from McKinley Elementary School to Grant Community School. The ride will begin from McKinley at 9:30 am. On the ride you will have an opportunity to learn about Safe Routes to Schools and explore your neighborhood.

While at Grant Community School, brush up on your bike safety and have fun by participating in the Bicycle Rodeo. The Rodeo is made possible through a partnership with Bridge Covenant Church, Evergreen Church of Salem, and Santiam Bicycle in an effort to promote bicycle safety and fitness in Salem.

Look for flyers and posters coming soon and check this blog for updates!

Salem-Keizer School District School Bond Projects Improving Kid's Learning Environment

Seeing the front page insert in the Statesman Journal today prompted me to send another blog post. If you didn't see the insert, it is promoting today's First Wednesday activities theme of Back to School with a downtown pep rally, and includes some great information about the construction bond work the Salem-Keizer School District has done the past few years.

The Salem Green Apple Event is an opportunity to explore the places kids go to learn in our community. Thanks in part to voter approval of construction bond funds in 2008, our area schools have seen many recent improvements to the buildings where kids learn. It is easy to miss these important transformations while away during the summer. At Grant Community School, recent projects have included Window replacement that improves energy efficiency and natural light and HVAC System upgrades that improve indoor air quality.

Projects at other schools have included outdated floor and ceiling covering replacement;
roof, siding, and insulation repair and replacement; and updated water and sewer utility projects. To learn more about projects in your neighborhood schools, go to the Salem-Keizer School District Construction Bond Updates web page.

Community support for projects like these is a big part in creating "safe, engaging and comfortable facilities that enhance kid's ability to learn and teacher's ability to teach". Join Us September 29, 2012 at Grant Community School to learn more about recent improvements, then take it outside with a bike ride and other fun activities!

Why a bike ride for a Green Schools event?

-        The Center for Green Schools seeks to transform “…all schools into sustainable places to live and learn, work and play”. So a bike ride is a fitting way to “Get Active!” and play during the last bit of dry weather… or take your winter gear out in preparation for the wet season. So Join Us for the Green Apple Day of Service September 29, 2012 and:

-        Explore the public transportation infrastructure network in the schools neighborhood on bike or foot, without the usual chaos of a typical work/school day. Observe – What are the safest routes? How do bikes/pedestrians interact with vehicle traffic? Where are places that safety might be improved? Where does the transportation network work (say 5 times)?

-        Explore the schools neighborhoods connectivity – How close is the school to parks? To homes? To businesses? To… what other places? Who is in the neighborhood?

-        Learn more about pedestrian and bicycle transportation facilities like bike racks, cross walks, bike lanes, sidewalks, signs – Where are they? What condition are they in? Do the facilities work as intended? How could the facilities work better?

-        Learn more about the Streetscape and Signage transformations and ideas in Salem:

o   Wayfinders, like this one near the pedestrian tunnel under Trade St:

Near Willamette University

 o   Bulbouts and Street Improvements, like these under construction at the corner of Court St and Cottage St:

Corner near YMCA

Corner near Willson Park

o   The proposal for streetscap changes from the Salem Downtown Partnership

o   The Salem Bike / Walk Plan Update and follow commentary other involved community members like this