Hundreds of Lincoln Park Middle School Students Celebrate Walk to School Day [PHOTOS + VIDEO]

Hundreds of excited students made their way from Wheeler Field to Lincoln Park Middle School Wednesday morning as part of International Walk to School Day. Students gathered at Wheeler around 8:20 before groups departed on their trek up the hill toward the school. Each group made signs for the event and also received t-shirts to commemorate the day.

Parents, school board members, volunteers, and even Champ the UMD mascot helped in welcoming students upon their arrival after the walk. The culmination of the morning was a huge group photo on the school's football field before students headed inside to start the school day. Ian and I had the opportunity to welcome students as they arrived at the school with music and it was a total blast being a part of the high-energy event.

International Walk to School Day is a worldwide event that involves communities in over 40 countries, with students either walking or biking to school. The inaugural Walk to School Day was in 1997, growing each year. The day is designed to create awareness for safe routes to school as well as physical fitness and community awareness. This marks the second year Lincoln Park Middle School has participated in the day, and organizers say they are excited for next year.