Students walk the walk on Walk to School Day

Carson City students joined a global effort Wednesday walking or biking to school as part of International Walk to School Day.

For Gisselle Diaz, 10, it was just another day as she typically walks to Fremont Elementary School with her siblings Elvis, 6, and Allison, 5.

“I think it’s fun,” she said. “And it’s healthy.”

Communities from more than 40 countries participate in the annual event, which began in 1997, and is part of a movement for safe routes to school.

Brenna Argust, 9, often walks to her grandmother’s house after school, but it’s rare she walks to school.

“We usually don’t walk in the mornings just because of time constraints,” said her grandmother Kathy Argust.

But they made a special effort Wednesday.

“It’s good for the children,” Kathy said.

Lesley Schreckengost, drove from Dayton to park closer to Fremont Elementary School to walk with her daughters Kyla and Seren McGee.

“I just like waking to school,” said Kyla, 10. “It wakes you up sometimes and you get exercise.”

Several schools in Carson City offered snacks and warm drinks before school to children who walked or rode bikes.

Students who rode the bus were given the opportunity to walk during recess in place of walking to school.