Fresh Air Friday for Schools
Imagine a world where children walk or cycle to school every day.
What is Fresh Air Friday?
Big changes start with small steps. Each week we're encouraging you to make the switch to Active Travel for just one of your daily trips to school or work. Leaving the car at home and choosing to walk, cycle or scoot is better for you, your mental health and the climate.
With fewer cars idling at school gates there are fewer fumes and a chance to really enjoy the fresh air.
Enter the Fresh Air Friday Competition for Schools
We are promoting Fresh Air Friday across Fingal schools. This initiative has been well received in our participating schools.
The concept is simple. Encourage students to travel to school by bike, scooter, or walking every Friday. Classes can log their journeys on our free ‘Fresh Air Friday’ Poster. Each school who has participated in the challenge will be entered into a draw to win a prize! There are 3 main prizes open to participating classes across all schools – it’s an exciting opportunity for everyone involved!
Prizes include:
- A half-day trip to Flynn Park OR a Playground PE Supply Pack.
- Flynn Park trip includes options like a Waterpark, Aerial Trek, or Paintball, making it a fantastic day out for kids.
- For younger classes, the Playground PE Supply Pack is filled with fun supplies to keep your class active.
- Smaller prizes such as Active Travel goodies
At the end of the challenge, each teacher will be sent a class completion certificate and a printable student certificate.
Download the Fresh Air Friday Tracker below
To enter:
- Teacher register their class online here
- Receive your Fresh Air Friday Poster by post
- Get moving every Fresh Air Friday – walk, wheel, scoot, cycle or even run!
- Use the poster to track your journeys
- Send us a photo of your poster & be in to win!
- Each school that has completed the challenge will be entered into a draw to win a prize
- If you have any queries email [email protected]
- Prize draw will take place in May 2024
Poster Resources
We have a free pack of fun, educational Active Travel posters to decorate your classroom and use as teaching aids. Click here to view.
Walking and Cycling Buses
We’ve assisted parents across Fingal in setting up walking and cycling buses for the journey to school. See the presentation for details on how we can help your school do the same! Find out more here.
Park and Stride
Park and Stride is a simple way for families who live far away to enjoy the benefits of walking to school. If families drive, ask them to park a 5 to 10-minute walk from school and complete the journey on foot.
Your school can set up a formal Park and Stride scheme. This makes it as easy as possible for families to incorporate walking into their journey, especially if there is a shortage of places to park around the school.
Posters
Download a Fresh Air Friday Tracker for your school. Show your students every journey counts as they stamp their way to 200 or 500 Fresh Air Friday trips.
Fresh Air Friday in Balbriggan
Stephen McGinn, Walking and Cycling Officer with Fingal County Council, says ‘We can all make small swaps that will have a big impact on our climate and our community. Walking or scooting to school instead of putting the kids in the car, even just one or two days a week, is enough to make a positive difference to our health and our local environment.’
Fingal County Council, Balbriggan Tidy Towns and Our Balbriggan have joined forces to make Balbriggan the home of ‘Fresh Air Friday’ in Fingal. Schools and businesses in the town are invited to participate by asking their pupils and employees to leave the car at home for each Friday and choose Active Travel for their commute instead.
By walking, cycling, scooting, running or using public transport instead of driving for either their usual full journey or part of it, the people of Balbriggan are helping to reduce carbon emissions and traffic congestion, while enjoying a breath of fresh air as they start their day.
Emma Grufferty, Principal of Balbriggan Educate Together National School, says ‘Fewer cars idling at the school gate each morning and afternoon means our pupils are breathing cleaner air. We find that when children walk to school, they arrive alert and ready to learn. They are also learning road safety skills and practicing their independence which is really positive.’
