RENO -- Students, teachers, and staff members at 16 Washoe County schools will celebrate “Nevada Moves Day” on Wednesday, April 25. This is part of a District-wide effort to educate students and parents about how they can adopt safer, healthier habits by reducing vehicle traffic, walking, bicycling, and encouraging a more fit lifestyle.

“The benefits related to physical activity at an early age influence the reduction of heart disease, diabetes, and other obesity-related health problems among children,” said Officer MJ Cloud, a school police officer who coordinates the Safe Routes to School program for the Washoe County School District. “Statistics show the rates of childhood obesity have more than tripled in the past three decades, while the number of children who walk or bicycle to school has declined.”

Students across the District will observe Nevada Moves Day in a variety of ways: walking to nearby parks, jumping rope, participating in jog-a-thons, and playing with hula-hoops. At Caughlin Ranch Elementary School, students will participate in a circuit training course beginning at 9am. At 2:45 p.m. students from Bernice Mathews will walk from their school, down Oddie, ending at Rock Sports where they will have the opportunity to climb the rock wall. At 5:00 pm Nevada Moves continues at Grace Warner where Joe Dibble from UNR’s Cooperative Extension will do a “nuts and bolts” to healthy eating at their Family Fitness Night.

“Nevada Moves Day gives us the chance to reinforce our number-one goal of safety for our students,” said Washoe County School Police Chief Mike Mieras. “It also encourages healthy behaviors and fitness habits for our schoolchildren.”

The number of schools participating in Nevada Moves Day statewide has doubled in the past year, from 57 in 2011 to 116 in 2012. Among the elementary schools participating in this year’s celebration are Bernice Mathews, Jessie Beck, Caughlin Ranch, Roget Corbett, Alyce Taylor, Esther Bennett, Agnes Risley, Rita Cannan, Grace Warner, Hidden Valley, Robert Mitchell, Sierra Vista, Huffaker, George Westergard, Incline, and O’Brien Middle School. Students at these schools will take part in fitness activities on Nevada Moves Day, and will continue to learn more about how they make healthy lifestyle changes throughout the year.

Governor Brian Sandoval and Mayor Bob Cashell have both signed a proclamation declaring Wednesday, April 25 as Nevada Moves Day. Nevada Moves Day is sponsored by the Nevada Department of Transportation, which also provides grant funding for the Safe Routes to School Program.