Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Gulf Shores City Schools is inviting students and families to register for the Walking School Bus program for the 2025–2026 school year. The initiative is open to all students in kindergarten through eighth grade across the school district. This program encourages children to walk to school together each morning as a group, promoting a safe, healthy, and social start to the day. Organizers say it helps build friendships, increase independence, and foster healthy daily routines for students while also helping to decrease traffic around local schools.

Parents can now sign up their students for the program, which kicks off at the start of the new school year in August 2025. Walkers gather each school morning at Meyer Park, where staff from Gulf Shores City Schools lead the group walk to campus. Pre-K students are welcome as well but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The program runs throughout the entire 2025–2026 academic year and requires parents to register their children each year if they wish to participate.

The Walking School Bus is designed as a fun and practical way for students to begin their mornings. School leaders believe it helps students learn good walking habits and road safety, which are important life skills. The program also aims to reduce vehicle congestion near school buildings, making drop-off times less hectic for families and staff.

Parents are encouraged to join the walks whenever possible, either to accompany their children or as an extra set of eyes and ears for the group. School officials hope the continued success of the Walking School Bus will inspire even more families to choose active transportation. Anyone with questions about the program can email Krista Fleming at (kfleming@gsboe.org) at the Gulf Shores Board of Education for more information. Organizers look forward to another positive year—one step at a time.