Step Into Spring Walking Challenge 2024

Cork Sports Partnership and Get Ireland Walking are delighted to announce a new ‘Step into Spring’ Walking Challenge 2024 for primary schools, secondary schools and youth groups.

The challenge consists of 3 distance options and will begin on the 6th February and will run until the 15th March 2024. Teachers/leaders are now invited to register their school/group for free through the online form below. This year we are asking that you register your School/Youth Group and then let us know how many classes/groups will be taking part in the challenge.

Due to the success of our Step Into Spring Campaign in 2023 we have upped the anti and increased the distances of all three categories. Let’s go bigger for 2024!

What is involved?

• A teacher/leader registers their school/group and let’s Cork Sports Partnership know how many classes will be taking part in the challenge. This can be via the registration link below.
  • Deadline for Registration is Monday, January 29th
• Each school/group will be posted an A3 Step Into Spring Walking Challenge poster to track distance.
  • One tracking poster per class/group (students/participants do not receive an individual tracking poster)
• Each class/group will be posted a certificate to acknowledge their completed distance at the end of the campaign.
• Classes begin accumulating their target distance between 5th Feb and the 16th March.
  • The distance recorded is the one achieved by the class/group walking together and not a sum of the individual distances walked per student.
• Schools that use #StepIntoSpring2024 when posting on Facebook, Instagram or X (Twitter) will be entered into a draw to win a FREE four week Sports programme.

Youth Distances (4-12 years): 

• Gold distance: 25km
• Silver distance: 20km
• Bronze distance: 15km

Teen Distances (13-17 years):

• Gold distance: 50km
• Silver distance: 40km
• Bronze distance: 30km

Prizes:

• FREE Four week Sports programme for your school/group!
  • Use #StepIntoSpring2024 when posting on Facebook, Instagram or X (Twitter) and get entered into a draw to win a FREE four week Sports programme.

Optional | ‘Get Your School/Group Walking’ Workshop For Teachers/Leaders:

This valuable workshop will include an introduction to Physical Activity, Walking & Active Travel for school aged children. It will cover the Physical Activity Guidelines, Statistics and Benefits, as well as outline the Get Your School Walking Resource provided by the HSE. This booklet will be a great resource for anyone interested in getting their schools more active into the future as it is a comprehensive guide to promoting walking in schools. The final section of the workshop will provide an overview of the many Walking Initiatives available to schools including information about the ‘Step into Spring’ Schools Walking Challenge which will begin in February. This theory-based workshop will explain why walking is so important for children and provide a guide for school staff in developing their own walking promotion strategy.

This workshop will reiterate what was covered last year ahead of the 2023 Step Into Spring Challenge. 

• Date: Tuesday 30th
• Suitable for: Adults Over 18
• Venue: TBC (City Venue)
• Time: 10am to 11:30am
• Link: CLICK HERE

For questions or queries email:

• Email: Alison at achambers@corksports.ie

Deadline for Registration is Monday, 29th January