CALUMET -- Students are putting the pedal to the metal...with their bicycles.
Elementary school students from Calumet, Laurium, and Keweenaw (CLK) are participating in a school-wide event of different activities geared toward a healthy lifestyle.
"They’re broken down into three areas. One is all about bikes. There are different types of bikes, safety helmets, and tune-ups to teach the children how to take care of their bikes," said CLK teacher Barb Kinnunen-Skidmore.
With 12.5 million children suffering from obesity, CLK school officials feel it is very important for their students to become more active.
"Children are spending less and less time outdoors and less and less time being active, and so one of our missions is a healthy lifestyle and healthy food choices so we’re really going to promote being healthy," Kinnunen-Skidmore said.
At Agassiz Park, students are learning about the pump track and what type of bike works best on the bumpy terrain. After a quick demonstration, students share what they learned.
This event is not just about bikes; it is also about taking care of the environment.
Second grader Alexis Strom is helping with the school's garden.
"We're moving the sunflower house from the garden all the way over by the school. I'm happy because I like when my dad helps out in the garden and when everybody pitches in to help build stuff," said Strom.
This event is made possible by the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative grant. The goal is to motivate students and teach them about the importance of outdoor activities.