The Fairhope walking school bus program celebrated it's 10th anniversary last week, complete with music, smoothies, a mini trampoline and costumes.

Charlene Lee, director, started the program in 2013 in an effort to provide students with a safe way to walk to school while accommodating the safety concerns of today's society.

"Kids don't walk to school anymore in our society, and many parents are uncomfortable with their kids walking to school," Lee said. "I had memories of walking to school as a kid, and it made it an adventure to walk to school everyday. To me, it was a missed opportunity that kids quit walking to school, but I knew a very safe system must be created with many checks & balances for parents to feel safe enough to drop their kids off for the 0.7 mile walk to school."

Lee said she began working on the program, collaborating with the Baldwin County Trailblazers nonprofit and teachers at Fairhope West Elementary School to make it safer and more comfortable for parents and students to make the decision to participate.

"We started with only 12 children at the beginning and partnered with the school to allow teachers to volunteer with the program instead of morning duty at the school," Lee said.

Lee said students meet every morning at a designated stop and walk to school under the supervision of the parents and teachers who volunteer with the program.

"Parents can walk with their children or just drop them off and we go directly from that site directly to the back of the school," Lee said. "The same teachers have been with me since 2013, and Kathy Hudson, the P.E. teacher, is the coordinator at the school."

Lee said there are approximately 50-70 students enrolled in the program, which only provides transportation in the mornings due to school security and the student's various after school activities.

"I think one of the strongest health benefits of the program is the daily habit created," Lee said. "When children start the morning with exercise, it creates a domino effect that not only has health benefits, but also mental health benefits."

Lee said the biggest surprise since starting the program has been the sense of community formed between both the students and parents involved.

"The kids and parents form real relationships walking five days a week for the whole school year. It's not often you are around people long enough to form a real relationship," Lee said. "I started and continue this program because I passionately believe it makes a difference in the lives of these children."