Talking Our Walk - Rest Stop Reminders

How To

Rest stops are particularly promising opportunities for learning. While walkers catch their breath and rest their feet give them something to think about on the next leg of the journey. Try one or more of these:

Local Connections

Invite local justice, peace, and environmental groups to set up displays at the rest stops. For example, invite Bread for the World members to set up a table and conduct an offering of letters on a current legislative issue related to hunger. Bread for the World is a Christian citizens’ movement of some 54,000 members. They seek to influence the government in favor of policies that address the causes of hunger at home and abroad. For more information: Bread for the World, 50 "F" Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20001, 800-822-7323.

Routing Hunger

Design the Walk route to pass by local food pantries and soup kitchens. Be sure to indicate if any of these are receiving some of the funds generated by the Walk. If appropriate these sites might become rest stops. You might invite walkers to bring a can of food with them for collection at the beginning of the Walk or delivery to a food pantry along the way.

International Relations

At each stop create a display highlighting a different country or part of the world. This could include pictures, Jeopardy-style quizzes where you are asked to match questions and answers about that part of the world, activities from that region (games/food/music/stories), and the work of CWS in that area (your CWS/CROP Office can help you here). Try to recruit immigrants in your community from the nations highlighted or someone who has traveled or lived there to help staff the table and answer questions. Local refugee resettlement agencies or foreign student advisors at local colleges can help here. These displays might be assigned to local youth groups to research, prepare and present.

CWS in Action

Create a display at a rest stop of materials provided by CWS in a disaster situation (blanket, medicine, water purification tablets), or tools used in development (a pump, simple garden tools, a treadle sewing machine, books).

Who Me?

Hang two large sheets of newsprint on easels. On one, print the heading "Excuses for NOT helping" on the other "Reasons FOR Helping." Invite walkers to fill in both.

Just for Fun

Musicians, massages for weary Walkers, artists creating a mural during the time of the Walk incorporating images/words/symbols from the day. Let your imagination loose!

For the Next Generation

Cover a large box (refrigerator size) with paper or set up an easel with paper. Place several magic markers on or near the paper. Invite Walkers to write their hopes for the world our children will inherit.

A vision without a task
is but a dream,
A task without a vision
is drudgery,
A vision with a task
is the hope of the world.
Church Inscription
Sussex, England, 1730