Safety Town Day Camp at the Boone County Fairgrounds

By Anne Eickstadt

ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTOS Belvidere Republican
June Mack, age 6, and Rosie Mack, age 4, make sun catchers during Safety Town.

Editor

Flora Grange’s 18th Annual Safety Town Day Camp is fun for everyone. The four-day camp was free for children aged five through eight. The camp took place at the Boone County Fairgrounds at the Main Dining Hall at 8847 Rte. 76 from Tuesday, June 11 to Friday, June 14 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Safety Town featured different safety workshops each day along with a take home craft and a snack. Children were able to register for any or all of the four days.

I was able to visit Safety Town on Thursday. I saw Officer Tim Blankenship law enforcement, 911 calls, stranger danger, looking both ways before crossing the street at crosswalks, and other safety tips with one group of kids.

“It’s a wonderful event,” he told me. “It’s an honor to be a part of it and discuss safety with the kids. They had great questions. I had fun interacting with them.”

Nearby, Jack Ratcliffe was discussing Backyard Safety with another group. His visual displays included a lawn mower “Always make sure the motor is not running if you have to work on it,” he said. “If you stick your hand down to remove clogged grass while the motor is running, you might be missing some fingers.” He discussed the importance of safety goggles, citing an instance close to his heart when something flew up and his son lost an eye while using a weed whacker. Rakes, saws, branch trimmers, clippers, shovels, extension cords, towropes, trailer hitches and hitch clips, came into the discussion with their proper use and storage.

Boone County Fire District #2 had a couple of their vehicles on hand for the kids to explore. “We are showing the kids some of the equipment and tools on our trucks,” said Fire Chief Hauser. “We are discussing smoke detectors, how to stop-drop-and-roll, and if they know how to use a fire extinguisher.”

The morning included making sun catchers in the Main Dining Hall at the Boone County Fairgrounds where I found the 2018 Boone County Fair Queen Kayla Elizabeth Konieczki and Little Miss Boone County Annabella Grace Torres.

“This is fun,” Queen Kayla said. “I liked…

For complete article, pick up the June 20 Belvidere Republican newspaper.