PALMERSTON – Students from across Minto, Mapleton and Wellington North took part in a day filled with hands-on interactive safety education last week.
The Safe Kids Day event was hosted on May 30 at the Palmerston Arena, which was filled with 14 different safety activities for children.
The Grade 4 students moved through a series of stations hosted by local emergency services and community organizations.
The activities were designed to build awareness around personal and community safety.
“It’s a great way to make safety fun and engaging,” said Stephanie Chidlow, administrative coordinator for Minto Fire, Mapleton Fire Rescue and Wellington North Fire Service.
“We work really hard to have interactive activities to keep the kids engaged and make it something they look forward to … every year.”
This year, organizers added Mapleton to the mix, expanding the number of students significantly.
To build engagement, students were given a Safe Kids Passport that could help them win prizes if they ventured to all activities.
“It definitely encourages them to go to all the activities and not just the obstacle course,” Chidlow said.
The day gets filled with 13 different schools, all arriving at allotted times. The event was also open to homeschoolers.
“We have most of our community safety partners from the three municipalities here, and it kind of gives us an opportunity to all come together and reach all of the students at one time,” she said.
Minto-Clifford Public School teacher Kay Garrard was unsure at first how her students would enjoy their first time at the event.
“But I can tell since coming in that they (students) are absolutely loving it,” Garrard said.
“There’s a big importance because they don’t often get the opportunity to hear about prior training or safety and severe weather training. We don’t always do that in school.”
Garrard noted rural living comes with the need to know farming safety and other essentials, which Safe Kids Day encompasses.
