Newtown Youth & Family Services (NYFS) will hold Safety Town this summer, a one-week interactive safety education program developed to teach important life-saving lessons on strangers, traffic, fire, pedestrian, poison, drug, playground, bus, and water safety. All safety topics are taught in collaboration with local community and health agencies. Safety Town is for kids entering kindergarten and first grade in Fall 2022.

Safety Town combines classroom instruction and the use of a miniature town designed to provide a complete hands-on experience. The miniature town has a fire house, police station, library, and even features the historic Newtown flag pole. Within this town, there are working traffic lights, crosswalks, bicycle lanes, and signs which create an environment for children to practice what they have learned through constructive play. Each day features a visit from a local community or health agency, including one of the local Fire & Rescue Departments, the Newtown Police Department, Porco’s Karate Academy, Newtown Ambulance, and All-Star Transportation Bus Company.

Back for a second year in a row, Safety Town will conduct water safety at Newtown Community Center. On four of the five camp days, campers will be transported to the community center for swim and water safety lessons.

Parents and caregivers have three weeks to pick from when enrolling their rising kindergartner. Week one is July 11 to 15, week two is July 18 to 22, and week three is July 25 to 29. Camp hours are from 9 am to 1:15 pm. Campers will need to bring their own lunch. The cost for Safety Town is $150. Registration information can be found at newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org. Questions can be directed to Madison McColl, at MMcColl@newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org or 203-270-4335.

NYFS began running Safety Town in 2013. It is a replica of the nationally recognized program founded in 1937 in Cleveland, Ohio, by policeman Fred Boals.

About Newtown Youth & Family Services

NYFS is a youth service bureau and mental health clinic for children, teens, adults, and seniors. For more than 35 years, NYFS has been committed to providing high quality human health services to promote individual and community wellness. Specialized services include: outpatient individual, couples and family counseling, substance abuse treatment services, Autism and social skills programs, prevention initiatives, and support groups. Learn more about NYFS by visiting newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org.