Safety City and Safety Town Camps in Columbus for Kids

Have you heard about Safety Town Camps for kids? Safety Town camps are typically available for kids ages 5-6 to teach them how to be safe in their community. My son attended New Albany Safety Town last year and had a blast! It was his first camp experience, and he learned so much. There are so many options, and we’ve great things about many of them.

Safety Town uses hands-on activities – often taught in a small-scale city with streets, homes and sidewalks – to teach children about many different aspects of safety and injury prevention. Other topics that are usually covered include Bicycle safety, Electrical safety, Animal safety, Fire prevention and safety, playground, school bus and traffic safety, Water safety, Poison education, Weather safety, Pedestrian safety. Most of the camps host a graduation ceremony at the end of camp for the families to attend.

There are several communities around Columbus offering Safety Town. You don’t have to attend the camp within your own community, so you can choose one that works with your schedule.

New Albany Safety Town and Graduate Camp

New Albany offers a Safety Town for kids who are 5 years of age on or before August 1st of that year and entering kindergarten or first grade in the Fall. This two week camp is for children who are attending a safety town camp for the first time.

Dates: June 8th-12th
AM Session I 8:30am – 11:30am (offering 180 spots)
PM Session II 12:30pm – 3:30pm (offering 90 spots)
Location: New Albany-Plain Local Early Learning Center at 5101 Swickard Woods Boulevard New Albany OH 43054.
Registration: Online registration will be open on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 9am and will close on Saturday, April 4th at 9am.
Fee: $85 and includes all classroom materials, a bike helmet, tote bag, bike light, t-shirt and use of safety town’s bikes. The cost also includes field trips to the New Albany Police Station and the Plain Township Fire Station.

New Albany also offers a Graduate Camp for children entering 1st or 2nd grade in the fall they are attending camp and who have already graduated from Safety Town. This 1-week, 4 day camp provides more in-depth education on various safety topics. Following are the main topics covered and a general outline of what to expect each day:

1st Day: On The Go! Bike & Helmet Safety, Pedestrian Safety, Roundabout Crossing Safety
2nd Day: Fire Prevention, Fire Evacuation & Planning along with a Field Trip to the Plain Township Fire Station
3rd Day: Police Education, Personal Safety, Online Cautions, 9-1-1, and Emergency Drills along with a Field Trip to the New Albany Police Department
4th Day: Extended Water Safety with a field trip to the Pool!

Dates: June 22nd – June 25th 8:30AM – 12:30PM
Location: New Albany Early Learning Center, 5101 Swickard Woods Blvd. New Albany, OH 43054
Registration: Online registration is from Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 9am to Saturday April 4, 2020 at 9am.
Fee: $85 and includes all classroom materials, a bike helmet, bike light, re-usable water bottle, a t-shirt and includes field trips to the New Albany Police Station, Plain Township Fire Department and to an indoor or outdoor pool facility.

Volunteer opportunities: Each year middle (grade 6 and up) and high school students can volunteer at camp. There are opportunities to volunteer in the classroom and at Adventureland (mock city). Returning volunteers can apply in January, and new students can apply to volunteer at camp by applying in February. To apply please contact the camp director at safetytown@newalbanypolice.org

Upper Arlington Safety Town

Upper Arlington Safety Town is a two-week summer program that teaches children all aspects of child safety. Children learn how to make wise decisions in potentially dangerous situations, as well as how to handle emergencies in their young lives. Students learn about pedestrian safety through the use of our miniature village, complete with streets, sidewalks, buildings, stop signs, and a working traffic signal. Children must be entering Kindergarten or first grade and be five years of age prior to September 30 of the program year.

Dates: Safety Town in Upper Arlington is a two week session in June and July. Half day sessions are from 9 am-Noon OR 1-4 pm, Monday through Friday
- June 15-June 26: morning and afternoon sessions
- July 6-17: morning and afternoon sessions
Location: St Agatha School
Registration: Register online through the Parks & Recreation Department. Registration opens on March 11 at 6 am for residents, and March 13 at 8 am for non-residents. If sessions fill up before you can register, there is a waitlist that you can register on in case of cancellations.
Fee: $100
Contact: If you have questions about the program, contact Police Community Relations, at 614-583-5197

Dublin Safety City

Safety City is an early childhood education program for kids ages 5 and 6 who are getting ready to begin school. The Dublin Division of Police, Washington Township Fire Dept, and other guests visit to discuss safety awareness and preventative procedures. A graduation program will be held at the end of the week.

Dates: August 10-14, 2020 at 9-11:30 am or 1-3:30 pm
Location: Dublin Community Recreation Center
Registration: Opens in March through the Rec Center. Look for details when they release the Spring catalog.
Fee: $85 city resident, $95 school district resident/non-resident

Worthington Safety City

Sponsored by the Worthington Parks and Recreation Department, this program is designed to teach basics of safety to kindergarten age children. This includes crossing streets, walking to school, riding bikes and traveling in school buses. Experiencing real life traffic situations, students ride big wheels through a miniature town, and are visited by speakers such as a fireman, police officers, poison control spokesperson, and others. For ages 4-6 years.

Dates: June 15-25, 2020 at 9 am – 11 am or noon – 2 pm
Location: tentatively scheduled at Wilson Hill Elementary School
Registration: In person and online registration opens: Feb 24, 2020; Non-residents: Feb 26, 2020
Fee: $70.00 (Resident), $90.00 (Non-resident)

Westerville Safety City

Westerville Safety City is a program designed to teach students entering kindergarten in the fall about a variety of safety issues. Each student is taught basic rules of traffic and pedestrian safety, fire prevention, school bus safety, poison prevention, animal safety, gun safety, water safety, and stranger awareness. The program is operated by a non-profit organization. This organization coordinates the cooperative efforts of a variety of Westerville entities including the Westerville Divisions of Fire, Police and Communications. The Westerville City Schools participate by allowing the use of their facilities for the program. Students that will be attending Kindergarten in the fall of this year are eligible. Students are eligible to attend the program once and may not repeat it without prior approval. The program can accommodate 360 students each year.

Dates: June 1 – 12, 2020. Monday – Friday for two weeks. Choose between the morning session, 9:30 am to 11:30 am or the afternoon session, 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm.
Location: Robert Frost Elementary, 720 N. Spring Road.
Registration: Online registration begins April 20, 2020.
Fee: $75 for Westerville School District or city limits resident. Non-resident fees for the program are $85. Fee includes a t-shirt. Beginning May 11, 2020 a late fee of $10 will be added to registration fee. Registration will close when full or when classes begin.

Volunteer information: Must be at least 13 years of age. Teens must be present for a training session: Friday, May 29, 2020. Teens must be present each day of the two week program from 9:00 to 3:00. Completed applications are due by April 30, 2020 with a letter of recommendation written by an adult that is not a family member. Applications available on April 1.

Hilliard Safety Town

Safety Town is a one-week course that focuses on teaching children safe practices both at school and at home. The curriculum includes bicycle safety, pedestrian safety, school bus safety, fire safety, seat belt safety, gun safety, 9-1-1, and stranger danger utilizing a child-sized town for hands-on experience, and guest speakers. Safety Town is open to children entering kindergarten in the fall.

Dates: June 8-12, 2020, 9 am – noon or 1 pm – 4 pm
Location: Hoffman Trails Elementary
Registration: Registration will begin March 2 at 9 a.m.
Fee: $45 includes a bike helmet

Powell Safety Camp

Each year, the Powell Police Department in conjunction with the City of Powell Parks and Recreation Department to teach preschool children about safety and how to deal with emergencies around the neighborhood. Classes include a tour of the fire department and police department.

Dates: June 29 – July 1, 2020, 9 am – 11 am, 12 pm – 2 pm OR 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Location: Municipal Building East Room
Registration: Registration begins for residents on April 8, and nonresidents on April 10
Fee: $60 resident, $69 non-resident

Powell RADKIDS

radKIDS is a program designed for children ages 8-12. The program educates kids on their decision-making skills, provides lessons on a variety of safety topics, and shares information on dealing with bullies and stranger danger. The Powell Police Departments hold two sessions per year. Registration is required: https://recreation.cityofpowell.us/CourseActivities.aspx?id=12

Dates: May 26-29, 2020 from 9 am – 5 pm
Location: Adventure Park Recreational Facility
Registration: Registration begins for residents on April 8, and nonresidents on April 10
Fee: $132 for residents, $141 for non-residents

Delaware County Safety Town

Safety Town is a program of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office and is for children going into kindergarten or first grade who reside in Delaware County. Safety curriculum include: strangers, drugs, bicycle, animals, car seat, water, etc. The School Resource Officers and Community Relations Department run the program. Additional subject matter experts also help teach the children. For more information, contact kgay@co.delaware.oh.us

Dates and locations: 3 locations offer 8 sessions with morning and afternoon times, 8 am – 11 am or noon – 3 pm
- Buckeye Valley West Elementary: June 8-12; morning and afternoon. Busing available for BVLS students.
- Olentangy Liberty Middle School: June 15-19 or June 22-26
- Big Walnut Gen Rosecrans Elementary: July 20-24
Registration: The online application process begins on April 6th, 2020 at 8 am
Fee: $25 participation fee (limited amount of scholarships are available).

Volunteer details: The online VOLUNTEER process begins on March 6th, 2020 and volunteers must be entering 8th grade or higher to qualify. Volunteers must commit to at least one full week and may apply for as many sessions as they like. Volunteers are required to attend a mandatory informational meeting – date to be announced later. Those ages 18 and older are required to pass an FBI/BCI background check prior to the start of Safety Town. This free background check can be obtained ONLY at the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office jail location, at 844 US Highway 42 North, Delaware, OH 43015, Monday – Friday 8:30am – 2:00pm.

Gahanna Safety Town

Since 1983, The City of Gahanna, Mifflin Township and the Gahanna Jefferson Schools have operated a one week “Safety Town” program for children entering Kindergarten. Each child is taught the basic rules of pedestrian safety, traffic rules, fire safety & prevention, stranger & personnel safety, school bus safety & conduct, gun, water, animal and poison safety. The children will take a school bus ride and learn school bus basics. Open to all children going into kindergarten.

Dates: June 1 – 5, 2020; morning session (8:00 am to 11:00 am) and an afternoon session (12:00 noon to 3:00 pm)
Location: Lincoln Elementary School 515 Havens Corners Road in Gahanna
Registration: Opening soon
Fee: $40.00/child. Registration fee includes: A Safety Town T-Shirt & A Bike Helmet both given out at Safety Town

Volunteers need to be at least entering sixth grade. Helpers may assist students in cutting, coloring, and gluing. They may also assist in restroom breaks, supervision of students in all areas of the school, modeling safety lessons, reading books, and singing songs. Click here to apply.

Grove City Safety Town

Safety Town is a program of the Jackson Township Professional Firefighters Local #2672 and is presented in cooperation with the Jackson Township Fire Department and the Grove City Police Department. Safety Town teaches children who are entering kindergarten basic safety concepts while at the same time, allowing them a “preview” of what it will be like to be in school. E-mail any questions to gcsafetytown@gmail.com.

Dates: June 4-11, 2020 (tentative)
Location: J. C. Sommer’s Elementary School on Haughn Road in Grove City
Registration: Registration should open in late March, early April.
Fee: tba

Prairie Township Safety Town

Safety Town is a one-week summer preschool program that teaches children all aspects of safety. Children learn how to make wise decisions in potentially dangerous situations, as well as how to handle emergencies in their young lives. Children entering Kindergarten or first grade are eligible to attend Safety Town, and they must be five years of age prior to September 30th in order to qualify for registration. This program is run with coordination of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputies, Prairie Township Fire Department and other agencies. Safety Town takes place at the Community Center.

Dates: tba from 9 am – 11:30 am
Location: Prairie Township Community Center5955 West Broad St, Galloway, Ohio 43119
Registration: programs are typically announced in March
Fee: tba

Safety Town by Reynoldsburg Parks and Recreation Department

Safety Town is for children entering Kindergarten or 1st Grade for the 2020 – 2021 school year. Space is limited to the first 60 registered. Register online or in person at the Reynoldsburg City Hall Building, 7232 East Main St Monday – Friday, 8a to 5p.

Dates: Tuesday – Thursday, July 14th – 16th
Location: Blacklick Woods Metro Park, 6975 E. Livingston Ave
Registration: Open now and limited to 60 students.
Fee: $10 Resident/ $15 Non-Resident

Do you know of any other Safety Town programs held around Columbus? Let us know if the comments or email info@columbusonthecheap.com.