RIVER VALE—Congratulations to Safety Town. The program for River Vale and Hillsdale children eligible to enter public or parochial kindergarten in September, and non-resident children who will be attending St. John’s Academy in Hillsdale, delivered on decades of experience at its latest run, July 12–23 at River Vale Community Center.
Thirty kids learned songs, worked on arts and crafts projects, and learned about a world of safety topics at the camp, which, according to co-director Lisa Buckley — who took this year on with fellow director Danielle Giordano — is now 30.
The camp, naturally, was not held in 2020, due to the pandemic. But it roared back this year, with plenty of hands-on activities furnished by community experts and backed by 13 teen volunteer counselors.
Buckley and Giordano are experienced with this age group, having run the town’s Kindergarten Kamp for nearly a decade. Buckley is a special education teacher and Giordano teaches kindergarten
“Safety Town is a priority for the township because it’s a safety program, and it teaches kids how to react in different environments and it could save a life,” Buckley told Pascack Press on July 27.
She said, “You see on the news where a child called 9-1-1 because their parent was down. Well, where are they going to learn that? It’s just important stuff, that kind of thing.”
This year’s topics included:
- Poison Safety (NJ Poison Control Center; njpies.org). With the help of porcupine puppet Spike, kids learned “when something is OK and when to stay away.” (When in doubt, we’re told, stay away and ask a grown up for help.)
- Automobile and Pedestrian Safety (AAA; northeastaaa.com). This fast-paced presentation featured Otto the Auto, a remote controlled talking car, and Bob the Puppet, who help kids learn about passenger safety in cars, pedestrian safety, current booster seat laws, why they need to sit in the back, and how to behave in the car. Children also learned the basics of parking lot safety, sidewalk safety, and making good choices about where to play.
- Stranger Danger Safety and what to do in case of emergencies. How to use 9-1-1, courtesy the River Vale Police Department.
- Prescription Drug Safety, Healthy Eating, and Taking Care of Teeth (River Vale Volunteer Ambulance Corps members Noelle Garbaccio and Jake Edelen). “A highlight was when participants went on a scavenger hunt to find items from all of the different food groups so they can power up, grow strong, and fight disease.”
- Fire Safety (River Vale Volunteer Fire Department; rivervalefd.org). Firefighter Jerry put on all of his equipment to show the campers what a firefighter looks like on the job. The demonstration demystifies the turnout gear so that if kids find themselves in an emergency they’ll recognize a helpful firefighter—and not be frightened. Jerry also talked about not hiding in their house if there is a fire and they should “stay low and go” and meet at their family’s emergency meeting place.
- Meet a K-9 (Bergen County Sheriff’s Office). Participants learned how some dogs are working dogs—and how they can help the police.
- Pet Safety (Creature Comfort Pet Therapy). Kids learned the importance of asking an owner to pet an animal first. They also learned that they should stay S.A.F.E. (stand still, arms crossed, face away, eyes down) should a dog approach.
- Taking Care of Teeth (Dr. Mattia DDS of Old Tappan). With the help of a purple dinosaur with realistic human teeth, the campers learned how to properly brush their teeth (and twice a day at that).
- Bus Safety and Train Safety. Kids learned to never walk behind a bus, always wear a seat belt, and not to distract the driver.
- Water Safety (Stonybrook Pool). Campers learned the basics of staying safe around and in swimming pools and other bodies of water. Grownups, it takes only moments of distraction to lose a little one to drowning. Spread the word.
The fee was $95 per camper. Camp, at the River Vale Community Center, 628 Rivervale Road, ended with a graduation celebration.
Buckley told Pascack Press that Safety Town “utilizes different facets to drive home the importance of safety. The campers operated big wheels around a scaled-down makeshift River Vale Township village, adhering to street signs and the rules of street safety around cars and trains.”
She said the program’s cadre of high school volunteers, grades 9–12, are wonderful. “It’s noteworthy that they give their time for two weeks for this.”
Giordano told Pascack Press her three kids have volunteered with the camp, and Buckley’s son helped behind the scenes.
One of Giordano’s kids, Nick, who was head counselor at Kindergarten Kamp, said the campers kept him on his toes. And he recommends Safety Camp for little ones and their teen volunteers.
“Some of the thing we learned are things everybody needs refreshers on, like not crossing the road when you’re on your phone. Sometimes you don’t even realize you’re doing it,” he said. For more information, write rvsafetytown@gmail.com.