Young children will be able to learn how to stay safe in all kinds of situations and get to know some of the first responders in Fort Dodge during a day camp to be held for the first time next month.
The Fort Dodge Safety Village Camp is for children who will complete kindergarten or first grade during this school year, according to Fire Department Capt. Steve Hergenreter.
The camp will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. June 11-15 at the Corpus Christi Center, 405 N. Eighth St.
Hergenreter said learning potentially lifesaving information while having fun will be the focus of the camp. He added that children who participate in the camp will get an up close look at police cars, fire trucks and ambulances.
The camp program will address these topics:
Fire prevention
Safety around railroad tracks
Bicycle and pedestrian safety
How to prevent posionings
Gun safety
Safe use of the Internet
How to call 911
Only the first 100 children to register will be able to attend. Registration forms will be distributed at elementary schools and can be downloaded from the city government's Web site, www.fortdodgeiowa.org. On the website, the registration form can be found on the Fire Department page.
There will be a $25-per-child registration fee. Hergenreter said scholarships will be available to enable children who qualify for free school lunches to attend the camp.
Each child will receive a shirt and a bicycle helmet donated by Blank Childrens Hospital in Des Moines.
The camp will be operated by the Fort Dodge police and fire departments and the Iowa State Patrol.
A $1,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Public Health is helping to underwrite the costs of the camp. Hergenreter said 15 businesses also contributed money. He said he was overwhelmed by the support of local businesses.
The concept for the camp came from Melanie Fierke, of Fort Dodge. She had seen a similar program where she used to live in Richton Park, Ill., and suggested that it be tried in Fort Dodge.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net