Safety Town

"The SRO (School Resource Officer) function, especially the Safety Town Program,
is an exemplary initiative by the City, County and Department."
~ Carroll Buracker & Associates

What is Safety Town?New

Safety Town is a two-hour a day, two-week program for children that teaches safety lessons on strangers, traffic, pedestrians, fire, bicycles, bus, poisons (including drugs), water and guns. This community service program has been sponsored by the Greensboro Police Department, the Greensboro Jaycees, and other area local civic and business organizations for 30 years. It is provided free and is accredited by the National Safety Town Center of Cleveland, Ohio. Applications and more information can be found at the Greensboro Safety Town site.

Below is the schedule for the program:

Day

First Week

Second Week

Monday
  • Welcome
  • Assignments of students to instructors
  • Students tour "Safety Town"
  • Police Officer explains rules for Safety Town to students
  • Police Officer explains his duties, responsibilities, uniform
  • Review name, address, phone number and safety rules
  • Practice pedestrian safety
  • Review telephone use of 911
  • Practice driving in Safety Town
  • Water safety lesson
  • Movie: Water Safety
Tuesday
  • Review signs at Safety Town
  • Driving on the right side of the road
  • Crossing streets at corners without lights
  • Begin teaching Safety Town song "At the Curb"
  • Tuesday  Movie: Pedestrian Safety
  • Movie: Gun Safety with "Eddie Eagle"
  • Firefighters discuss fire equipment and display a fire truck
  • Children tour the "Smoke House"
  • Fire Department's "Flame-The-Clown" teaches Fire Safety
  • Movie: Fire Safety
Wednesday
  • Review name, address, phone number
  • Telephone use of 911
  • Playground safety using playground at recreation center
  • Movie: Let's Play Safe - Playground Safety
  • Review the subjects taught at Safety Town to prepare for testing
  • Driving at Safety Town
  • Instructors begin testing practical knowledge
  • Student's class picture is taken
  • Greensboro Police bicycle officers teach bicycle safety
  • Movie: Bicycle Safety Camp
Thursday
  • Review name, address, phone number and safety rules
  • Introduce students to traffic lights at Safety Town
  • Students learn to cross the street using lights and safety rules
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Teaching 911
  • Tour Ambulance
  • Movie: Poison Safety
  • Review and testing of students
  • Graduation rehearsal
  • Movie: School Bus Safety
  • Movie: McGruff's "Drug Alert"
Friday
  • Review lessons of the week
  • Seatbelt use, driving on roadway rules, pedestrian safety
  • Movie: McGruff - Stranger Safety
  • Graduation held in gym at Lewis Recreation Center
  • Presentation of diplomas
  • "Celebration Party" in Safety Town room at recreation center

Driving takes concentrationWho Can Participate?

Children must be 5 or 6 years old between the program dates to be eligible to participate in Safety Town. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Where is Safety Town?

Safety Town is a permanent little city built beside traffic lights, street signs (stop signs, railroad crossing, pedestrian crossing), crosswalks, eight artfully painted little houses (with different themes) with small benches and seven small pedal cars!

All of these tools are used by the Police Department and volunteer instructors for hands-on instruction, where children learn by practice. Safety Town is located beside the Lewis Recreation Center at Jaycee Park (near Country Park), 3110 Forest Lawn Dr. in Greensboro. Please do not contact Lewis Recreation Center about Safety Town. Lewis Recreation Center is not directly associated with the program and employees there have no information about it.

How Do I Register a Child?
You may download the student application form or pick up an application form at the Greensboro Police Department, located at 2602 S. Elm-Eugene St.

Complete the application and return it following the instructions given in the application. There are 660 (110 per session) free student scholarships available, which are accepted on a first-received basis.

You will be notified to confirm your child's application acceptance. For more information, contact Cpl. R.S. McDonald via e-mail. 
Driving around Safety Town
How Can I Volunteer?
Volunteers must be at least 12 years old and must enjoy spending time with children. Volunteer instructors are generally between 12 and 16 years old. Many are area Girl or Boy Scouts who volunteer to fulfill requirements for badges or patches. Volunteers also receive "rewards" for each complete session they volunteer to work.

You may download the volunteer application form or pick up a volunteer application form at Greensboro Police Department, located at 2602 S. Elm-Eugene St.

Complete the application and return it to Cpl. R.S. McDonald at the Greensboro Police Department. If you have any further questions, please contact Cpl. McDonald via e-mail.