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Community Corner

Stop, Drop and Roll: Safety Town Comes Back to Gorton

Gorton’s wildly successful safety awareness camp is back in town this week, with fire engines, ambulances and a miniature town complete with roads, buildings, stop signs and a working traffic signal.
Campers will pedal shiny new tricycles along the streets of Safety Town as certified instructors Katie Ford and Francesca Sullivan partner with City of Lake Forest police officers, paramedics and firefighters to teach traffic safety, fire prevention and much more.
Wild animal and pet safety is another key topic that will engage campers thanks to the Animal Hospital of West Lake Forest. Learning how to responsibly interact with a family cat or how to approach a dog in the park is imperative at this age level, when children have an innate curiosity about animals of all types.
Brought to Gorton by Lake Forest resident Kristin Wildman, Safety Town’s hands-on approach helps children tackle safety issues in a safe and fun environment. “This year we have the benefit of more than half of our counselors returning, so they are familiar with the curriculum and excited to help the campers get the most out of their Safety Town experience,” said Wildman. “In fact this year, both new and returning volunteers participated in a three-hour class, taught by FOCUS Training partner Melissa Goltra, on team building and critical thinking on what it means to be an effective volunteer.”
Safety Town Camp has been so well received that for the second year, there is a long waiting list for both campers and student volunteers. “While young campers are exposed to essential safety skills, the counselors, ages 13-18, are gaining not only community service hours, but also valuable organizational and work experience that will benefit them throughout their lives,” said Wildman.
The miniature town, designed by Meredith Drake and built by Altounian Construction, has some new features this year with cross walks, a railway safety specialist, and some familiar buildings including the Lake Forest Library, Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital and Coldwell Banker. Even Foss Swim School and local law firm Berger Schatz are represented.
On Friday at 3 p.m. in the Gorton Theater, campers will celebrate with a graduation ceremony demonstrating to family and friends their new safety skills and receiving a Certificate of Achievement from Lake Forest Fire Chief Jeff Howell. “Safety Town Camp is an amazing collaboration of residents, our city, local businesses and our community center,” said Kate Rother, Gorton board member and Safety Town co-chair.
Safety Town runs from Tuesday, June 10 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, June 14, rain or shine. Graduation is on Friday, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Gorton Community Center is a privately-funded, not-for-profit 501c3 organization which operates in partnership with volunteers and the City of Lake Forest to enrich the lives of its residents through cultural arts, education and charitable service. Gorton relies on the generosity of residents and businesses to help fund programs, services and building improvements offered in the historic building owned by the city. The gathering place in the heart of our community where people connect, converse, learn, listen, play & perform.

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