Safety First Is Theme at Gorton Camp

By a Lake Forest Love Writer Scores of campers ages 5-7 took part in the latest Safety Town this month at Gorton Center. The curriculum covered fire safety, first aid, water safety, internet safety, pet safety, stranger danger and more. A few of the camp’s highlights include the interactive smokehouse, which provides children with hands-on experience learning what to do in case of a fire, including the stop-drop-and-roll technique; a tour of a squad car; pet safety lessons with service animals; and learning their parents' cell phone numbers. The week also includes learning sessions led by police officers, firefighters, and various safety professionals.

Campers learned their parents' cell phone numbers at Gorton's popular Safety Town, which began in 2013.

Integral to the success of Safety Town is a team of approximately two dozen middle- and high-school-aged counselors. These volunteers complete a training session before camp begins and earn around 15 hours of community service for their time. Many return year after year, and their knowledge and leadership play a vital role in helping the camp run smoothly. 

In response to growing demand and to serve an older age group, Gorton developed Safety Town II, also known as Safety Town Commanders Camp. Designed for children ages 8 to 10, this more advanced camp builds upon the foundation of the original program while introducing topics such as being home alone, self-defense techniques, online and digital safety, emergency preparedness, and both physical and mental wellness.  This camp accommodates around 40 campers and will occur in mid-August.  To learn more, visit gortoncenter.org.