Teaching Children to Protect Themselves!

Director’s Message – Safety Town Registration Fee

Due to rising operating expenses, the weekly Safety Town registration fee has been set at $120, and we welcome the opportunity to share the value of the program and the factors that contribute to its cost.

Safety Town is far more than a childcare activity — it is a structured, hands-on safety education program designed to prevent childhood injuries and build lifelong decision-making skills. During the week, children receive age-appropriate instruction in traffic safety, railroad safety, playground safety, electrical safety, animal safety, internet safety, weather safety, water safety, bicycle safety, school bus safety, stranger danger awareness, 911 usage, fire safety, poison prevention, gun safety, and natural gas safety. These lessons are reinforced through practice in our child-sized town using streets, buildings, signs, and tricycles, allowing children to apply what they learn in realistic situations rather than simply hearing a lecture.

Students also interact directly with the professionals they are taught to trust in emergencies. Police officers, sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, paramedics, water patrol officers, meteorologists, school bus drivers, dispatchers, and animal control officers visit the program to demonstrate equipment, answer questions, and build familiarity. These experiences reduce fear, improve communication during emergencies, and help children recognize when and how to seek help.

In addition, participants attend three field trips — the fire station, the park, and the water park — where safety concepts are practiced in real-world environments under supervision. These trips are educational extensions of the curriculum, not recreational add-ons, and transportation costs are included in the fee.

The registration fee supports the many costs required to safely operate the program. These include teacher and staff salaries, facility rental, liability insurance, bus transportation, daily snacks, and the continual repair and replacement of Safety Town infrastructure such as buildings, roadway mats, traffic signs, tricycles, and safety equipment. It also covers classroom technology, including computers and projectors, and their ongoing maintenance.

Like all organizations, we have been significantly impacted by inflation. Insurance premiums, transportation, facility costs, equipment replacement, and staffing expenses have all increased in recent years. Despite these rising expenses, we have worked to keep the program affordable for families.

For comparison, the average weekly daycare cost for school-aged children in our area ranges from approximately $125 to $200 per week. Safety Town is priced below or within that range while providing a specialized educational curriculum, certified instruction, guest professionals, field trips, safety equipment, and hands-on learning environments that traditional childcare typically does not offer.

We also believe cost should never be the reason a child cannot participate. Scholarships are available for families who qualify, and we encourage parents to contact us confidentially if financial assistance is needed. Our goal is to ensure every child has access to this important safety education.

Our mission is not simply to supervise children, but to equip them with knowledge that can prevent injuries and save lives. Parents consistently report that participants become more confident, aware of their surroundings, and prepared to react appropriately in emergencies.

We remain committed to keeping Safety Town accessible while maintaining the quality and safety standards the community expects. The registration fee allows us to continue delivering a meaningful, comprehensive program that benefits not only each child, but the safety of our entire community.

Sincerely,

Frank Till
Executive Director
St. Joseph Safety and Health Council