Keystone SMILES, Safe Kids Coalition Hold 11th Annual Safety Day

| May 28, 2018

SHIPPENVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – Last week second-grade students from area schools received some education that will hopefully serve them well in the future.

Safe Kids of Clarion-Venango 11th Annual Progressive Agricultural Safety Day was held at the Clarion County Park on Tuesday, May 22.

Approximately 430 students from Clarion and Forest Counties went from station to station learning about safety and health.

According to coordinators, Kelly Mong and Krista Parsons, gaining such valuable knowledge is the key to the program’s success.

“Our executive director Joyce (Fosdick) and our entire staff decided they wanted to do this,” Mong said. “There was actually a prior AmeriCorps member whose son was killed in a farming accident, so this was near-and-dear to their hearts after having that happen.”

“There’s all kind of safety stuff here, not just fire safety, so it does help the kids.”

“We try to make everything hands-on here so that they’re actually doing something while they’re learning about it,” Krista Parsons explained.

This year’s Safety Day was the first for Parsons, and one she definitely will remember.

“I was really excited for it. I think it went great. I have nothing to compare it to, but every year, everything is different. We bring in new items, and we change things around a little bit and make things work to the best they can.”

The day featured activities for students that included handling and visiting large and small animals, farm equipment safety, Lyme disease and insect recognition, growing vegetables and crops, disaster prep, sun safety, fire safety, gun safety, the dangers of hidden hazards, first-aid safety, electrical safety, hearing safety, archery safety, and dog obedience handling.

Students LEARNING 2.0

As event coordinator Judy Wile notes, the variety of stations for students to participate in provides both exceptional learning opportunities and fun activities for them to enjoy.

“Every time I ask a child – What was your favorite? They say, ‘Everything,'” Wile said.

“They’re interested in Central Electric, the dogs, the horses.  I don’t know if any one thing is particularly special anymore because I think they’re just enjoying everything. It’s more hands-on, so I think they’re getting more out of it because of that.”

One of the hands-on events was the Clarion County Dog Obedience Club, where several dog handlers taught the proper techniques on how to behave around other people’s dogs.

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(Pictured above: Clarion County Obedience Club members pose with their dogs during Tuesday’s Safety Day event. From left to right: Janice Stanovich and German Shepherd Zeiva; Margie Quinton and Golden Doodle Quincy; Melanie Finotti and Golden Doodle Ozzy Bear; Sue Kahle and Papillon Trey; and Keli Bonanno and Shepherd-Boxer mix Luna. Photo by Michaela Williams)

Another attraction was the archery safety station which allowed students to learn the proper way to handle a bow-and-arrow, as well as allowing them the chance to shoot targeted balloons for practice.

Central Electric also proved to be a hit amongst students, as Ken Maleski discussed electrical power sources and safety precautions.

Some of the groups that participated in the day’s events were Keystone SMILES AmeriCorps; Clarion County Rod & Gun Club; the Clarion Conservation District; PennDOT; the Clarion County EMS; Central Electric; and the Clarion County Obedience Club.

Sponsors for the event also include Clarion Hospital, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Sherwin Williams of Clarion, Seidle Chevrolet, among other local community organizations and businesses.


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