Safety Town in Mentor continues long tradition of educating, entertaining kids

Since the 1970s, Mentor police officers and firefighters have hosted Safety Town for young children in the community.

This year, about 300 kids ages 4 to 6 years old are expected to attend over two separate week-long sessions.

Mentor firefighter Nate Peters said he believes the reason for the longevity and the consistently large turnouts is a mix of education and entertainment.

“We think if you can make safety education fun and interesting they will remember what they learn,” Peters said. “Instead of just teaching them bike hand signals we let them go on the course and ride Big Wheels. When teaching stop, drop and roll we make it interactive. They get to see what it’s like to sit in a fire truck or police vehicle or our water safety trailer. We have to make learning fun.

“However, we also try to emphasize to parents to be repetitive and go over what the kids learn at home.”

Over the course of the week-long program, children learn about fire safety, stranger danger, poison prevention, and pedestrian/traffic/bike rules through interactive lessons and an outdoor mini town.

Presented by The Junior Women’s Club, in partnership with the Mentor Fire and Police Departments, Mentor Public Library and Mentor Schools, the first session was June 2 through June 6 and the second session just wrapped up June 13.

Safety Town is a continuation of a dedicated effort by the police and fire personnel to educate kids at a young age, Peters said.

The police department goes out and does programs in the school district. The fire department hosts third graders at their Safety Village.

Peters said while the lessons and the various stations at Safety Town have remained relatively constant over the years, it is up to the instructors to continue to raise the level of education and fun.

“It is not that we’re changing the lessons a lot, but we work to make things better and go smooth,” Peters said.

Mentor firefighter Robert Zoul said he remembers going to Safety Town when he was a boy and so volunteering to be an instructor now was an easy decision.

“I remember coming here and now it is all about giving back to the community,” Zoul said. “These kids look up to us. It is important to show them how to be safe and teach them the right way to do things.”

Originally Published: June 14, 2025 at 6:00 AM EDT