Safety Town 2024: Barrington Junior Women’s Club empowers children with crucial safety education
The Barrington Junior Women's Club (BJWC) proudly announces the successful completion of its 2024 Safety Town program, an essential community initiative dedicated to educating young children about critical safety practices.
This year, the program welcomed 195 children who graduated with a newfound understanding of safety measures, thanks to the dedication of 43 middle and high school volunteers and the support of the Barrington community.
Since its inception in 1997, Safety Town has been more than just a summer program; it’s a vital part of Barrington's commitment to keeping its youngest residents safe. The lessons learned at Safety Town stay with the children for a lifetime, helping them make safer choices in their daily lives. Over the years, the program has grown, thanks to community support and the dedication of BJWC members.
This year, under the leadership of Safety Town Director Megan Zarling, Assistant Director Samantha Karambelas, and Co-chairs Kimberly Swarbrick and Megan Gehrisch, the program reached new heights, reinforcing its vital role in our community.
“Safety Town is not just about teaching rules — it’s about empowering children with the knowledge and confidence to make safe decisions,” said Megan Zarling, Safety Town director. “Seeing the enthusiasm of the children as they navigate through the program is incredibly rewarding. We’re grateful to the Barrington community for their unwavering support, which makes this all possible.”
Safety Town has been a cornerstone of summer education in Barrington, providing Kindergarten aged children with the tools they need to navigate various safety challenges. The weeklong program, held at the Orchard Evangelical Free Church of Barrington, offered a dynamic curriculum that combined indoor classroom activities with hands-on experiences in a miniature town. Here, children practiced pedestrian safety, learned to follow traffic signals while riding trikes, and engaged with community safety experts.
Comprehensive curriculum and community support
The 2024 Safety Town curriculum covered a wide range of vital safety topics, including fire safety, stranger danger, poison control, good touch/bad touch, pet and toy safety, water safety, food safety, train safety and sports safety. These topics were expertly presented by dedicated community professionals, providing the children with a well-rounded education in safety practices.
BJWC extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the speakers and contributors who made Safety Town 2024 a success. Special thanks to Officer Eve and Firefighter Simi, along with all the other Barrington police officers and firefighters, for their invaluable lessons on stranger safety, fire safety and the role of trusted adults. We also thank Chris and Stephanie from the Barrington Area Library, Ms. Barb from the Barrington Park District, Todd Zehrer from The Den, Tony Mills from Metra, Kathy and friends from Soul Harbour, Emily Snyder from BASA, and Deanna and Victor from Childhood Victories for their dedication to teaching our campers essential safety skills.
For information about the Barrington Junior Women’s Club and the Safety Town program, visit BJWC.org.
The Barrington Junior Women’s Club is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women, children, and families in the Barrington area. Through fundraising events, volunteer efforts, and educational programs like Safety Town, BJWC strives to make a positive impact on the community.