Dozens of kids from all over the local area descended upon the grounds of Becker Public Schools to participate in the annual Safety Camp event last April 20.

 

 Xcel Energy gave the first demonstration of the day’s events which focused on  electric safety. Two Becker Police Officers also were involved in the session and they talked to the students and showed the groups of kids the squad cars.

 

Construction workers from Angell Construction gave a demonstration on tool safety  while Police Chief Brent Baloun chatted about police work, bullying, curfew and had each child fingerprinted as an exercise to show them the process and what it looks like.

 

Becker Fire Fighters gave fire safety demonstrations and talked about fire safety. In one area, they lit a pan of liquid on fire and showed children how to put out fires with the different types of fire extinguishers they brought along. 

 

They also set up a wooden “house” on the grass and gave each child a chance to shoot water from the fire hose at the house to knock through windows and doors.

 

Volunteer Dugan Bjorlin had the kids play the Wheel of Safety Game and asked questions on safety while the different color groups competed for points, just like the TV show,  Wheel of Fortune game.

 

Dr. Paul Spinner gave a first aid demonstration and to close out the day, members of the North Memorial Air Care Helicopter came from Princeton and the children were able to get up close and personal with the helicopter and the pilot and medical personnel.  North Memorial staff answered the kids’ questions and talked on medical emergency response.

 

Gifts were handed out to the children when they arrived and those included a  first aid kit and flashlight along with other miscellaneous gifts.  

 

At the end of the Safety Camp, each child was presented a certificate of completion and the day started with a cookie breaks and early afternoon they enjoyed pizza and games.

 

The day included many volunteers who sacrificed time out of their day to chaperone the kids and participate in sessions. The volunteer included the Becker Fire Fighters, Becker Police Officers, Becker Police Reserves, Becker city council members, Becker community members and National Honor Society students.

 

The Safety Camp Committee consists of Becker Baptist Church Pastor Rob Olsen, Becker Community Education member Michelle Peacock, City Council Member Tracy Bertram, Becker Fire Dept. Firefighter Ron Kortz, Becker Police  Chief Brent Baloun, Red Balloon Daycare worker Karen Van Dyke  and Becker Police Administrative Secretary June Hubbard.