Kids got the chance to learn all about safety from a variety of different community organizations on Friday at a Safety Camp organized by the YMCA-YWCA and the Marshalltown Police Department.

The sunny weather was the perfect backdrop at the Marshalltown Cultural Center, as representatives from different organizations like the Marshalltown Fire Department, UPS, the UnityPoint Health and many others set up shop in the parking lot to give brief safety presentations to groups of kids in grades two through four.

Y Member Services Director Nicki Reynolds and MPD Sgt. Casee Veren organized the camp, and they both felt it was an important step toward educating children in the community.

“I think it is very important information, and it’s fun and they get to be with their friends today. And we could not ask for better weather. So yeah, I think this is important information and they get to have fun while they learn,” Veren said.

The Y and the MPD have been collaborating on this event for over 20 years, and while it was put on hold during the pandemic, Reynolds said they were able to bring it back this year at about three-quarters capacity with 75 kids attending.

The children attending the camp got to tour a UnityPoint ambulance, hold a firehose and even learn about what to do if a building is on fire in the Blank Children’s Hospital Fire Safety House.

The house, which was set up inside of a large trailer, contains a kitchen, a living room and a bedroom, and after the fire hazards were pointed out, it was filled with non-toxic smoke so the children could learn what to do if a house catches fire.

The pillowcase project taught children what to pack in case of a severe weather event. An MPD officer taught bike safety, and in another area, kids were taught about farm safety around animals, silos and farm equipment. Those were just a few of the many interactive educational experiences available at the safety camp that ran until 4:30 p.m., and to top off the event, Veren said Atlas, a K9 unit, would be visiting to perform a demonstration.

“It’s just a day of fun,” Reynolds said.

After a four-year hiatus, the YMCA-YWCA Safety Camp had a strong return, and as summer vacation begins, it served as a reminder for kids about the importance of safety.

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Contact Susanna Meyer at 641-753-6611 or

smeyer@timesrepublican.com