Naperville Safety Town Programs

Naperville Safety Town Programs include activities such as stories, games, songs, guest speakers, videos, practice 911 calls, fire evacuation drills, designing home fire escape plans, practicing pedestrian safety, and riding Safety Town vehicles on the streets of Safety Town. The programs also offer interactive personal safety and self-defense workshops that cover basic physical self-defense skills and techniques, Simple Effective Strikes, How to Escape Common Grabs, planning for unwanted interactions, and learning the components of an effective personal safety plan through fun games and role-playing exercises. Additional offerings include CPR/AED and First Aid certification programs, Safe Sitter® classes with games and role-playing exercises, Family Safety Workshop discussions, and a Railroad Safety with The Polar Express event where children listen to the holiday story, learn about railroad safety, drink chocolate milk with cookies, and get a Golden Ticket punched at different stations that focus on holiday fun.

• Ages: 4–15 years old
• Schedule: Week-long summer sessions running from June 2, 2025, through July 25, 2025, with morning and afternoon options Monday–Friday, plus Family Safety Workshops at 9am and Women’s Safety Workshops at 11am on the first Saturday of each month
• Price: Program fee is $200 per child; the cost for each child is $25

The Naperville Safety Town Summer Program is a week-long program for children entering kindergarten or first grade, and the curriculum is repeated each session. The program begins with personal safety day and then includes home safety, vehicle safety, fire safety, and safety in the environment, with topics such as Personal Safety, 911 Calling Practice, Electric Safety, Weather Safety, Poison Safety, Bicycle and Helmet Safety, Pedestrian Safety, Railroad Safety, Bus Safety, Fire Safety, Water Safety, and Animal Safety. The summer program serves over 1,500 students each year.

Family Safety Workshop attendees participate in discussions and are introduced to basic physical self-defense skills and techniques, with specific topics that may include Stranger Danger, Early Warning Signs, Consent, Identifying a Safety Network, Simple Effective Strikes, and How to Escape Common Grabs. The purpose of the Family Safety training is to empower attendees through self-defense training, and adults leave Family Safety Workshops with the ability to talk about big topics with the children in their lives. The Personal Safety and Self Defense Workshop for Women (ages 14+) includes training in three key areas: Mindset, Skill set, and Planning.

Safe Sitter® is designed to prepare students ages 11–15 to be safe when they are home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting, and the instructor-led class uses fun games and role-playing exercises. The Railroad Safety with The Polar Express event is described as a community favorite, and children ages 4–10 who are independently potty trained are invited to attend this drop-off event. Space is limited for the Polar Express event, and registration closes November 30 or when spaces are filled.

The nationwide Safety Town program was brought to Naperville in 1978. The Naperville Fire Department’s CPR/AED and First Aid certification programs teach residents and healthcare providers how to effectively deliver First Aid and CPR and how to correctly use an AED in accordance with current American Heart Association guidelines. The Naperville Police and Fire Departments, Naperville Electric, Animal Control, Goldfish Swim School, and other community groups help teach safety awareness and prevention, and Safety Town partners with the Naperville Police Department, Naperville Fire Department, City of Naperville departments, and other organizations to offer programs for youth.

The leadership team for Naperville Safety Town Programs includes Diane Whyte (President), Lisa Kasar (Vice President and Treasurer), Brittany Rhyne (Secretary), Marie Sacco (Facilities), and Angie Pines (Community Associate).

Last updated January 12, 2026.