Ellington

For two weeks during the summer, Signal Mountain Middle/High School becomes Safety Town, a training ground for rising kindergartners eager to navigate the hallways of local elementary schools for the first time.

The one-week camp is offered by the Mountain Education Foundation in two sessions, Monday through Friday, June 18-22 and July 9-13 from 9 a.m. to noon.

“It gets rising kindergartners prepared for school by learning some fun skills,” said Mike Taylor, MEF executive director. “It’s been a very popular one with the kids and the parents, too.”

Stephanie Schefano is returning to lead the camp, and will be joined by Heath Gunther, school resource officer at SMMHS.

Taylor said participants will learn how to bike safely to school, how to board the school bus, about street dangers and crosswalk safety — all the information they need to get to school in sound condition.

“Two of my children have done [Safety Town] and it was great knowing when I put them on the bus the first time they’d know what to do,” he said.

Campers will tour Thrasher and Nolan elementary schools to learn their way around both campuses, and will also have the opportunity to meet some of the schools’ teachers and staff, said Taylor.

The cost of Safety Town is $100 per week.