Safety Day (school-based)

We have peer-reviewed curriculum on more than 30 topic areas. Safety Days are customizable with topics selected based on relevance to the community. Topics can include:

• General safety topics: Bicycle safety; chemical safety; disability awareness; electrical safety; fire safety; food safety; hand tool safety; hidden hazards; home alone safety; internet safety; lawn equipment safety; outdoor safety; propane safety; railroad safety; roadway safety; underground utilities safety; water safety; and weather safety.

• General health topics: First aid; first on the scene; healthy lifestyles; hearing safety; mental wellbeing & stress management; power take-off safety; substance abuse; and sun safety.

• Agriculture-specific safety topics: Animal safety; ATV/UTV safety; farm equipment safety; grain safety; power take-off safety; silage safety; and tractor safety.

PAF continuously adds to their library of resources by always exploring new topics and emerging issues impacting rural and agricultural communities.

The length of each station is often based on the ages or grades of the participants. Most stations are between 15 to 20 minutes and include a hands-on activity or demonstration.

At a Safety Day, participants are assigned to groups. During most school-based programs, the groups are assigned by classes. Participants typically stay with their class throughout the program and visit each station along with their classroom teacher(s) and sometimes designated volunteers serving as group leaders.

School-based programs vary in size and typically range between 50 to 500 participants. The coordinator determines the maximum number of participants on their application, which is often based on local volunteer support, budget, facility accommodations, etc. 

Most school-based programs take place during the school day; however, parents may be needed as additional chaperones or volunteers. In some cases, parents may be needed as additional chaperones or volunteers.

Registering for school-based programs typically occur between the coordinator and school teacher(s) or administration. PAF Coordinators will work with the schools to determine the best format to collect information on the participants and determine any special accommodations they should be prepared for (i.e., allergies, permission for photos, accessibility or sensory issues, etc.).

The PAF curriculum offers a variety of age-appropriate lessons, hands-on activities, and demonstrations designed for children ages 4 to 13 years old (elementary/middle school aged student). The program can be adapted to a high school-aged audience or there are opportunities for teens to serve as volunteers.

 Most school-based Safety Days are closed events welcoming a specific school or schools and targeting a certain grade or grades. Typically, grades 3rd, 4th and 5th have been most popular.

During a Safety Days, participants will learn a variety of life-saving lessons on numerous safety and health topics. The goal of each Safety Day is for children to leave with knowledge gained by learning something new, leading to them making safer and healthier choices while at home, on the farm or ranch, or throughout their rural community. 

In addition to gaining and strengthening their knowledge through participation in hands-on stations, participants will receive a complimentary take-home bag containing additional safety and health resources. Our hope is that when children return home from Safety Day, they share the safety and health information with their family and friends.

PAF Coordinators are the backbone of the Safety Day program. PAF Coordinators are responsible for helping plan and implement the Safety Day program in their local community. Each year, we educate and equip hundreds of local volunteers for the role of PAF Coordinators. These trained coordinators then engage with other local community volunteers to plan and implement the program. PAF Coordinators come from a variety of organizations including Extension/4-H; Ag education/FFA; Soil Water Conservation Districts; local farm bureaus or ag societies; health care and emergency service agencies; ag-related businesses; and more.

If you are interested in learning more about the role of a coordinator or want to learn more about what a Safety Day could look like in your local community, please email safetyday@progressiveag.org.

Some programs may request a participant fee to help offset the cost of meals/snack, facility rental, transportation, supplies or equipment rental, etc. In many cases the support of the Foundation’s national partners and local program sponsors help with the many expenses, keep this fee minimal.

PAF only requires a minimal annual program fee, which is paid for by the PAF Coordinator prior to receiving training. The program fee covers:

• Annual online, self-paced training for all lead and up to one assistant PAF Coordinator.

• Planning materials and peer-reviewed curriculum covering 30+ topics, with hundreds of hands-on activities and "how-to" videos.

• Risk management coverage, including professional, liability, and excess medical insurance.

• Drawstring take-home bags for all participants.

• Year-round support and access to materials through a password-protected Coordinator Portal. 

We never want funding to be a reason not to partner with us. Therefore, if funding is a concern, please reach out to us at safetyday@progressiveag.org

On our public website, go to the Programs tab at the top and click on the Local Safety Days section to see if Safety Day program is happening near you from the map. If you would like more information about a particular Safety Day listed, e-mail us and we can help connect you with the local coordinator.

If you find there is not a Safety Day taking place near you, visit the Get Involved section and complete an Interest Form. A member of the PAF team will follow up with you and provide more information on how to become a coordinator.

Safety Day programs can always benefit from an individual’s time, talent, or treasure.

Time - The gift of time is one of the most valuable resources a person can give. Volunteers are greatly needed for a variety of roles before, during, and after a program. In addition to coordinators, volunteer roles include stations presenters, group leaders, and other on-site logistics (i.e., registration support, meal prep, take-home bag stuffer, photographers, set-up/tear-down, etc.). If interested, you can reach out directly to the local coordinator, or we can make the introduction by completing the Volunteer Form under the Get Involved section.

Talent – Individuals with unique skills or professional expertise in a specific area of safety or health can utilize their talents as a station presenter. Individuals may also be needed to build or assemble safety-related props. Individuals with experience organizing or hosting events may be an asset to the planning committee. If interested, you can reach out directly to the local coordinator, or we can make the introduction by completing the Volunteer Form under the Get Involved section.

Treasure – Individuals can support the local Progressive Agriculture Foundation programs through both generous monetary and in-kind donations (i.e., meals or snacks, items for hands-on activities or props for demonstrations, resources for take-home bags, etc.). Donations are also welcome year-round to support the program’s growth throughout North America and can be made “in honor of” or “in memory of” someone special. Click here to initiate a donation. Those interested in becoming a partner or donor of the Progressive Agriculture Foundation and its programs, should e-mail partnerships@progressiveag.org.