INDEPENDENCE, Wis. – June 20, 2025 – Forty-nine youth from the Independence School District, spanning 3rd to 6th grades, gained vital knowledge and practical skills at a comprehensive Safety Day Camp held on June 19, 2025. This impactful event, hosted by UW-Extension Trempealeau County’s 4-H Program, marks a significant return for a program with a long history in Trempealeau County, previously held until 2013, dedicated to youth safety.
Attendees participated in interactive sessions covering a variety of essential safety areas. The curriculum included vital lessons on:
- Lawn Mower Safety: Emphasizing safe operation and handling of lawn equipment.
- Basic First Aid: Equipping participants with fundamental emergency response techniques.
- ATV/UTV Safety: Providing guidelines for the responsible and safe use of all-terrain and utility terrain vehicles.
- Boater Safety: Educating youth on safe practices while on and around the water.
- Weather Safety: Teaching awareness and preparedness for various weather conditions.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the Safety Day Camp back to Trempealeau County,” said Andrea Rippley Schlais, UW-Extension Trempealeau County’s 4-H Program Educator. “This program has a rich history of empowering our youth with life-saving skills, and seeing so many young faces eager to learn makes us confident that we’re building a safer community for the future. I was a participant as a youth and have appreciated this program’s approach to encouraging youth to make safe choices and create a safe environment. I look forward to bringing this program back and encouraging the county’s youth to be safe.”
The success of the Safety Day Camp was a true testament to a community effort. UW-Extension Trempealeau County’s 4-H Program extends its sincere thanks to the Trempealeau County Health Department. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Trempealeau County Emergency Management, and the Trempealeau County BADGES Program for their contributions. Special appreciation also goes to Tractor Central Arcadia for the use of a lawnmower and Gator, which provided valuable hands-on learning experiences for the participants. Our dedicated volunteers were truly invaluable; without their tireless help and commitment, we would not have been able to host this essential event for the youth of Trempealeau County.
The Safety Day Camp, based on the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program, aims to promote safety awareness from a young age and reduce preventable injuries and deaths among children, continuing its long-standing mission in the county.
About UW-Extension Trempealeau County’s 4-H Program:
The Trempealeau County 4-H program, part of the UW-Extension, aims to empower young people by developing leadership, citizenship, and life skills through hands-on community and club activities. The program emphasizes positive youth development and environmental awareness, engaging nearly 250 participants across 11 clubs. Members showcase their projects at the County Fair in collaboration with the Trempealeau County Agricultural Society. Beyond club activities, the program guides new families through enrollment and project selection, and the 4-H Leaders’ Association fundraises to support county-wide events and provide financial assistance. Important updates and deadlines are shared via the monthly “CLOVER disPATCH” newsletter, and Trempealeau County 4-H also offers diverse county-level programs open to both members and non-members, including Foods Revue, Awards ceremonies, Festival of the Arts, and Clover College. More information can be found on their website: UW-Extension Trempealeau County 4-H Youth Development.
Contact:
Andrea Rippley Schlais
4-H Program Educator
UW-Extension Trempealeau County
715-538-3451
