Youth Safety Day returns to Fairbanks

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Youth Safety Day returned to Fairbanks for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019.

For 2022, the event was held at the Tanana Valley State Fairgrounds as the increase in activities and partner organizations forced the need for more space. Originally, the event started out with only a few community organizations within small areas at Pioneer Park, Goldstream Regal Cinemas, and some local elementary schools.

Youth Safety Day is well known for the Bike Safety Rodeo. The event also offered safety information for youth and their parents regarding school activities, camping, boating and other topics. Brenna Schaake, a volunteer for Youth Safety Day explained that for 2022 there were “over 20 non-profit partners that [were] here - everyone from the Boy Scouts to ThrivAlaska, to RCPC.” All of those partner provided information and services for those in attendance.

While the event was just a few hours long, Schaake said the organizers expected over 1000 residents to attend. This anticipated high attendance comes as a result of giving away “over 10,000 bike helmets” over the years according to Schaake.

Looking forward to 2023 Schaake said, “We are hoping to expand and get bigger because this is such a wonderful community event and safety is the number one priority for all of these organizations, especially for our youth - and even teaching the adults something is always a great bonus, right? So, we hope to expand it, get bigger, bring in new partners, and really do as much as we can at one location for one day.”

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