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A Successful Year for Safety Town
<br />Safety Town had its closing ceremony Friday, July 26, and police organizers are already talking about what a huge success
<br />this year’s camp was. A total of 144 pre-kindergarten campers attended Safety Town this year, which is the highest
<br />attendance the camp has seen in a single year.
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<br />The success of this year’s camp would not have been possible without
<br />donations that were received for new equipment, such as the enormous
<br />mat used to represent the Safety Town sidewalks and streets. In previous
<br />years, due to limited attendance, the camp operated only once a day, and
<br />in 2011, the camp had to be canceled due to limited resources. Police
<br />organizers received help from 24 local teens this year, who volunteered
<br />more than 80 hours of their time to participate as camp counselors.
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<br />Over the course of the two-week camp, children learned more than 20
<br />different safety topics ranging from pedestrian and traffic safety, to home
<br />and earthquake safety. Children met police officers, learned about the
<br />police uniform and the different vehicles police use while on patrol.
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<br />For more information, please call Sgt. Lisa Barrong at 541-682-8248.
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<br />Surprising Benefit of Recreation: It's Good for Your Brain!
<br />During Recreation Month In July, Recreation Services shared several surprising research-based benefits of recreation. It
<br />may surprise some to learn that the division’s motto: “building bodies and brains while having fun playing games,” is more
<br />than a cute slogan; it has science behind it.
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<br />Studies show that when youth participate in recreation programs, they develop
<br />skills and have experiences that contribute to future decision-making. This process
<br />of ‘experiential learning’ helps adolescents learn to make good decisions and
<br />participate in activities that will help them transition more successfully to
<br />adulthood.
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<br />Research also suggests that regular physical activity and vigorous play among youth
<br />can actually boost brain activity and contribute to academic achievement. In his
<br />book, “Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain,” John Rately
<br />(2008) suggests that exercise and physical activity helps brain cells grow, change,
<br />and work together, promoting memory retention and learning.
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<br />Still more research suggests that exercise by adults increases the production of brain growth factors that stimulate the
<br />creation and survival of brain cells, and promote the development of connections among cells in response to new
<br />information. Both processes are linked to increases in gray matter volume, a measure of brain health.
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<br />This study’s findings add to evidence that regular exercise increases adults’ ability to deal with stress and improves
<br />cognitive functioning. That’s why everyone loves recreation! For more information, contact Kathy Madison at 541-682-
<br />6342.
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<br />Brilliant and Resilient: Celebrating the Power of Disabled Women Activists
<br />On Aug. 5, Mayor Kitty Piercy will welcome the 7 Annual Women’s Institute on
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<br />Leadership and Disability (WILD) to Eugene. Mobility International USA, a local non-profit,
<br />conducts the annual leadership academy in which 22 women from around the world will
<br />participate. Delegations from the countries of Bangladesh, Barbados, Burkina Faso,
<br />Cambodia, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Mali,
<br />Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Zambia
<br />will be represented.
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<br />Former graduates of WILD will be honored in two subsequent events this month. The
<br />Brilliant & Resilient Photography Book will be launched Aug. 15, and features powerful
<br />portraits and personal stories of 50 disabled women activists from 41 countries. An exhibit featuring portraits and stories
<br />from the book will also be hosted at the Lane County Historical Society. The exhibit will run from Aug. 17-Sept. 17. These
<br />stories and photographs highlight the achievements of a remarkable group of women with disabilities who have used
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<br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3
<br />August 1, 2013
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