September 30, 2025— Last week, second graders from Rocky Mount Elementary School experienced more than a field trip; they stepped into a scaled-down city designed to save lives. While the day's spotlight was a ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiling a miniature Braves baseball stadium, the true star of the event was the Cobb County Safety Village itself: a place where safety education becomes authentic, memorable, and even fun.

Since opening in 2009, the Cobb County Safety Village has been a cornerstone in community safety education. One of its full-time firefighter instructors even describes it as “the Disney World of Cobb County." The Village is a fully interactive environment designed to teach essential safety habits to second—and fourth-graders across the county. The facility includes life-size buildings, a fire safety house, streets with real traffic signals and crosswalks, and mock storefronts, all scaled down to kid-size but packed with big messages.

For the team of full-time firefighters, sheriff's deputies, and police officers who staff the Village, the work is personal. Most have served in the field, responding to emergencies they're now trying to prevent. 

“This is the best job in the world,” said Michelle Fernanders, a firefighter and educator at the Village, “We’ve all run the calls. Now, we get to be on the other side — preventing those calls from ever happening.”

With support from rotating on-duty firefighters, the Village runs daily field trips throughout the school year, reaching public, private, and homeschool students. It transitions to camps, senior programs, and community events in the summer, keeping safety messages alive throughout the year.

From Crawling Under Smoke to Climbing Out Windows

The hands-on approach is intentional, making the experience impactful and memorable for young minds. Instructors don’t just tell kids how to respond in an emergency; they show them what to do. 

At Sparky’s House, an interactive fire safety exhibit, students learn how to identify potential hazards that can cause house fires. “We have hazards set up, such as a hat on a lamp, having things in front of a fireplace, and a blanket on a space heater,” explained Fernanders.

Students also crawl low under simulated smoke. With the help of firefighters, they climb out of a second-story window and down a ladder. They also “meet their family” at their designated meeting point outside, reinforcing fire drill routines that can be replicated at home. “It’s the muscle memory,” said Fernanders. We tell them, then they do it. And then they remember.”

Marly Kowalcyk, a second-grade teacher at Rocky Mount Elementary, has visited the Safety Village four times. "We've been told a lot of the kids will go home and say, 'Mom, we need this,' or we need to check the smoke alarms. It's clear that this sticks with them," said Kowalcyk. 

The Safety Village is already saving lives. One second-grade girl who had practiced calling 911 during her Village visit used those exact skills when her own mother became unconscious. According to Fernanders, that call saved her mom’s life. Another fourth-grade student used the Heimlich maneuver on a choking classmate. 

“It really shows the impact and that what you’re doing is amazing work,” said Fernanders.

A New Ballpark, A New Opportunity 

The latest addition to the Village is a scaled-down replica of a Braves stadium — the result of a partnership with the Atlanta Braves. While it added excitement and a few photo ops with Blooper, the Braves mascot, the mini-ballpark isn’t just for show. 

“We've always talked to kids about healthy habits, staying active, and helmet safety,” said Fernanders, “Now we have a fun space to reinforce those messages while they run the bases.” 

Students were thrilled. Many showed up in Braves jerseys, and one lucky Rocky Mount second grader, William, even threw the ceremonial first pitch to Blooper himself. "It was amazing," declared William. Even though he's just seven, he knows how important it is to learn about safety. "Just in case there's a fire, you can go where you need to be and tell your parents what they need to do." 

The stadium was just the icing on an already unforgettable day for most kids.

Whether climbing out of a mock window or walking through a tiny town with real safety lessons at every turn, the Cobb County Safety Village gives kids more than just a field trip. It gives them confidence, knowledge, and the power to act in an emergency.

It’s a place where safety isn’t just taught; it's a way of life. It’s experienced. And thanks to dedicated staff, community partners, and enthusiastic students, those lessons are sure to stick.