Safety Scavenger Hunt Will Take Johnston Families on Summer-Long Adventure

Are you ready for an adventurous summer?

Well, you don't have to go far from home with J.D.'s Great Summer Adventure beginning May 22.

The new program, sponsored by the , and , aims to get kids out exploring Johnston with their parents and learning about safety this summer.

J.D., the Dragon mascot for JCSD, has taken off throughout the community for a great summer adventure, while teaching families proper summer safety.

"It's geared toward kids and family, like a project for the family to do," said officer Rich Kirkeby. "We'd like to see all families get tighter and go out and do things as a family unit."

Families are tasked with finding J.D. in order to earn entries for an end of the summer drawing.

Each Tuesday, a photo of J.D. will be posted on his blog and Facebook page about where he's been, while sharing important safety lessons.

Safety topics include water safety, bike safety, playground safety, fire safety and home safety among others. 

Every team that correctly identifies J.D.'s location will result in one ticket being added to the drawing.

However, families can snap a photo in the same location that J.D. has been will receive five team entries into the prize drawing.

Answers and photos can be sent to jdinjohnton@gmail.com or hand delivered to the Johnston Public Library.

J.D. may also tweet hints and other information about his whereabouts in the community.

"It's going to be a great community adventure for everyone," Kirkeby said. "We have support from local businesses like , , , and ."

Prizes include a night stay in the bunk bed suite at Stoney Creek Inn, movie passes to Wynnsong Theaters, and gift cards.

At the end of the eight weeks, J.D. will be at "Jazz in July" at 5 p.m. on July 22 at the Johnston Public Library. At that time the drawing for prizes will be held, but teams do not have to be present to win.

The program came about during a community crime prevention meeting last year.

"Nancy Buryanek (director of Johnston Community Education) had seen a scavenger hunt like this in other cities," Kirkeby said. "We kind of ran with it. We thought it would be something good for the families in Johnston."