Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) has teamed up with the Jacob Wetterling Foundation (JWF) to offer a new course in Internet and Personal Safety this summer at Kid U/College for Kids and Teens.

Called “Safety Kid U,” the class will teach children about kid-friendly search engines, online chat safety, and steps for basic personal safety. The interactive, hands-on class is intended for children ages 6 to 9.

“We want kids to come away from the class feeling empowered enough that they can assist their parents in keeping their families safe,” says Michele Longe, Programs Manager for JWF. “It’s up to parents to equip our kids with what they need to stay safe, but it’s often more effective when a group effort is involved.”

The new course was developed out of a 2005 grant provided by the Minnesota Community Foundation. The grant tasks JWF with designing and testing a pilot program that, if successful, can be put to use in after-school programs, and eventually worked into Minnesota public school curriculum.

The course will be offered twice this summer during ARCC’s popular Kid U program. The class will meet 1 ½ hours a day for four days; it is scheduled for July 17-July 20 and July 24-July 27 on the Coon Rapids Campus. The cost to enroll is $35.

Now in its 12th year, Kid U/College for Kids and Teens has long been a popular choice for kids and parents in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and East Central Minnesota. The program is offered through Anoka-Ramsey’s Continuing Education and Customized Training Division.

To receive a Kid U/College for Kids and Teens Course Schedule, or for more information, contact LeAnn Snidarich, Program Director, at 763.433.1279 or visit www.anokaramsey.edu/ContinuingEd/kidu.cfm.

The Jacob Wetterling Foundation is a non-profit agency established in 1990 following the abduction of eleven year old Jacob Wetterling from rural Minnesota. JWF’s mission is to protect children from abduction and sexual exploitation through its prevention education and victims assistance programs.