"UDig NY, Inc., the nonprofit organization facilitating excavation safety through the 811 contact center and educational services in Upstate New York, is celebrating 811 Day tomorrow (August 11) with the official launch of a new microsite to teach children in grades P-5 about the importance of safe digging practices. Available at Kids.UDigNY.org, the microsite features an interactive game to teach a lesson about safe digging while helping Sparky the Dog find buried treasure. The site also includes interactive coloring pages and other activities for children.
"This website will provide a fun and engaging way for the youngest members of our community to learn about safe digging as well as careers in excavation," said UDig NY Executive Director Kevin Hopper. "One part of UDig NY's commitment to its communities is to provide quality education. After years of working to protect our underground infrastructure, and as a parent myself, I hope that parents and teachers will take advantage of this resource by visiting Kids.UDigNY.org."
Kids.UDigNY.org was made possible thanks to a generous grant from Berkshire Bank, and will be refreshed with new, exciting content regularly.
In addition to the launch of the Kids Zone microsite and Sparky’s Treasure Hunt game, UDig NY is celebrating 811 Day at a variety of community events across Upstate New York. For a full list of events in your area, click here.
The Kids Zone microsite is part of UDig NY’s larger educational initiatives, which include the Certified Excavator in Safe Digging Best Practices (CEP) certification course for professional excavators, Spring Into Safety excavator breakfasts, and the Damage Prevention Conference & Expo. UDig NY’s 2022 Damage Prevention Conference & Expo will take place September 13-14 in Whitney Point, New York, and will feature live demonstrations, professional networking opportunities, industry-expert guest speakers, and more than 30 educational sessions with opportunities for attendees to earn CEP renewal and other Continuing Education (CEU) credits. Registration for this free conference can be accessed at UDigNY.org/Conference..."