Meet Ollie Otter!
Bring Ollie to Your School or Event!
Ollie Otter’s Booster Seat and Seat Belt Safety Program has reached over a million children across Tennessee with his fun, interactive message about traffic safety. Whether virtual, or in-person, every presentation teaches children why it’s important to buckle up, ride in a booster seat, and be a safe passenger — while meeting Tennessee’s new K–5th grade safety standards.
Why Ollie Presentations Matter
Children form safety habits at an early age — and Ollie makes learning fun! By combining real-world traffic safety lessons with interactive activities, children not only understand the importance of seat belts and booster seats but also encourage the adults in their lives to make safer choices on the road.
Choose Your Presentation Style
Every school and organization is unique, so we offer flexible presentation options to meet your needs. Each option comes with a free Ollie School Kit packed with resources to make your event unforgettable.
The Ollie Movie
Best for: Any group size, especially classrooms or schools looking for an easy, ready-to-use option.
- A brand-new, 15-minute interactive movie that combines live action and animation to deliver Ollie’s safety message.
- Meets all K–5th grade Tennessee Safety Standards when paired with pre-made lesson plans
- Perfect length for classrooms, leaving time afterward for a lesson plan activity (provided).
- School Kit mailed to you with a measuring poster, coloring pages, and parent resources.
- All you need is a TV or projector to cast!
In-Person Presentation
Best for: Large groups and special school events.
- A live presentation with Ollie Otter and one of our coordinators.
- High-energy, pep rally-style format that works best for large audiences.
- We recommend you invite local heroes like School Resource Officers (SROs), police officers, or safety professionals to participate, making the experience even more impactful.
- School Kit included for your classrooms.
Ollie Suit Shipping
(Limited Availability)
Best for: Community events, schools with their own presenters, or unique programs.
- Upon request and if available, our team can ship you the Ollie suit to use at your event.
- Great for pep rallies, community fairs, or pairing with the Ollie Movie (Ollie can come out at the end for high-fives and measuring activity!).
- Comes with supporting materials like posters, coloring pages, and parent resources.
- Extremely limited availability — first come, first served!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I schedule a presentation?
Our program makes traffic safety fun and educational! We tailor presentations to fit the needs of K-5th graders, ensuring they grasp important concepts through engaging activities. To set up a session, just fill out our online form and we’ll get back to you promptly!
What age groups do you serve?
Curious about what age groups we work with? Our program is specifically designed for children in grades K-5, perfect for that age group to learn essential safety habits!
Is the program really free?
Our traffic safety education program is funded by the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, allowing us to bring this valuable resource to your school at no cost.
How long does a presentation last?
Each presentation typically lasts about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the presentation style you want. This keeps kids engaged without overwhelming them, making learning both fun and impactful!
What do we need to host the Ollie Movie presentation?
Hosting the Ollie Movie presentation is easy! All you need is a screen with sound to play the video, such as a projector, smart board, TV, laptop, or classroom monitor.
The movie link is compatible with all devices and can be shown in whatever format works best for your school or organization. Some groups choose to present it as a large assembly in a gym or cafeteria, while others present it classroom by classroom.
Once your presentation is confirmed, our team will send the movie link ahead of time so you’ll have plenty of time to test the movie and review lesson plans before your event.
I'd like to present to a smaller group of children. Can we still have Ollie visit?
We’re always happy to explore options! Due to travel expenses and scheduling demands across Tennessee, we typically recommend the virtual Ollie Movie as the best first step, but in-person visits may still be possible in your area.
Schools and organizations that partner with nearby groups, local law enforcement, or larger community events are often great candidates for a tour stop. If you know of another school or group in your area that might be interested, we’d love to hear about it!
Reach out to our team and we’ll be happy to talk through what may be possible.
Who plays Ollie at events?
Our Ollie mascots are typically college interns from Tennessee Tech University, but due to varying school schedules, a local volunteer often steps in, and it works great! If an Ollie volunteer is needed, it’s usually someone from your school or community.
Some of our most common volunteers include teachers or school staff, parents or guardians, older students, school resource officers, and community partners or event volunteers.
No mascot experience necessary, just someone enthusiastic and ready to have fun! Ollie’s role is all about high-fives, waving, taking photos, and engaging with students, so a big personality is truly all it takes. Our team will let you know if we need a volunteer and provide simple instructions beforehand to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Are there lesson plans I can pair with our Ollie Visit?
Yes! Grade-specific lesson plans are available for K–5 classrooms, with each activity designed to deepen students’ understanding of Ollie’s key safety messages while meeting Tennessee’s new traffic safety standards. These ready-to-use resources include interactive activities, discussions, and worksheets and can be completed before or after an Ollie visit or virtual movie presentation.
Lesson plans can be found here and are also linked through TNRoadSafetyStandards.org.
We also have downloadable coloring sheets! When finished, mail or email your art to Ollie to be featured in our art gallery!
Mailing Address:
Ollie Otter Seat Belt & Booster Seat Safety Program
iCube, Tennessee Tech P.O. Box 5103
Cookeville, TN 38505
How can I make my Ollie Visit more impactful?
One of the best ways to elevate your Ollie visit is by inviting local safety professionals to participate! School Resource Officers (SROs), police officers, firefighters, and other community safety heroes can make the experience even more memorable and meaningful for students. Their presence reinforces Ollie’s safety messages and gives children the opportunity to connect with trusted figures in their community.
Not sure where to start? We’re happy to help with ideas or point you in the right direction when it comes to reaching out to local agencies. Don’t hesitate to contact our team — we’d love to help make your Ollie visit the best it can be!
Can I advertise an upcoming Ollie visit?
Absolutely! We encourage you to spread the word. Downloadable flyers and social media graphics are available here. Feel free to share them with your school, organization, or community ahead of the visit!
When posting on social media, please tag Ollie Otter so we can see and share your excitement:
- Facebook: facebook.com/ollieottertn
- Instagram: instagram.com/ollieottertn
If you need specialized or customized graphics for your event, please reach out to our team in advance and we’ll do our best to help!
Can I request an Ollie suit for my event?
Yes, suit shipping is a wonderful option for schools and organizations that may be located further from our team or for weekend events! Due to very limited availability, suits are provided on a first-come, first-served basis and are not guaranteed. You can submit a suit request at ollieotter.org/ollie-suit and our team will follow up to let you know if one is available for your event dates.
If a suit is shipped to you, we kindly ask that it be returned as soon as possible following your event, and no later than 5 days after, so that Ollie can continue to be shared with communities across Tennessee.
Do you provide car seats or booster seats at presentations?
While we are unable to provide car seats or booster seats directly, we are happy to help connect you with local resources that may be able to assist! Many schools have expanded their Ollie visit into a full community safety day by partnering with a nearby fitting station or local organization to host a car seat check or distribute resources during car line.
If you’re interested in incorporating additional safety resources into your Ollie visit, reach out to our team and we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction!
Where can I get my car seat or booster seat checked?
A fitting station is a location staffed by certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technicians who can inspect your car seat or booster seat to ensure it is the right fit for your child and installed correctly. Getting your seat checked is free and can provide valuable peace of mind for parents and caregivers.
To find a certified fitting station near you, visit the Tennessee Traffic Safety fitting station map at tntrafficsafety.org/cps-fitting-stations.
What are Tennessee's child passenger safety laws?
Tennessee has specific laws regarding the proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts for children. Because laws and requirements can be updated, we recommend visiting the Tennessee Traffic Safety website for the most current and official information.
For a full overview of Tennessee’s child passenger safety laws, visit tntrafficsafety.org/cps.
From the Big Screen to YOUR Classroom
Lesson Plans for K–5th Grade Students
Keep the safety conversation going after the movie with grade-specific lesson plans for K–5. Each activity is designed to deepen students’ understanding of Ollie’s key safety messages while meeting Tennessee’s new traffic safety standards. Linked through TNRoadSafetyStandards.org, these ready-to-use resources provide teachers with interactive activities, discussions, and worksheets.
Tip:
Lesson plans may require planning.
We recommend reviewing and preparing ahead of time to make the most of the activities with your class.
Kindergarten Lesson Plan
Standard: K.S.8— Identify common street/traffic signs and have students practice what they are instructing within the classroom.
Explore the full lesson plan with activities and guided questions!
First Grade Lesson Plan
Standard: 1.S.8—Discuss the importance of wearing your seatbelt including making sure you use all parts of the belt, don’t share a seatbelt, wear it every time you are in the car and always sit in the back seat.
Explore the full lesson plan with activities and guided questions!
Second Grade Lesson Plan
Standard: 2.S.8—Discuss the importance of being a good passenger by ensuring everyone is buckled and keeping distractions to a minimum.
Explore the full lesson plan with activities and guided questions!
Third Grade Lesson Plan
Standard: 3.S.8—Discuss appropriate safety restraint use as a passenger and ways to communicate best practice to others (public transportation, rideshare and personal vehicle).
Explore the full lesson plan with activities and guided questions!
Fourth Grade Lesson Plan
Standard: 4.S.8—Discuss the importance of riding with others ensuring you know what an “experienced” driver is and the importance of not riding with anyone who has been drinking or using drugs.
Explore the full lesson plan with activities and guided questions!
Fifth Grade Lesson Plan
Standard: 5.S.8—Identify best practices of occupant safety (not being a distraction in the vehicle, normalizing booster seats and seat belts, and driver awareness in work zones, school crossing, etc.).
Explore the full lesson plan with activities and guided questions!
Downloadables
Planning a presentation or just wanna help boost the Ollie message?
Download pre-made flyers, social media graphics, and promotional materials to get your students excited and keep parents informed.










