Cub Scout Visit to a North Richland Hills Fire Station
Kyle is a Tiger Cub, which is the first Den that you join when becoming a Cub Scout. One of the requirements that has to be completed by each scout to receive the Tiger Cub badge is to visit a fire station. The Cub Scouts is very much a family oriented organization, and as such, they encourage siblings and parents of the Cub Scout to go along on most things, this being one such adventure! Thus, the four of us visited a North Richland Hills Fire Station last night, along with the rest of Kyle’s Tiger Den.
We were warmly welcomed at the door, and were taken into their “living room” for a demonstration of putting on the gear. They also gave a presentation, including things like changing out the batteries in your smoke detectors twice per year, each time you change the time on your clock. They talked with the kids about not being scared if a firefighter should enter their home during a fire, and mentioned that in all of that smoke, firefighters are not good at playing hide and seek. They talked about how to stop, drop, and roll, and what to do if you hear a smoke detector go off. We were encouraged to come up with and practice an evacuation plan, which happens to be another badge requirement. They suggested that you have a predetermined outdoor meeting place in case of a fire, such as your mailbox. They were great with the kids, and the kids really listened and enjoyed this part of the presentation.
Kyle and I enjoying the presentation
Megan enjoying the presentation
Demonstrating the firesuit…dark room + camera flash + reflective strips = glow in the dark suit!
Giving Kyle 5!
After the presentation in the living room, they showed us their bedrooms, which were individual bedrooms, instead of the old bunk rooms! Afterwards, we went out to learn about the firetruck and take lots of pictures. One of the firefighters told the kids that if a fire truck is driving down the road with it’s lights on, and a car will not move out of it’s way, they have a special button they can push. If they push this button, the front bumper opens up and a robot comes out, and turns off the car so that it has to stop. Another firefighter told us that the one telling the story was not much older than our 6 – 7 year olds, so we would have to excuse him. We were also told that the story teller was particularly excited when he was told the age of our group. He said that at this age, kids believe anything. He was right, Kyle told me all about the robot and is having a hard time with the fact that it is not true!
Kyle climbing into the fire truck!
Kyle driving the fire truck. While he was behind the wheel, one of the firefighters asked Kyle if he had his drivers license yet. When Kyle told him no, he acted surprised and said he thought for sure Kyle was at least 18 years old, and that he was about to let Kyle take the fire truck for a spin around the block!! Kyle loved that.
Kyle standing in front of the side of the truck!
Megan doing the same
The Tiger Cub den and their siblings standing beside the Fire Truck!
The whole Tiger Cub Den in front of the Fire Truck!
At the end, they gave each kid a firefighter hat, a coloring book, an activity book, and a fire chief badge sticker! These were well liked by all of the kids.
Overall, this was an awesome trip! If you have never taken your kids to tour a fire station, you should definitely do so! They learn a lot, and it helps prompt you to do some planning and preparing that you might not think of otherwise. You also get tips on doing this sprinkled throughout the presentations. The firefighters were great to the kids and the kids all really seemed to love the experience.