Trip to the Firehouse

Today the kids and I joined a homeschool group based in Johnson Creek for a trip to the JC firehouse. I guess the librarian there is very homeschool-friendly and plans all kinds of activites and trips for homeschoolers in the area. We were thrilled to find out about this group...especially the visit to the firehouse!

Last week, our library had a visit from the firemen during story time and we did get to see the trucks...right as they sped off on a call. But this week, the kids were invited to explore every single inch of the firehouse. We started off all in a room (about 25 or so kids with parents) and watched a little video on fire safety. Then the fire chief proceeded to drone on for a lenghty period of time, speaking mainly to the adults and older children about specific things that could have been covered in a nice handout. To their credit, the vast majority of the children politely sat there and listened. Two toddlers got fussy (mine was one of them) but overall the kids did well. THEN we got to go EXPLORING!!

The fire chief told the kids they couldn't possibly hurt anything, so feel free to look over the whole place, open any door you want on the trucks, climb into anything, and have fun! We went outside first and the kids got into a truck and looked all around it. Then we went back into the garage and looked over another truck and a rescue vehicle. We got to see all of the gear hung up and waiting for the firemen as well. I reminded the boys about a Curious George story where he mixes up the firemen's gear and what happened. They had a ball opening every door they could and seeing all of the different things that firemen use.

They also had the child safety house set up and the boys went inside to get a little lecture on what to do in case of a fire in the home. Each session ends with "smoke" entering the little trailer and the kids crawling to safety. My boys were a little chicken, so they exited right before the smoke.

I think the most valuable thing we learned, though, is that there is a great homeschool group nearby. I have so wanted to find SOMEWHERE for us to plug in, and the only thing in town right now is a playgroup that meets on Wednesdays. Not a good day for us, because Anna needs her nap that day if she's going to make it through church that night. But this group is run by a librarian who loves homeschoolers and plans many activities just for them. I'm so excited to find such a fun group! There are two families from our church that attend, so the kids knew a few people when they arrived.

I have posted a couple more pictures on Facebook of our trip, along with our visit to see the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile when it came to town last Friday. And I will GLADLY send your children a weinie whistle if you so desire :)