Kimper Vol. Fire Dept. Explorers Program

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Kimper Vol. Fire Dept. Explorers Program
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• Fire Service Exploring is a worksite-based
  program for young men and women who have
  completed the eighth grade and are 14 years of
  age, but have not yet reached their 21st
  birthday.
• Fire Service Explorer posts help youth gain
  insight into a variety of programs that offer
  hands-on career activities. For young men and
  women who are interested in careers in the field
  of fire service, Exploring offers experiential
  learning with lots of fun-filled, hands-on
  activities that promote the growth and
  development of adolescent youth.

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Program Ideas for Fire Services Exploring
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• 1. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Programs that develop
  potential contacts that may broaden employment
  options. Activities that boost a youth's
  self-confidence and help him or her experience
  success at school and work.
• SUGGESTED TOPICS Review the variety of careers
  in fire fighting inspection, safety,
  engineering, public information, aviation,
  military, municipal, rural, equipment sales and
  service, teaching, volunteer departments,
  industrial, forestry, and related careers.
  Determine the education, training, requirements,
  and benefits of each.

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• 2. LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE Programs that help
  youth develop leadership skills to fulfill their
  responsibilities in society. Activities that
  provide exposure to different leadership traits.
• SUGGESTED TOPICS Physical and wellness programs,
  team building exercises, personal skills
  development which could include writing, budget
  development, people management, negotiation,
  coaching, and presentation skills. Developing
  skills in effective presentations to effect
  performance and ethical behavior. Skill
  development in creating improvements and
  proposals. Character and citizenship awareness
  through leadership by example.

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• 3. LIFE SKILLS Programs that help youth develop
  physical and mental fitness. Activities that
  provide opportunities for youth to experience
  positive social interaction.
• SUGGESTED TOPICS Plan programs on safety, first
  aid, rescue techniques, personal health care,
  nutrition, and lifesaving. Plan fitness, sports,
  and exercise activities. Study the physical
  requirements and fitness necessary for fire
  fighting. Participate in fire fighting
  competitive events where appropriate.

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• 4. CITIZENSHIP Programs that encourage youth to
  develop the skill and desire to help others.
  Activities that provide opportunities for youth
  to gain a keen respect for the basic rights of
  others.
• SUGGESTED TOPICS Assist local departments with
  equipment maintenance, safety checks, fire
  prevention programs, and community service
  projects. Plan fire safety programs and offer
  inspections for schools, churches, homes, and
  community organizations. Assist with fire
  prevention efforts for nursing homes, centers for
  disabled people, youth institutions, and homes
  for disadvantaged or elderly people. Support
  public information programs of local departments.
  Restore and maintain antique fire equipment for
  parades, fairs, or shows.

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• 5. CHARACTER EDUCATION Programs that help youth
  develop skills necessary for making ethical
  choices. Activities which provide opportunities
  for fulfilling one's responsibility to society as
  a whole.
• SUGGESTED TOPICS Plan parents' night programs,
  open houses, and family activities. Develop
  activities for youth groups, churches, schools,
  institutions, and other organizations. Assist
  people displaced by fire. Help with the cleanup
  of fire damage to charitable organizations or
  needy families. Conduct tours of fire departments
  for youth groups and school classes.

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Program Benefits
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Program Benefits Local, area, regional, and
national conferences, competitions, and academies
such as the National Fire/Emergency Services
Conference, all with support from the U.S. Fire
Administration, National Volunteer Fire Council,
International Association of Fire Chiefs, and
F.E.M.A. Literature designed to develop program
potential. Training for adults and youth
leadership including workshopsCharacter
Development Program enhancementsYouth Protection
GuidelinesYearly review of national safety
policiesScholarshipsAwards and recognition for
leadership
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Insurance
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Insurance Learning for Life provides liability
insurance for the participating organization and
adults.
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Career Achievement Awards
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• Learning for Life programs involve active
  learning and include lots of fun-filled, hands-on
  activities. Learning for Life promotes the
  conditions necessary for the growth and
  development of adolescents. The following are the
  key components of the Learning for Life Career
  Achievement Award programs, which allow young
  people to acquire and be recognized for career
  proficiency achievement and community service.
• Purpose
• The purpose of the Learning for Life Career
  Achievement Award program is to
• Provide direction to Explorers and student
  participants in individual career proficiency.
• Motivate Explorers and student participants to
  discover and take on career opportunities.
• Recognize Explorers and student participants for
  significant community service.
• Give Explorers and student participants
  distinguished credentials for their résumés.
• Requirements
• Explorers or Learning for Life participants can
  earn a Career Achievement Award in one or all of
  the 12 career clusters. To earn a Career
  Achievement Award, the candidate must provide 50
  hours of community service and complete any nine
  career achievements. The Explorer post Advisor or
  adult high school Learning for Life group leader
  certifies that each Explorer or Learning for Life
  participant has satisfactorily performed 50 hours
  of community service and verifies that each
  candidate has completed at least nine
  achievements within the career cluster.

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• Recognition
• The Learning for Life Career Achievement Award
  Certificate (No. 32194) has space for both the
  signatures of both the adult leader and
  organization head. Certificates are available
  through the local Learning for Life office as
  well as through the Supply Division (toll-free
  phone, 800-323-0732). Adult leaders may purchase
  a quantity of the certificates and present them
  as merited.
• Qualifying Achievements
• Qualifying achievements are provided for the
  following career clusters
• Arts and Humanities
• Aviation
• Business
• Communications
• Engineering
• Fire and Emergency Services
• Health
• Law Enforcement
• Law and Government
• Science
• Skilled Trades
• Social Services
• Because of the flexible nature of the program,
  Advisors and adult leaders are permitted a
  reasonable degree of latitude in substituting
  appropriate achievements that serve to meet the
  requirements for the Learning for Life Career
  Achievement Award.

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Safety Issues
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There are some issues and hazards specific to
Fire and Emergency Services Explorer programs
that must be considered when organizing a post.
These issues are fairly unique compared with
other types of Explorer posts, being a direct
result of the post's affiliation with the
department and the potential for hazards. Before
engaging in any training activity or direct
operational activities with the department,
Exploring and/or department officials should
investigate the legalities of Explorers
participating in such activities. Most states
have child labor laws that define what minors
under the age of 18 may and may not participate
in. Even though the individual may not be an
actual member or employee of the department,
these regulations may still apply. The following
is a general list of guidelines that should be
used for the formation of a post Explorer safety
policy. As with any program, extremes of
temperature, humidity, and other atmospheric
conditions should be considered during any
activity. One issue that requires particular
attention is what the Fire and Emergency Services
Explorer will be allowed to do at the emergency
scene. Many departments allow Explorers to
respond on the apparatus with trained personnel.
A solid policy must be established as to what the
Explorer may and may not do once he or she
arrives on the scene.
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• All policies must fit with departmental
  regulations, Learning for Life regulations, and
  state laws. All of these issues should be
  resolved in the post bylaws before Fire and
  Emergency Services Explorer activities begin. If
  you have any questions about the safety of an
  activity not listed, contact your local Learning
  for Life office.
• Explorers may not be substituted for trained
  personnel.
• Explorers must be equipped with personal
  protective equipment that is appropriate for the
  activity being done.
• Explorers may be mobilized only as a post, with
  required leadership. Explorers are not on call as
  individuals.
• Explorers who ride on apparatus or other
  department vehicles must be seated and must wear
  a seat belt.
• Explorers may not drive department vehicles.
• Explorers may not climb aerial ladders.
• Explorers may not climb ground ladders that
  exceed 35 feet in length, or not supported
  against a structure.
• Explorers may not enter or perform ventilation
  procedures on a burning structure.
• Explorers may not use any tools or gloves on
  energized electrical equipment.
• Explorers may not operate cutting torches
• Explorers may not operate hydraulic rescue tools
  or equipment.
• Explorers may not handle life nets.
• Exceptions Using an official training facility,
  the use of aerial ladders with the appropriate
  safety equipment, and entering a controlled burn
  building is approved

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Insurance Information
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Insurance Information Listed below are brief
outlines of insurance coverage's provided by or
through the local Learning for Life (LFL)
office Comprehensive General Liability
Insurance This coverage provides protection for
the LFL office, all LFL professionals and
employees, Explorer posts or LFL groups,
participating organizations, and volunteer adult
participants with respect to claims arising in
the performance of their duties in LFL. The
general liability insurance provided LFL
volunteers is excess over any other insurance the
volunteer might have to his or her benefit,
usually a homeowners, personal liability, or auto
liability policy. There is no coverage for those
who commit intentional or criminal acts. By
providing insurance coverage to volunteers on an
excess basis, we are able to purchase higher
limits. Because of the high limits, volunteers
should NOT be placed in a position where their
assets are jeopardized because of a negligence
liability claim or lawsuit arising out of an
official LFL activity
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Automobile Liability Insurance All vehicles MUST
be covered by a liability insurance policy. The
amount of this coverage must meet or exceed the
insurance requirement of the state in which the
vehicle is licensed. (It is recommended, however,
that coverage limits are at least
50,000/100,000/50,000.) Any vehicle carrying
10 or more passengers is required to have limits
of 100,000/500,000/100,000 or 500,000 single
limit. In the case of rented vehicles the
requirement of coverage limits can be met by
combining the limits of personal coverage carried
by the driver with coverage carried by the owner
of the rented vehicle. All vehicles used in
travel outside the United States must carry a
liability insurance policy that complies with or
exceeds the requirements of that country. The LFL
office's automobile liability insurance is excess
of the insurance the owner of the auto carries,
providing insurance protection above the limits
carried on the auto up to the LFL 15 million
limit of coverage. A LFL Local Outing Permit,
found in the Safety First Learning for Life
Guidelines, is required when posts or groups
travel overnight or outside their LFL area. A
National LFL Outing Permit is required for all
trips more than 500 miles. These permits should
list the drivers' names and limits of automobile
liability insurance carried. Travel to and from a
regularly scheduled meeting is not considered
part of an official LFL activity and is not
covered by the general liability insurance
policy. However, transportation that is planned
in advance as part of the activity is covered.
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Accident and Sickness Insurance Explorer posts
are encouraged to purchase an accident or
accident and sickness policy if such a policy has
not already been purchased by the local LFL
office. There is an approved unit accident
insurance plan offered by Mutual of Omaha. To
enroll, contact Mutual of Omaha at 402-351-8725
or 1-800-524-2324. Be sure to tell them that you
are a LFL Explorer post. PLEASE REPORT ALL
SERIOUS INCIDENTS, ACCIDENTS, AND/OR SICKNESS, OR
IF A SUMMONS IS SERVED ON A VOLUNTEER, TO THE LFL
OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
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• Guidelines for Automobile Transportation
• Here are guidelines from the Safety First
  Learning for Life Guidelines for automobile
  transportation
• Seat belts are required for all occupants.
• All drivers must have a valid driver's license
  that has not been suspended or revoked for any
  reason. If the vehicle to be used is designed to
  carry more than 15 people, including the driver
  (more than 10 people including the driver in
  California), the driver must have a commercial
  driver's license.
• An adult leader (at least 21 years of age) must
  be in charge and accompany the group.
• The driver must be currently licensed and at
  least 18 years of age. For an Explorer event
  under the leadership of an adult (at least 21
  years of age) tour leader, a youth member at
  least 16 years of age may be a driver, subject to
  the following conditions
• Six months' driving experience as a licensed
  driver (time on a learner's permit or equivalent
  is not to be counted)
• No record of accidents or moving violations
• Parental permission granted to the leader,
  driver, and riders
• Passenger cars and station wagons may be used for
  transporting passengers, but passengers should
  not ride on the rear deck of station wagons.

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Continued. 6. Trucks may not be used for
transporting passengers except in the cab. 7.
All driving except short trips should be done in
the daylight. 8. All vehicles must be covered
by automobile liability insurance with limits
that meet or exceed requirements of the state in
which the vehicle is licensed. It is recommended
that coverage limits be at least
50,000/100,000/50,000. Any vehicle designed to
carry 10 or more passengers is required to have
limits of 100,000/500,000/100,000. 9. Do not
exceed the speed limit. 10. Do not travel in
convoy. 11. Driving time is limited to a
maximum of 10 hours and must be interrupted by
frequent rest, food, and recreation stops. If
there is only one driver, the driving time should
be reduced, and stops should be made more
frequently.
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IAFCF Scholarships
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International Association of Fire Chiefs
Foundation Explorer Scholarships

• The Foundation coordinates a yearly scholarship
  program, made possible by generous contributions
  from corporations and companies throughout the
  country. The Volunteer Firemens Insurance
  Services has provided the funding for two 500
  scholarships for the fire service Explorers.
• The scholarships objective is to assist
  Explorers in pursuing a career in the fire
  sciences or any related academic program.
• Qualifications
• Any fire service Explorer who is an active member
  of a state, county, provincial, municipal,
  community, industrial, or federal fire department
  and who has demonstrated proficiency as such a
  member is eligible to apply. Other criteria are
  as follows
• The applicant must be a graduating high school
  senior in May or June of the year in which
  application is made.
• The school selected by the applicant must be an
  accredited public or proprietary institution.
• The applicant must furnish his/her academic
  record (Transcript when possible).
• Recommendations must be received from each of the
  following(no relatives) post Advisor, high
  school representative-principal or academic
  adviser), and community representative.
• The applicant must write a 250-word essay about
  why he/she feels qualified to receive the
  scholarship.
• The Applicant must submit a black and white
  glossy photo (such as a passport photo) for
  publicity purposes in the event of selection.
• All completed applications must be approved by
  the local Learning for Life representative and
  submitted by July 1 to Learning for Life.

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Now you may ask your Questions

• A Brotherhood for Life.