Frequently Asked Questions
 

Are meetings every 3^rd Wednesday of the month?

May I stay with my child during a meeting or event?

May I simply drop my child off for a meeting?

Can a Junior "hang around" the fire station?

What if the station receives a fire call during a Juniors meeting?

What is your cell phone policy?

Is a Junior forced to participate in all training?

How will my child benefit from the Hampstead Juniors program?

Is my child expected to participate in company-sponsored events and fund-raisers?

What is expected from a parent or guardian?

What is your disciplinary policy?

How much does it cost?

Will  my child be safe?

Is meeting attendance mandatory?

Are school grades important?

Are meetings every 3^rd Wednesday of the month?

The normal meeting night for the Junior Fire Company is the 3^rd Wednesday of each month at 7 PM at the fire station.  The meetings and activities generally end around 9 PM.  However, this may sometimes change due to the activity, work schedules, prior commitments, and availability of the senior advisors.  Sometimes a meeting may run longer that 9 PM in the summer time.  If a meeting needs to be changed or cancelled, notice will sent by a Junior officer via e-mail and/or telephone.
Also, sometimes special training activities, company events, special Juniors events, or rescheduled meetings will occur on other days and at other times.  Advance notice will be given.

May I stay with my child during a meeting or event?

Although all parents, guardians, and friends are always welcome during a Juniors meeting or event, it is not required that parents or guardians be present during a meeting or event.  Note that sometimes parents volunteer to help at events like the annual carnival or Hampstead Day.

May I simply drop my child off for a meeting?

You may simply drop your child off at the station for a scheduled meeting event.  The Junior will call you with advance notice when it is time to pick him/her up.

Can a Junior "hang around" the fire station?

For safety considerations, Juniors are NOT allowed on the fire station grounds without the presence of a senior advisor.  Also, there will always be at least one senior advisor present at scheduled Juniors events.
 

What if the station receives a fire call during a Juniors meeting?

A senior advisor or senior company member of the fire company will remain with the Juniors.  If it appears that the emergency response will require a prolonged time at the scene, the Juniors will be asked to call for someone to come get them.

What is your cell phone policy?

Cell phones are welcome before and after the meeting or activity.  However, for the safety of the phone as well as the Junior participants, before the start of all meetings and activities, the Juniors' cell phones are collected and safely stored.  The cell phones are returned at the end of the activity.

Is a Junior forced to participate in all training?

All Juniors are encouraged to participate in all training.  However, no one is ever forced to participate in any activities.  If a Junior is not comfortable with the activity or simply does not want to do that activity, he or she is welcome to partially complete the training, observe the others, or may call his parents to leave.  Some activities, such as navigating a confined space maze in total darkness, are scary to some children as well as some adults.  If a Junior attempts the activity but finds he is unable to do it for whatever reason, that is fine.  Juniors will be given as much assistance as needed by the senior advisors or comapny members to either complete the activity or simply back out of the activity or situation.  Physical safety and emotional and mental well-being are always paramount.  If desired by the Junior, a senior advisor will personally aide and tutor and train the Junior to overcome the challenge and complete the activity.

How will my child benefit from the Hampstead Juniors program?

The Hampstead Juniors program is primarily focused on emergency services training and activities.  These activities include firefighting skills, rescue skills, and emergency medicine skills.  All of the training stresses teamwork - a team working together is much more powerful than the sum of its members.  As the Junior progresses through the program, the child will develop more self-confidence in his or her own abilities and courage and learn to rely on others when extra strength is needed.  In addition to the personal self-confidence, the Juniors develop pride in knowing that what they are doing is benefitting the community and the fire company.

Is my child expected to participate in company-sponsored events and fund-raisers?

Juniors are strongly encouraged to participate in company-sponsored events and fund-raisers.  As many Juniors as possible are asked to help in the Juniors stands during the annual carnival simply because the carnival runs for 6 consecutive nights and is grueling if only a few Juniors help.  Working at non-junior events helps to teach teamwork and builds a sense camaraderie and pride in yourself and the fire company.

What is expected from a parent or guardian?

Parents are simply expected to bring their child to the Juniors meetings and events and to pick their child  up at the conclusion.  Sometimes we need addition vehicles for transporting the Juniors to events like parades.  Any help parents can give when needed in a pinch to drive some Juniors to events is greatly appreciated.  However, it is not expected that parents will normally be required for transport.
 

What is your disciplinary policy?

Rarely have disciplinary problems been observed in the Juniors.  Most of the Juniors want to be in the organization and are good members.  Sometimes, kids will be kids and they step over the line.  The vast majority of the time, after quickly being told by a senior advisor that they went too far, the Junior sees the error of his ways and the situation is remedied.
New Junior members are on probation for 6 months.  If, in the opinion of the senior advisors and Juniors officers, that member is being disruptive to the other Juniors, after a meeting with the offending Junior's parents, the Junior's membership in the company may revoked or the probationary people extended. It is a similar policy for a Junior member who is past the probationary period.  If the Junior is being disruptive to the organization or the organization's integrity, the Junior can be placed back on probation.

How much does it cost?

The yearly membership dues are $2 for the Juniors.  Other than the membership dues, the fire company provides all necessary equipment for the activities.  Although Juniors must buy their own snacks or soda from the machines, when a training activity will possibly cause dehydration, drinks will be provided by the fire company and the senior advisors will strongly encourage the Juniors to stay hydrated.  At the Juniors' sponsored breakfasts, Junior eat and drink free of charge.  At company sponsored events at which the Juniors help, Juniors eat and drink either free of charge or at a reduced cost.  (It depends on the event and circumstances.)

Will my child be safe?

There is always at last one senior advisor present and other fire department personnel around for all Juniors activities.  The Juniors are always closely supervised. All activities are performed with safety as the first priority.  The Juniors and senior advisors always wear personal protective safety equipment when training.  In spite of all of the precautions and supervision, unavoidable accidents may occur.

Is meeting attendance mandatory?

Family and personal commitments make it highly improbable that a Junior will be present at every meeting and event.  On the one hand, attendance and participation is strongly encouraged.  On the other hand, there is no penalty for not attending any meeting or activity.  Community service hours are logged for each Junior and every meeting and event they attend.

Are school grades important?

Report cards are checked quarterly.  The Junior must maintain at least a C average in school.  The inability to maintain a least a C average results in suspension of the Junior membership until the grade point average again reaches C or better.