Field trips remind me of the Richard Scarry book, What Do People Do All Day. I could spend hours poring over Scarry’s spreads showing how logs become paper and wheat becomes bread. The book is like “how things work” meets the high school guidance counselor, providing a behind-the-scenes peek at different careers. Our monthly field trips allow us to find out what people do all day in a hands-on way.
Last week Finley and I visited our local firehouse. First, he tried on the firefighter’s helmet, pants and boots. Then he jumped into the fire truck; they even let him drive it. He got to spray the hose, twice. That was by far his favorite part.
Aside from all the “let’s pretend” fun, we did learn some important things during our visit. One of the firemen put on all his gear, including his “Darth Vader” oxygen mask, all of which weighs almost 50 pounds and looks pretty frightening. We talked about how if the children ever have a fire in their house, and they see firefighters in all their gear, they shouldn’t hide. Even though the firefighters may look scary, they are there to help. The scary-looking — and sounding — masks allow the firefighters to breath, while their hoods and suits keep them from getting burned.
The firehouse clearly made an impact. Finley now wants to be an “astronaut firefighter.” Hopefully he’ll never have to fight a fire on his spaceship.
Kirsten W. Larson 
But if Finley had to he could put out an inner-rocket blast! Fun, fun, fun! Our local bookstore is in an old Firehouse and I wish the bldg still had some of the old details like a pole! Our house lies between the newer firehouse and the hospital so we hear plenty of sirens too. Thanks for a great slideshow too!
The people around the corner have an antique fire truck in their yard. It’s lots of fun (fortunately, we don’t hear the sirens.)
Wonderful! My son would love that, though he’s gone on to scientists now (this week anyway).
I love little ones’ imaginations and how quickly outside influences change what they focus on.
HAHA! I love the photos and last paragraph! Great post!
And Cooper wants to be an “astronaut dentist” and also a scuba diver after he saw them at the aquarium.
HA HA HA! *Rolls on floor and pounds fists* *snort* 😉 A scuba diving astronaught dentist and an astronaught firefighter – what else does NASA need?!?
Astronaut farmer? I mean, if you are going to Mars, you need just about everything!
Great field trip and story – love the astronaut firefighter 🙂 My son was all about firefighters and fire engines, and for his 3rd birthday my husband got the local fire chief to drive one of the fire engines from the fire house up the hill to our house. I will never, ever forget the look on Jon’s face when that fire engine pulled in our driveway – absolute sheer shining radiant joy! What is it about little boys and fire engines? 🙂
It is amazing how much fun any big truck can be. When we went to the dump, the boys loved the garbage trucks!
These pictures are so precious! I love the baggy pants and suspenders on him. Best of luck to him in becoming the world’s first astronaut firefighter!
It’s quite a job description. I can’t imagine what training must be like!