Scouting It Out: Success at the Red Cross Scout Fair
Witten by Amber Carter, AmeriCorps Member placed at Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Members of AmeriCorps Cape Cod were excited and full of energy on the morning of January 9th, 2016, as we prepared for the 9th annual American Red Cross Scout Fair, which took place at The Parish of Christ the King Church in Mashpee. Scout Fair is an event at which troops of boy and girl scouts ages 6 to 12 learn skills such as basic first aid, how to call 911, and how to be prepared in the event of a natural disaster. Pairs of ACC members were assigned different topics to present to the scouts at stations around the room; the kids spent about 10 minutes at each station before rotating to the next activity.
Once the scouts arrived and the fair began, ACC members dove right into presenting their topics. Member Jake Garringer (Safety Jake) and I presented on the three C’s method to dealing with an emergency. These include Checking to make sure the scene is safe, Calling 911, and Caring for any victims by using first aid. Additionally, Jake and I instructed the scouts on how to put together a disaster preparedness kit, which can be taken with you if you must leave your home in the event of an emergency. The kits typically include items such as a flashlight, a handheld radio, water, a whistle, and a blanket. We also brought additional items that aren’t needed in a preparedness kit, including a spatula and a stapler, and tested the scouts by asking them which items don’t belong. The scouts were excited and eager to learn and Jake and I had fun working with them!
Overall, Scout Fair was a huge success! Jeff Rossi, the ACC member placed at the Red Cross, organized the event and kept it running smoothly throughout the morning. Although we were acting as teachers for the day, ACC members learned a lot about disasters, emergencies, how to be prepared, and how to react in those situations; it was a great learning experience for everyone involved. We had fun in our role as educators and we were proud to be a part of such an important event. AmeriCorps Cape Cod Year 17 has six months left to serve on Cape Cod and we can’t wait to see what’s next!