Do you live in the 10989? The Valley Cottage Fire Department has a spot for you! The mission of the Valley Cottage Engine Company No. 1 is "To provide the highest level of fire protection, fire prevention, rescue and emergency services at an affordable cost to the residents and businesses of Valley Cottage." We need and appreciate your help in achieving this mission. Established in 1914, the Valley Cottage Engine Company No. 1 is a leading provider of emergency services in Rockland County, protecting residents and businesses in Valley Cottage and surrounding towns and cities. We provide comprehensive fire fighting, vehicle extrication and fire prevention education from our firehouse. We are a 100% volunteer non-profit organization. The Valley Cottage Fire Engine Company No. 1’s team of approximately 50 active volunteer firefighters is comprised of your neighbors, your friends and maybe even your relatives. They’re people just like you – with families, jobs and active lifestyles who still find time to give back to their community. Valley Cottage Fire Engine Company No. 1 offers a friendly environment for you to discover your capabilities and make the most of your volunteering investment. The department currently maintains a fleet of two pumpers, one aerial ladder truck, a rescue truck, a patrol vehicle and three command vehicles for the chiefs. Valley Cottage Fire Engine Company No. 1 seeks volunteers to bolster its ranks in a diverse range of services. We offer a long list of benefits and a friendly, fun professional atmosphere. | Requirements: Although no previous experience or training is required, you need more than just a desire to help people. You also need courage and dedication, assertiveness, and a willingness to learn new skills and face new challenges. Our service is one that calls on its members to perform hot, sweaty, dirty, strenuous work, often in uncertain and hazardous environments. Our volunteers need to be team players, respecting each other’s role and contributions. You need to be able to work on-call and to deal with occasional interruptions to your lifestyle, dropping what you’re doing at the ‘tones’ to respond to the emergency needs of your fellow citizen. Company members are expected to participate in a minimum of 50 activities annually. Fire department activities encompass responses to emergency calls, training sessions, drills to maintain the fire apparatus and equipment, meetings and other miscellaneous activities. While emergency calls occur at any time of the day and week, most drills take place on Sunday mornings and Monday evenings. The second Monday of every month is the Company meeting where administrative matters are discussed and handled. We offer a lot of benefits you can expect from us, and in return there are certain objectives we expect you to meet: TO APPLY: You must be at least 16 years of age to apply. A statement of parental or guardian consent must accompany an application from anyone under the age of 18 years old. You must be a US citizen. You must be physically, intellectually and emotionally capable of performing the duties according to your area of assignment. You must reside within or near the Valley Cottage Fire District. You must have no arrests or convictions for arson. UPON ACCEPTANCE: 1) New members must complete a new recruit orientation program before responding to emergency incidents. 2) New recruits must successfully pass, within 90 days of notification of acceptance, an OSHA physical examination with illicit drug testing conducted by our designated physician and paid for by the fire department. 3) New members will be considered on probation for a period of 9 months. Their probationary activities will be reviewed within 30 days of their ninth month of active service and the probationary member will be recommended for continued service or termination at that time. 4) Removal from probationary status requires that the aforementioned requirements be fulfilled along with the probationary requirements of their membership classification. 5) New firefighters must attend regularly scheduled or special drills during the probationary period. 6) New firefighters must complete, within one year of notification of acceptance, the New York State Firefighter 1 basic firefighter training course. This entails either 128 hours of in-person classes over a set schedule (Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations followed by Interior Firefighting Operations), or, a blended learning Firefighter 1 course (26 units of on-site skills training and 22 units of independent online learning) over a set 9 week period. Probationary firefighters will not be allowed to attend any other courses prior to completion of the New York State Firefighter 1 course. Failure to complete the minimum training requirements can result in termination of membership. | Categories: Firefighter

Help protect the public in emergency situations. Respond to a wide variety of calls, such as car crashes, chemical spills, flooding, water rescue and general rescue as well as fires. | Requirements: Live within Rockland county. Must be at least 16 years of age with parental consent. | Categories: Firefighter

Provide transportation for members to and from medical appointments. Volunteers must be CAN members and provide a photocopy of their driver's license and insurance card for a routine DMV check.

Help other CAN members in non-medical situations with tasks such as computer/technology assistance, dog walking, home organization, grocery shopping, social phone calls, friendly visits, and gardening & plant care.

Assist members with health-related situations following an injury, while recuperating from a hospital stay, or when in need of support in other medically related situations. Coordinate with Certified Drivers and CAN Do Volunteers to arrange transportation and other needs.

Oversee and coordinate volunteer activities to ensure the successful expansion of the Pollinator Pathway. Supervisors will manage volunteer schedules and provide guidance during gardening projects.

Assist in expanding the Pollinator Pathway by helping to plant and maintain pollinator gardens. Volunteers will work with a community of gardeners to create supportive environments for pollinators.

Engage with the community to promote the Pollinator Pathway initiative. Volunteers will help organize events and spread awareness about the importance of pollinators.

Participate in the Clarkstown for Climate Shoe Drive by collecting shoes to donate and recycle. Volunteers earn one hour of community service for each pair of shoes donated.

Have a passion for the Appalachian Trail? Become a monitor of the trail boundaries that surround this historic, beloved trail. Volunteers will ensure the trail boundaries are well-maintained and protected.

Get out on the trails and also help with our maps and books by becoming a Publications Field Checker! You can play an important role in the production of our maps and books by helping to review and verify maps, trail descriptions, and information about a park as part of a map or book project.

If you have an interest in helping to manage the production of a map or book, consider becoming a Publications Project Manager! The duties vary depending on the type and scope of each project, but the Project Manager plays a key role in organizing the project and seeing it through to completion.

Do you have an interest in our maps and books and want to help with their production? The Publications Committee is a group of trail-loving volunteers who work hard to produce quality publications, and we could use your help!

The Local Trail Committee Chair (Trail Chair) is an important part of the Trail Conference. Trail Chairs take a big-picture view of a region and work with a Program Coordinator to build a positive future for all the trails and volunteers they oversee.

Join one of our Trail Crews for a day or a full season restoring and building sustainable trails for all! Volunteers will work on various trail projects to ensure trails are safe and accessible.

Trail Supervisors are a key part of the Trail Conference. They oversee a team of Trail Maintainers and ensure the trails in their assigned area are maintained in good condition.

Volunteer Life Coaches at VCS are trained to create a safe, non-judgmental and supportive space for clients to share and work through their concerns. Sessions are held once per week for 50 minutes and are completely confidential.

Volunteer firefighter | Requirements: None. Training will be provided. | Categories: Firefighter, Department Support

Youth for Hospice empowers the younger generation to understand the importance of hospice care and giving back to their community. Volunteers can participate in various activities and events organized by the program.

Volunteers provide companionship to patients, assist in the office, serve in the community, sit vigil with grieving family members, and help in fundraising. Volunteering with United Hospice is a deeply fulfilling experience.