November '24 (7 hours total/this month)

Seasons greetings! The holiday season is finally upon us. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Oh my! This month, as the weather grows colder and our studies ramp up to come to an end, it is one of the BEST times of the year to share joy and kindness with others. 

This month, I was able to kick off my service by volunteering at the hot air balloon festival. The festival has hot air balloon rides, festival foods and activities for children and HUGE decorative hot air balloons. This was the most unique volunteer experience for me because it's something I've never really heard of or seen before. It was also nice to be apart of that experience for children who also hadn't seen a hot air balloon before. 

I was able to help a team of hot air ballon pilots unpack, assemble, pilot, and disassemble their balloons. It was a long and cold night, but I learned so much about hot air balloons that I never would have thought. Did you know that you have to fill the balloon with cold hair before applying the heat? Did you know that you can't "steer" a hot air balloon, and that you literally have to land wherever the wind takes you? This festival was so amazing because it introduced me to a niche community with very specific quirks, I loved it!!!!

The most awarding aspect of volunteering here was helping all the children face their fears of getting close to the fire in the balloons and helping them go up into the tethered rides. Even helping them to press the lamp light so the balloon could glow. So my dark and cold night turned into a fiery balloon filled sky. 

Please enjoy the photos of our balloon, Rocky, and all of his balloon friends!!!