Do you like to spend time outdoors and have a desire to help others? Have you ever thought about joining a search and rescue team?

Those interested in learning more about search and rescue are encouraged to attend an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6 at the Clay Town Highway Garage, 4483 NYS Rte. 31, Clay.

Members of the Oswego County Pioneer and the Onondaga County Wilderness search and rescue (SAR) teams will be on hand to answer questions and discuss what is involved in being part of a search and rescue team. The next training academy for the two units will be in late winter and spring of 2024.

The training program is held every two years and is required for local search and rescue members. Classes will be held Wednesday evenings and some weekends between February and June in Oswego and Onondaga counties.

“The academy curriculum is a thorough introduction to search and rescue techniques and meets the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYSDEC) minimum requirements for search and rescue training,” said Aaron Albrecht, team coordinator of the Oswego County Pioneer SAR Team.

“The Oswego and Onondaga County teams frequently train together and support each other in mutual aid searches for lost persons in Central New York and across New York State,” said Jason Baleno, team coordinator of the Onondaga County Wilderness SAR Team. “We encourage anyone interested in learning more about our teams to attend our Dec. 6 meeting at the Town of Clay Highway Garage.”

The Oswego and Onondaga County teams are the primary search and rescue units called upon to look for missing or lost persons in their respective counties. They work closely with local law enforcement, NYSDEC Forest Rangers, NYS Police and the NYS Federation of Search and Rescue Teams.

The training academy is open to all interested persons age 18 and older, regardless of where they live. Students should be in good health and capable of passing a moderate physical fitness test. Students are expected to attend all classes, complete all assignments and pass all written and practical testing.

The SAR academy covers map and compass skills, global positioning systems (GPS), grid searches, man-tracking, wilderness survival, radio communications, search techniques, cold weather emergencies, crime scene preservation, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and a variety of other topics.

More information can be found on either of the teams’ websites or Facebook pages. Find the Oswego County Pioneer Search and Rescue Team online at https://www.oswegocountysar.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/OCPSAR and the Onondaga County Wilderness Search and Rescue Team at https://wsar.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/WSARTeam/.

INGNITING INTEREST IN RESCUE TRAINING – Volunteers practiced their winter survival skills at Chateaugay State Forest in Oswego County last winter. People who are interested in joining the Oswego or Onondaga County search and rescue teams are invited to an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Clay Town Highway Garage. (Photo by Oswego County Pioneer Search and Rescue Team.)