OSWEGO COUNTY – 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 invited to attend an informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at the Brewerton Fire Department, 9625 Brewerton Rd.
Members of the Oswego County Pioneer and the Onondaga County Wilderness search and rescue (SAR) teams will present an informational program and answer questions about what is involved in being part of a search and rescue team.
The teams are recruiting volunteers for their 2026 training academy. 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, executive 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,” added Dylan Hauprich, team coordinator of the Onondaga County Wilderness SAR Team. “We encourage anyone interested in learning more about our teams to attend our Dec. 3 meeting at the Brewerton Fire Station.”
The Oswego and Onondaga County teams are the primary search and rescue units called upon to look for missing and lost persons in their respective counties. The two teams conducted 48 searches last year, primarily in Oswego and Onondaga 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 people aged 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.
Applications and more information can be found on either of the teams’ websites and 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/.
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