Do I have to be available all the time?
No. We understand that members have personal and professional commitments that they may not always be able to step away for training or callouts. While the assumption is that you are joining the organization because you feel it is important and are willing to make it a priority in your life, the expectation is that you live your normal life with just a few modifications:
Be Prepared: You prepare a “go” bag containing your gear, and you let your employer and family know that you may be called away suddenly. Have a plan for child/pet care in case of callouts.
Make availability known: When you are out of town, or unavailable for a known period, let YKSAR know, and we will mark you as “not available” in case of a search. This saves our volunteers time in not trying to reach unavailable volunteers.
Train: You make an effort to develop your skills and keep them fresh by participating in the monthly training drills whenever possible.
Are there any non-field roles that I could be involved in?
Yes, YKSAR has non-searcher roles in that would never require you to be in the field, but still be an important part of the team.
Do I have to complete training before I can participate?
No. You can join YKSAR and begin participating in monthly training, social events, the Board, meetings etc. without being a trained searcher. You cannot participate in live searches without the appropriate training.
Do I have to take all the training right away?
No. While YKSAR would love it if you were fully trained shortly after joining, we recognize that people have busy lives. Training, even the Basic Searcher, can be taken in stages. Many people can’t devote 2 consecutive weekends and will break it into 2 chunks. The Part A (classroom portion) MUST be taken first, giving you the theoretical knowledge to participate in Part B (field portion). But you can take Part A at one session and Part B at a subsequent training.
Does it cost anything to be a member?
Yes, the cost for the Basic Searcher Course is $50 which includes the annual membership fee for that year.
Annual membership renewal fees are $25.
What gear do I need?
There is some basic gear each searcher will require for the field portion of the Basic Searcher course and for training and callouts. Some of the gear can be borrowed temporarily from YKSAR, but some of it will require an investment on your part. Check out the Gear Lists page for more information.
Where do I find out about available training?
The Training tab of the website is the best place to see all the training that YKSAR offers and contains links to sign-up sheets as courses are scheduled each season. Information is also e-mailed to all members, and reminders are sent out.
I’m not receiving communications on the monthly call-out drills. What should I do?
Update your contact information and availability under the Members tab of the website. Password to this section is available at completion of Basic Searcher training, or from a Director.
Is there an age requirement to join?
Yes, you have to be at least 18 years of age to join.
Do I need to have outdoor or rescue experience to join?
No prior experience is required. New members that are interested in becoming searchers, will undergo Basic Searcher training to give them the basic skillset required.