Pre-Conference Classes (May 17th-21st)

For a printable schedule of the pre-conference classes, click here

Post-Conference Class (May 23rd)

Preconference registration DOES NOT include registration for the main conference (May 21st-23rd). Registration for the main conference must be done separately. Click Here to register for the main conference.

Information regarding camping and motels is online at our Lodging Page

Meals are not available on-site for Preconference Classes, however there's a great selection of nearby restaurants.

Currently available Preconference Classes are listed below. To register for a class, you must click on the link below each class title:

The last class listed is the Post Conference class.

Basic Tracking (return to top of page)
For class description and registration information Click Here or contact Annie@jhardin-inc.com

Date: Wednesday, May 19th – Friday, May 21st

 Fee: $185.00
Course Content: This will be a 24 hour course beginning Wednesday, May 19th at 8:00 a.m. with registration and lecture including power point presentation to provide Novice and Basic tracker understanding of training methodology, techniques and procedures. The presentation supports field training by providing student understanding of training methods, manner and objectives. "Tracking" is a first response primary search resource used to verify witness statements, establish the "PLS", direction of subject travel and following the physical evidence to the missing person. Field training will allow "student tracking team" experimentation and "hands-on" practice of fundamental tracking techniques. Novice students will progress from initial identifying a print, to "step-by-step" every track concept of following an identified sign line and practical tracking team response.

ICS 300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents (return to top of page)
To register for this class, contact C.Long@emd.wa.gov

Date: Monday, May 17th-Wednesday May, 19th (1200)

Fee: No Cost

Instructors: Rick Hood

Class Size:

Class Description: This course provides training on and resources for personnel who require advanced application of the Incident Command System (ICS). The target audience for this course is for individuals who may assume a supervisory role in expanding incidents or Type 3 incidents. These incidents may extend into multiple operational periods. This course expands upon information covered in the ICS-100 and ICS-200 courses. This course will include but not be limited to: unified command, incident/event assessment and objective development, the ICS planning process, incident/event resource management, transfer of command and demobilization.
Note: Pre-requisite: ICS-200

NASAR SARTECH II Evaluator Workshop (return to top of page)
To register for this class, contact sarguy@gmail.com. Registration Deadline: April 15 (Registration includes a NASAR staff component)

Date: Tuesday, May 18th -Friday May 21st

Fee: $85 for new candidates. No charge for those who have already taken a SARTECH II Evaluator Workshop and bring their materials.

Instructor: Rob Brewer

Class Size: Limited to 10

Class Description: Persons who successfully complete the SAR TECH II certification or SAR TECH I/CREWLEADER certification have met the first requirement in becoming a NASAR SARTECH Evaluator. NASAR SARTECH Evaluators are (non paid) contract employees of NASAR who donate their time and skill in evaluating the practical stations of the SARTECH II and/or SARTECH I/CREWLEADER certification examinations.
Note: The requirements for NASAR SARTECH Evaluator includes:
·   Be a voting member of NASAR in good standing
·   Register for a SARTECH Evaluator Workshop
·   Complete a SARTECH evaluator candidate application packet prior to attending Workshop.
Evaluator candidate application packet must include:
a.  Evaluator/Lead Evaluator Candidate Application
b.  Resume of candidate indicating experience in search and rescue or related field
c.  Letter of recommendation from a SAR superior
d. Signed background check form with fees or affidavit
e. Signed Agreement to Correctly Use NASAR Properties
f. Must be certified in the discipline the candidate is seeking to evaluate (to be verified by Education Services Director)

NASAR SARTECH II Exam (return to top of page)
To register for this class, contact sarguy@gmail.com Registration Deadline: May 1st


Date: Wednesday, May 18th -Friday May 21st

Fee: $85 for current NASAR members, $100 for non-members. If a non-member chooses to join NASAR, he or she will receive a $20 discount on membership (additional $54 instead of $74)

Instructor: Rob Brewer

Class Size: 15 with a wait list. (If I am able to get sufficient help, we can increase this number to 25 pretty easily.)

Class Description: The SARTECH II level of certification is the intermediate level for SAR personnel. This level is recommended for any person who functions on SAR missions as field searchers. In addition to the information provided on the website, the NASAR course that prepares one to challenge the SARTECH II is Fundamentals of Search and Rescue. There are no prerequisites required for a person to challenge the SARTECH II examination. Certification history does indicate persons who have had formal SAR training and experience on SAR missions successfully pass the examinations more frequently than others do.
Note: The SARTECH II examination consists of written exam and a practical exam. The written exam includes one hundred sixty (160) questions covering the candidate's knowledge of search and rescue. A passing grade is 70 or above. Successfully passing the SARTECH II written test assures the candidate to be certified at the SARTECH III level whether the practical exam is passed or not.
Upon passing the written exam, the candidate is then required to successfully complete a six station practical exam. Should the candidate not successfully complete all of the practical exam stations, only the stations that are failed need be repeated if this is done within one year of the original testing date. Up to two failed stations may be repeated on the day of the original exam. If necessary, the re-testing may be completed at any subsequent SARTECH II evaluation. If the retesting is done within the one year of the original testing date, no additional payment to NASAR is required. However, a host organization may charge a reasonable fee to cover the costs of hosting the repeat examination.

Rope Rescue I (return to top of page)
To register for this class, Canceled

Date: Canceled

Fee: Canceled

Instructor: Jim Thoen

Class Size:

Class Description: Basic entry level rope rescue course. Goals are 1) Develop basic personal rescuer skills and 2) As a team, perform low-angle rescues.

Skills covered include:

  • Size-up
  • Equipment selection
  • Knots
  • Anchors
  • Ascending and descending a fixed line
  • Construction and operation of raise, lower, and belay systems in a low- to steep-angle environment
  • Patient packaging

Note: This is a 20-hour class and includes both classroom and field work.
This course complies with the applicable sections of NFPA 1670, Operations and Training for Technical Rescue Incidents, 2004 Edition, Chapter 6 Rope Rescue (Awareness and Operations Levels).

Note: Required equipment: Helmet, gloves, & boots. A class II or III rescue harness is desirable, but not required, as some are available from the instructor for class.

Student handout materials, certificates, and snacks will be provided.

Swiftwater Rescue Training I (return to top of page)
To register for this class,Canceled

Date: Canceled

Fee: Canceled

Instructor:

Class Size:

Class Description: This is an intensive three-day class. One day of classroom instruction is followed by 2 days developing and practicing water rescue skills. Objectives emphasize developing self-rescue skills, utilizing existing water dynamics, and handling hazards and obstacles. Participants will set up technical rope systems, controlling in-water contact rescues, and much more. Information from this course is applicable to anyone confronted with potential water rescue, as well as the possibility of self-rescue. Prerequisites include being in good physical condition and having a basic ability to swim.
Note: Required equipment: Full wetsuit or drysuit, a USCG approved life jacket, white water helmet, and booties or tennis shoes. Gloves and fins are optional. Students are encouraged to bring their own rescue gear to practice with. *If students need to rent gear packages they are available through Wave Trek Rescue. This includes wetsuit, helmet, booties and life jacket.

Swiftwater Rescue Training Advanced (return to top of page)
To register for this class,Canceled

Date: Canceled

Fee: Canceled

Instructor:

Class Size:

Class Description: The SRTA course is the second of three units needed for people wanting to advance to the Technician Level for Water and Rope based rescues. This two day course has classroom instruction followed by hands-on skill development. It integrates techniques and skills learned in SRT1, as well as incident command level controls, all while in the midst of class III and above whitewater. There will be a night search as well as low to high angle rope work, which is the prerequisite for the TRR. Other topics covered include: preplanning, rescue and recovery management, problems associated with floods, raising and lowering systems, and much more.
Prerequisites: SRT 1 class on May 17th - 19th
Note: Required equipment: Full wetsuit or drysuit, a USCG approved life jacket, white water helmet, and booties or tennis shoes. Gloves and fins are optional. Students are encouraged to bring their own rescue gear to practice with. *If students need to rent gear packages they are available through Wave Trek Rescue. This includes wetsuit, helmet, booties and life jacket.

Tactical Tracker Teams K9 Trailing Course (return to top of page)
To register for this class, Click Here (registration for this class will close March 15,2010)

Date: Monday, May 17th – Friday, May 21st 

Fee: $425

Instructors: Jeff Schettler and Kelli Collins, more instructors based on class size

Class Size: Limited to 20 K9 teams and 12 observers

Class Description: WASAR TTT'10 is designed for basic to advanced trailing/ tracking dog handlers. Class size is limited to 20 K9 teams and 12 observers with a student to instructor ratio of 5:1 maximum. All field courses will be ran in moderate to difficult terrain sometimes involving several miles or more on foot. All TTT Trailing courses are run almost exclusively in the field. It is our philosophy to learn by doing and there is no better classroom than the field. Students can expect to work in all conditions and from 8-10 hours per training day.

First Aid and CPR with AED (return to top of page)
To register for this class contact Nick Puff at nepuff@yahoo.com 541-490-4657

Date: Friday, May 21, 2010, 0800-Noon

Fee: $50

Instructors: Nick Puff

Class Size: Minimum 8-10, Maximum 30

Class Description: This class meets the American Heart Association standards for a 2-year certification. In addition we will address the newest information on care and treatments of many injuries. This class includes a hard-case pocket mask and will focus on SAR pertinent information. Further information may be found at: www.GorgeRescue.com

Small Group Workshop for Terrain Navigator Professional (return to top of page)
For more information or to registration, email Rick at rick@hoodcs.com or call 425.275.3013.

Date: Thursday, May 20th, 1900-2130 (The second session has been cancelled)

Fee: $50

Instructors:Rick Hood

Class Size: This session is 2.5 hours long and is limiteed to five (5) participants. This approach alllows ample time for individual hands-on coaching and practice.

Class Description: This is intended for those that want to learn hands-on how use TNP effectively and efficiently for mission planning and operations. A PC laptop is required. A GPS or TNP Washington State software is useful, but not required. Pre-registration is required. Demonstration software will be provided to each participant. (For those that do not already own the software for Washington State, but want to purchase it, there is a special discount coupon available in advance.)

SAR Team Leaders Course return to top of page)
To register for this class, contact C.Long@emd.wa.gov

Date: Monday, May 17th - Tuesday, May 18th

Fee: No Cost

Instructors: Richard Smith, RCMP (Retired)

Class Size:

Class Description: This is a detailed look at SAR leadership, tactics, techniques, and procedures at the field level. Although primarily intended for Team Leaders and Field Leaders, it is also valuable for new SAR Coordinators. This course includes practical (outdoor) exercises in search tactics. Previous ICS training (I-100) recommended.

SAR Incident Management Course (return to top of page)
To register for this class, contact C.Long@emd.wa.gov

Date: Wednesday, May 19th - Thursday, May 20th

Fee: No Cost

Instructors: Richard Smith, RCMP (Retired)

Class Size:

Class Description: This course provides SAR Incident Commanders with the training they need to rapidly initiate operations aimed at finding the lost subject as quickly as possible while providing the structure to expand the search operation if that becomes necessary. Priority to SAR coordinators and volunteers with SAR management responsibility. Previous ICS training (I-200) recommended.

Law Enforcement High Risk Search Operations (return to top of page)
To register for this class, contact C.Long@emd.wa.gov

Date: Friday, May 21st

Fee: No Cost

Instructors: Richard Smith, RCMP (Retired)

Class Size:

Class Description: This course will discuss the tactics, techniques, and procedures for search operations by law enforcement officers when the risks involved preclude the use of trained SAR volunteers. Previous ICS training (I-100) recommended. Registration limited to commissioned law enforcement officers.

Logistics Section Chief (return to top of page)
To register for this class, contact C.Long@emd.wa.gov

Date: Wednesday, May 19th, (1300) - Thursday, May 20th

Fee: No Cost

Instructors: Rick Hood

Class Size:

Class Description: Primary duties and responsibilities of the logistics section chief and subordinate units will be examined. Students will understand the resource mobilization and demobilization processes and be able to apply them in terms of local systems. Students will understand the key interactions which must occur between the section chief, other members of the command and general staff, off incident organizations, and the host agency for successful incident management. Students will determine section staffing needs and develop medical and traffic plans for an incident of moderate complexity.

Life Flight Training (return to top of page)
To register for this class, contact John Carlson at johnc@co.skamania.wa.us

Date: Wednesday, May 19th 1500-1700

Fee: No Cost

Instructors: Life Flight

Class Size: Limited to 20

Class Description: Life Flight capabilities and operational considerations. Hands on training.

Note: Must have appropriate PPE (Helmet w/3 point chin strap, goggles, hearing protection, long pants, long sleeves, sturdy footwear and full leather gloves).

Introduction to Search and Search Management in the Urban Environment(return to top of page)
To register for this class, contact C.Long@emd.wa.gov

Date: Sunday, May 23rd, 0800-1700

Fee: No Cost

Instructors: Chris Young

Class Size:

Class Description: More and more search and rescue teams are interfacing with law enforcement in locating missing persons in the Urban Environment. This presentation will prepare managers and searchers for the specific tasks and special techniques needed for searching in the Urban Environment. This will include comparing and contrasting the Urban/Suburban/Rural Interface with the Wilderness Search Processes, from Pre-plan through managing Urban Incidents, Special Investigation considerations, as well as the use of SAR Resources, and Documentation requirements. There will also be practice sessions on door-to-door interviewing/neighborhood canvassing. This presentation also covers an introduction to special considerations in Child Abduction searches and the Dementia/Alzheimer's wanderer searches. A copy of Mr. Young's book "Urban Search" will be provided to each participant.


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