The Oswego and Onondaga County Search and Rescue Teams are looking for people 18 years and older interested becoming search and rescue volunteers. All that’s required is a love of the outdoors and for helping others.
The 2026 SAR Academy Information Night will take place Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 6 - 8 p.m., at the Brewerton Fire Department, 9625 Brewerton Rd.
Members of the Oswego County Pioneer and the Onondaga County SAR teams will present an informational program and answer questions about the training academy, and what’s involved in being a SAR volunteer.
The training program is held every two years. Classes will be held Wednesday evenings and some weekends between February and June, 2026, in both Oswego and Onondaga counties. Cost is $150 per student to cover manuals and supplies. Application deadline is Jan. 31, 2026.
“The academy curriculum is a thorough introduction to search and rescue techniques and meets the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s 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 Dylan Hauprich, team coordinator of the Onondaga County Wilderness SAR Team.
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, DEC police and forest rangers, NYS Police, and the NYS Federation of Search and Rescue Teams.
Students should be in good health and capable of passing a moderate physical fitness test. They are expected to attend all classes, complete all assignments, and pass all written and practical tests.
The 80+ hour training curriculum covers map and compass skills, GPS, grid searches, man-tracking, wilderness survival, radio communications, search techniques, cold weather emergencies, crime scene preservation, the National Incident Management System, and a variety of other topics.
