The following are answers to common questions prospective or new members may have. If you cannot find an answer to your question(s), please contact us.
Is there an age requirement to join?
Yes, members must be at least 18 years of age.
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 initial skillset required.
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 members join the organization because they feel it is important and are willing to make it a priority in their life, the expectation is that members live a normal routine with just a few modifications:
Be Prepared: Have a Basic Searcher Pack ready to go at all times and let employers and family members know that you may be called away suddenly. Have a plan for child/pet care in case of callouts.
Make availability known: When out of town or otherwise unavailable for a known period, submit a YKSAR Not Available form to ensure availability is updated on the callout list. This saves Operations Team members' time by not trying to reach unavailable volunteers.
Train: Make an effort to develop skills and keep them fresh by participating in the monthly training drills whenever possible.
Does it cost anything to be a member?
Yes, the cost for the Basic Searcher Course is $50, which includes the initial membership fee for that year.
Annual membership renewal fees are $25 per year.
Do I have to complete training before I can participate?
No. Anyone meeting the membership requirements can join YKSAR and begin participating in monthly training, social events, meetings, etc., or become a Board Member without being a trained searcher. Members cannot participate in live searches without Basic Searcher training.
Do I have to take all the training right away?
No. While YKSAR would love for members to be fully trained shortly after joining, we recognize that people have busy lives. Training—even the Basic Searcher Course—can be taken in stages. Many people can’t devote two consecutive weekends and will break it into two chunks. The classroom training must be taken first, giving members the theoretical knowledge to participate in the field training portion. But, members can take the classroom training as part of one session and the field training portion as part of a subsequent training session.
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 a sign-up sheet as Basic Searcher courses are scheduled each season. Registration for more advanced training can be found on the secure Members' Section. Additional information is also e-mailed to all members, and reminders are sent out.
Are there any non-field roles that I could be involved in?
Yes, YKSAR has supporting roles that would never require a member to be in the field, but still be an important part of the team.
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 the member's part. Review the Gear Lists page for more information.
I’m not receiving communications on the monthly call-out drills. What should I do?
Update your contact information and availability under the Members section of the website. The password to this section is available upon completion of the Basic Searcher Course, or from a Director.