Roles on the TEam

Responders and search managements are vital to our team. As members of the Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Conference and of the Appalachian Search and Rescue Conference, responders are trained on standards derived from these organizations. From beginning journeys of a Field Level IV, new members can work their way up the ladder to Field Level I, and work to obtain additional certifications in Base Responder and Search Management. Members work in teams to accomplish goals such as hasty searches, assisting K9 teams, and making sure operations run smoothly and safely. To learn more, click "Responder" below. 

Trailing K9 are scent-specific trained, meaning they use a scent article from the missing individual to use their specific odor to find the trail where they walked. These K9s start their work at the location individuals were last seen to determine IF the individual was there, and IF they were, which direction did they go? These K9s can be used in urban or wilderness environments. For more information, click on "Trailing" below.

Airscent K9s use the wind to help determine the location of ANY individual in an area, not just a specific person. Teams will grid large areas of wilderness based on terrain and wind direction to attempt to place the K9 into a scent cone and follow that to the individual. For more information, click "Airscent" below.

K9s trained in Human Remains Detection are trained to detect the 5 stages of decomposition on land, buried, or in water. These teams assist law enforcement in criminal cases, old and new, to help bring closure to families. For more information, click "HRD" below. 

If being outdoors in inclement weather or responding to search calls at 3AM isn't quite what you're looking for, but you still want to be a part of an amazing organization, check out our Auxiliary! Auxiliary members help with Outreach events, such as teaching children Hug-a-Tree programs, represent our team at events such as National Night Out and other PR events, and supporting business operations (grant writing, mega-mailers, thank you's, etc). We could not do our major fund raising events, the Get Lost 5K (every June) and Annual Golf Outing (every August) without their invaluable help! To learn more, click "Auxiliary" below.