Spring SAR Symposium 2025

📅 Dates: Saturday, May 17 – Sunday, May 18, 2025

📍 Location: UAA Allied Health Sciences Building, 3500 Seawolf Drive,Anchorage, Alaska

⏳ Time: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The Spring SAR Symposium is a hands-on training and networking event for Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers in Southcentral Alaska. This event is designed to refresh SAR skills, learn from case studies, and strengthen collaboration among teams.

What to Expect

✅ Skill Workshops – Clue awareness, navigation, search tactics, K9 SAR, medical skills, and more

✅ Case Studies & Panel Discussions – Real-world SAR lessons from experienced teams

✅ Networking & Collaboration – Meet SAR volunteers and strengthen team coordination

✅ Field Training Exercises – Hands-on practice with rigging, patient transport, orienteering, and more

Who Should Attend?

This symposium is open to SAR volunteers, first responders, and team members looking to improve their search and rescue skills and build stronger working relationships across Alaska’s SAR community.

Draft Agenda 

Subject to change – final version will be shared closer to the event

Saturday, May 17

8:00 AM – Registration & Coffee

9:00 AM – Welcome Message (Auditorium)

9:15 AM – Team Introductions (10 min per team, Auditorium)

👉 Has your team submitted their profile yet? Do that here: https://forms.office.com/r/TssWimkQbS

10:45 AM – Break (15 min)

11:00 AM – Rescue Coordination Center: Who Are They and What Do They Do? (Auditorium)

11:30 AM – Outdoor Equipment Demos (Outdoor Field)

• SAR Equipment Showcase

• Motorized Patient Transport: Best Practices & Equipment Showcase

🍽️ 12:00 PM – Lunch Break

1:00 PM – Case Study Panel: Lessons from Tough Searches (Auditorium)

2:00 PM – Break

2:30 PM – Breakout Sessions:

• Room 1: Case Studies
  👉 Have one you'd like to share? Tell us about it here: https://forms.office.com/r/Wht5Lyp3de

• Room 2: SARTopo Operations

• Room 3: K9-SAR Integration with Ground Searchers

• Auditorium: Solving Common Communication Challenges in SAR

• Outdoor Field: Rigging Systems for Rescue

4:30 PM – Closing & Feedback Survey (Auditorium)

Sunday, May 18

8:00 AM – Coffee & Networking

9:00 AM – What ASARA and AIMT Can Do for You (Auditorium)

9:15 AM – Keynote Speaker: Early Activation & Standby Best Practices (Auditorium)

10:15 AM – Break (15 min)

10:30 AM – Psychological First Responder Resilience (Auditorium) 

🍽️ 12:00 PM – Lunch Break

1:00 PM – Structured Networking Discussions on SAR Challenges & Innovations (Breakout Rooms)

2:00 PM – Teams Report Out (Auditorium)

2:30 PM – Break

2:45 PM – Breakout Sessions:

• Room 1: Backcountry Medical Skills Challenge

• Room 2: sUAS Integration in SAR

• Room 3: SARTopo Operations

• Auditorium: Refining SAR Decision-Making for Incident Commanders (ICs)

• Outdoor Field: SARTopo Orienteering Course & Navigation Challenge

4:45 PM – Closing (Auditorium)

📌 Registration & More Information:

 https://forms.office.com/r/LiG0ULNnZi

For questions, please contact Manch Garhart (mgarhart@aimt-sar.org) or Shelby Carlson (stersteeg@aimt-sar.org).