Summer Camp is geared toward the average person who wants to become a Search and Rescue volunteer. It doesn't matter whether you're an avid wilderness backpacker or an occasional car camper -- all you need to do well at this camp is an interest in the outdoors and a little motivation. Although Summer Camp and Cal-ESAR in general is youth oriented, all ages are welcome.
Cal-ESAR has been conducting introductory SAR training in Yosemite for over 20 years. We have been in our current location, a primitive campground in the heart of Yosemite Valley, since 1994. The mission of Cal-ESAR's Yosemite Search and Rescue Summer Camp is to introduce motivated young people to the fundamentals of Search and Rescue and volunteerism in general, and to refresh the basic skills of seasoned SAR professionals. Summer Camp also provides a venue for members of other SAR teams to share tactics and techniques -- and some SAR stories.
Summer Camp consists of 9 days in Yosemite National Park. Each day has an average of 2-3 training classes per day (morning, afternoon, evening). A typical day in camp may start as early as 6:00am with breakfast and class at 7:00am. The morning may be in camp in an outdoor classroom setting or in the field for a training exercise depending on the topic. Training will usually end just before lunch and begin again in the early afternoon through dinner. Some days, training will begin in the morning and trainees will be in the field all day until dinner time (bag lunches provided on these days). Most evenings, we will hold additional classes after dinner (some are optional), offering extra help with previously covered topics (First Aid, Navigation, etc.) or allowing guest experts to give presentations on their topic of choice.
The training schedule has three basic phases. The first three days are an intensive introduction to the basics of SAR and wilderness survival. The second three days focus on more technical aspects of SAR such as Navigation and Tracking. Tracking will be taught by professional tracker Fernando Moreria. The final three days cover a few advanced topics such as working with helicopters, search dogs and self-rescue techniques (e.g. rappelling) but the main focus will be on intensive field exercises designed to reinforce the training you receive earlier in the week. Camp culminates with a BBQ feast on the final night.
 Despite the schedule, training does not take up all of our time. Usually every other evening will allow free time after dinner to explore Yosemite Valley and perhaps find a shower (they generally cost $2 at developed campgrounds but there are none in our camp). There will be one free day during the week -- usually Wednesday or Thursday -- to get a break from the training schedule. You can choose to explore Yosemite Valley, hike any of the nearby trails (4 Mile Trail, Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls, Panoramic Trail, Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan, etc.). On the free day, you will be expected to purchase your own food -- there is often a large group that goes to Camp Curry for pizza, and sometimes there's a pot luck in camp. There is a good chance that we will organize a Half Dome hike on the free day starting at 4:00am!
You may wonder why our 9 day camp costs so little. The $225 fee covers the basic costs of camp including food and training materials. Cal-ESAR is allowed to use a secluded campground away from the crowds of Yosemite Valley because we perform services for Yosemite National Park including supplemental SAR volunteer resources to Yosemite's NPS Rescue (YOSAR) and the occasional service project. While in Yosemite, trained Cal-ESAR members are on call and may be activated by YOSAR to respond to emergencies in or near the park. In addition to being on call, Cal-ESAR members conduct Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) activities. These activities include walking the high volume hiking trails in Yosemite, educating park visitors on the dangers of the park, informing them of trail distances and travel times, and otherwise attempting to prevent emergency situations from developing. PSAR in Yosemite started in part as a result of a 10 year study of SAR incidents in the 1990s and has been proven to be highly effective in helping park visitors avoid putting themselves in potentially dangerous situations.
The other way we keep it cheap is that camp is run by volunteers -- people taking time away from work and family to present these topics to you. They do this not only without getting paid for it, but they actually pay for the food they eat at camp just like the trainees. There are also individuals who donate significant resources to the team for use at Summer Camp, including use of vehicles, trailers, and cooking and sanitation equipment. All of these individuals come together to make Yosemite a rewarding week because of the lasting positive impacts it makes. This camp is not designed to make money -- it's designed to make proficient and professional Search and Rescue volunteers.
-- Bryan Sardoch, Summer Camp Director
(all photos are from Cal-ESAR archives) |
Yosemite Summer CampAttachments (3) |
