Yosemite 2012 Summer Camp Flyer available -- share it with your friends!
NEWS - CHECK BACK OFTEN!
2011 info for reference only:
2012 APPLICATION PROCESS NOW AVAILABLE:
First, complete the online application for summer camp (all participants, including trainers!)
Then complete the following steps, before your application is marked as received:
1. Fill out applicable BSA forms
- under 21 in June? fill out YOUTH form and Parental Consent
- over 21 in June? fill out ADULT form
2. Fill out the BSA Medical form (you may need your doctor's signature)
3. Fill out Medical Consent form
4. Fill out Disaster Service Worker (DSW) form
5. Under 18? Fill out the National Park Service waiver (available at orientation night)
6. Mail the above completed forms to:
Yosemite SAR Camp
c/o Deputy Sardoch 1535 Airport Blvd. Napa, CA 94558 You will be placed on a summer camp email list where you will receive important updates between now and January. You will also be billed online for camp via the "wepay.com" website, at the email address you entered in the application. Your application will not be checked in until the $75 deposit is received.
You must attend one orientation meeting (dates are TBA) prior to camp. RESTRICTIONS
Search and Rescue is hard work, but don't let that scare you. This camp is not for people who are unable to hike at high elevation and in extreme weather. Training is conducted at a minimum of 4000' and a maximum of 8000' above sea level. Prior to camp, become familiar with how your body handles exertion at high elevation. Weather in Yosemite can be extreme. Expect scorching 100F+ weather one day and 20F weather and snow the next. Expect to be hiking 8-10 miles as part of the regular training. Conditioning is recommended prior to attendance. Most of all, be able to bring a positive attitude under stressful situations. Please do not apply for this training unless you fully understand the challenges involved and are ready to meet them! If you have any concerns about the training curriculum, feel free to email yosemite@cal-esar.org
NEW TO SAR? RECOMMENDED READING:
SUMMER CAMP SYNOPSIS
This year's Summer Camp will be geared toward beginner and intermediate Search and Rescue volunteers or those who are highly motivated to learn quickly and work hard to become one. Although Summer Camp and Cal-ESAR in general is youth oriented, all ages are welcome.
Cal-ESAR has been conducting 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 skills of seasoned SAR professionals. Summer Camp also provides a venue for members of other SAR teams to share tactics and techniques.
Summer Camp consists of 8 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 on a training exercise depending on the topic. Training sometimes stops for lunch, but don't count on it. Training begins again in the early afternoon, working until dinner. Most evenings, we will hold additional classes after dinner (some of which 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 first two days are an intensive introduction to the basic terminology and tactics of SAR and wilderness survival. The second three days focus on more technical aspects of SAR such as Navigation, Tracking and field operations. Tracking will be taught by professional tracker Fernando Moreria. The final few days cover advanced topics such as search management, working with helicopters & search dogs and self-rescue techniques (e.g. rappelling). Camp usually culminates with a BBQ 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 find a shower (they generally cost $5 at developed campgrounds, there are none in our camp). There will be one free day during the week -- usually on Wednesday or Thursday -- to get a break from the training schedule. On the free day, you will be expected to purchase your own food -- there is often a large group that goes for pizza, and sometimes there's a pot luck in camp with food purchased from the Yosemite Lodge store. There is a good chance that we will organize a Half Dome hike on the free day starting at 4:00am.
The camp costs so little because it is cost based only. The camp fee covers 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, all 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.
Camp is run by trained Search and Rescue volunteers -- people taking time away from work and family to present these topics to you. 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 our training in Yosemite a rewarding week because of the lasting positive impact they know 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
Have questions? Contact yosemite@cal-esar.org
(all photos are from Cal-ESAR archives) |
Yosemite Summer Camp |
