While you do not need to be a seasoned outdoors person to join, some level of outdoor recreation will be a useful starting point.

In general to be an NBGSARA volunteer you will need to:

• Be 18 years of age
  • Some teams have a junior member program for those under 18
• Pass a criminal record check
• Committed to team work
• Obtain first aid training
  • Your existing training, such as from your workplace, may qualify
  • Some teams run their own courses, others use outside trainers

Once you join a team, you will then participate in team-lead training. This will teach you the skills you need to be a safe and effective GSAR volunteer, such as:

• Map and Compass
• GPS
• Radio Communications
• Proper clothing and equipment
• Survival skills
• Lost Person Behaviour
• Search Tactics
• ICS (Incident Command System)

Regular attendance at training, especially as a new member, is important to make sure you can work safely in the woods on an incident to bring yourself and the subject home safe.

FAQs

• Question: What kind of equipment do I need to own?
  • Answer: As a new team member, the most important equipment will be your clothing. From good hiking boots, to non-cotton base layers, and jackets for all seasons. The technical equipment like GPSs, radios, ropes, and so on will be provided as needed.
• Q: I don’t think going into the woods is for me, how else can I help?
  • A: Many teams have support roles that you may be able to fill. It takes a lot to maintain a GSAR team. Such as :
    • Vehicle maintenance
    • Fundraising
    • Bookkeeping
    • Prevention and outreach
    • PR / Social Media
    • IT / Technology management
• Q: Do I need a car?
  • A: When attending a search callout, you will be reimbursed mileage for your travel. You do not need to own a car, but you will need access to short notice transportation. For some incidents you will be able to car pool with other team members from your teams base area, others will require you to travel directly to the incident location.
• Q: Are there opportunities for advancement or specialization within the team?
  • A: Yes! Every team is made up of searchers, team leaders, and search managers. Many teams have specialized units such as rope rescue, K9, marine, or mounted / ATV. If there is a specialization you are interested in and don’t see listed, reach out to your local team to see how you could help develop that.
• Q: How are missions coordinated and dispatched?
  • A: When a call is made to your teams Search Manager from another team or police agency, they will send a mass-call and text to all team members asking who can respond. From there, you will be given a location to meet up. Search Mangers will work with police to determine the areas to be searched and how to search them, and a team assignment will be written up. We use GPS to track our tasks, and map out results. You will always be operating with a team, we don’t send people into the woods alone.
• Q: How often are training sessions and meetings held?
  • A: Each team sets their own training calendar, expect a mix of weeknight and the occasional weekend day