Youth Search & Rescue

The purpose of Youth Search & Rescue is to train and prepare the next generation of Search and Rescue (SAR) and Emergency Management (EM) practitioners. With a primary emphasis on skill development, community service principles, and authentic outdoor education, they have become a recognized entity in the SAR and EM sector since our establishment in 2005. The Youth Search and Rescue (YSAR) program is a three-year Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTC) program available to selected Year 11, 12, and 13 students. The program runs during school term 1-3 and involves one classroom session a week as well as a monthly weekend camping exercise. The program has been running since 2009 and is taught by volunteers from related fields with backgrounds in Emergency Management, Search & Rescue, military, medicine, outdoor education specialists, police officers and firefighters. Volunteers can also assist in an administration capacity to help with managing the branch. YSAR's commitment to youth development and SAR/EM sectors has been formalized through a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the New Zealand Search and Rescue (NZSAR). This agreement grants them a seat at the NZSAR Consultative Committee table and provides access to FED funding alongside other sector partners. The funding enables them to enhance our training programs and support their expansion efforts. They are currently in a growth phase and are excited to be expanding into the South Island for the first time with branches establishing in Christchurch and Dunedin getting ready to launch in 2024. These branches are the start of what they hope to be a continued expansion of the program throughout the South Island and committed volunteers are the key to making this happen.

https://ysar.org.nz

Roles Available: