Registration Now Open – Secure Your Spot
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Registration for the PNW SAR Conference 2026 is officially open!
Join search and rescue professionals, volunteers, and public safety partners from across the region for three days of hands-on training, expert-led sessions, and real-world skill development.
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Early Access Full Conference Pass - $285
Your all-access ticket to the entire conference experience.
Includes:
All conference sessions (Friday–Sunday)
Lodging (shared, dorm-style accommodations)
RV and Tent options available (While spaces last)
All meals, snacks, and beverages
Access to vendor expo and networking events
Conference Courses -
Those Needing Pre-Registration
Some courses need pre-registration due to seat availability, class space, etc.
Courses not appearing in the Add-On tab during check out, do not require pre-registration and will be first come first serve during conference
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Lodging & What to Bring
Lodging is included Friday–Sunday
Large shared rooms (camp-style)
Bring your own sleeping bag/linens, towel, and toiletries
Showers and restrooms available onsite
Limited RV and tent camping available for those registered for them
Important Notes
Ticket quantities are limited by capacity and will sell out
Prices will increase as we get closer to the event
Registration target: May 1, 2026
Refund policy:
Before July 1: Full refund
July 1 – Sept 31: 50% refund
After October 1: No refunds
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Pre-Conference Courses
(Optional Add-On)
Enhance your experience with specialized training before the main event.
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Held prior to conference start
Focused, hands-on instruction (K9, technical rescue, etc.)
Lodging not available (tent/RV camping at Frontier Park only for K9 courses, no lodging available for other courses)
Meals NOT included for pre-conference courses
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K9 Airscent (Tuesday-Thursday) - $350
12 working spots (1 K9 per attendee)
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Join us for an intensive 3-day Open Area Search Dog Seminar designed to elevate the capabilities of K9 teams at every skill level. Whether you are a beginner building a strong foundation in the core "find" concept or an experienced handler looking to refine your operational efficiency in complex wilderness environments, this seminar offers practical instruction tailored to your team's needs. Participants will dive deep into the fundamentals of air scenting, learning how to effectively interpret scent cones, read environmental factors, and harness their dog's natural drive. By focusing on essential handler-canine communication, teams will leave with a stronger working bond and the confidence to tackle large-scale search areas.
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Throughout the three days, handlers and their canine partners will engage in progressive field exercises that cover the entire standard search sequence—from proper scent introduction and strategic deployment to executing systematic grid patterns and solidifying a reliable trained final response. Instructors who collectively have over 600 missions under their belts will guide teams through the intricacies of wind navigation and terrain analysis, ensuring handlers know exactly how to position their dogs to maximize scent detection. By practicing in varied environments and working through multiple scenarios, dogs of all levels will strengthen their reward structure while handlers hone their ability to direct searches safely and efficiently.
K9 Urban and Suburban Trailing Searches (Tuesday-Thursday) - $350​​
10 working spots (1K9 per attendee)
This seminar focuses on urban and suburban trailing searches. The level is appropriate for advanced-beginner to intermediate teams with foundational skills, or anyone looking to improve their efficiency and reliability in these environments.
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We will work through variable terrain, transitions, and distractions, and learn how to stay focused on the trail while navigating complexity with a clear, repeatable approach. The focus will be on supporting and responding to the dog’s work, strengthening observation and decision-making, and building a more effective partnership on trail. Practical handling strategies and efficient problem-solving will be emphasized throughout the seminar.​
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(HRD K9 Crime Scene Seminar: Advanced Scenarios and LE Perspective (Tuesday-Thursday) - $350​​
This seminar is geared towards operational certified teams that want to advance their skills working complex crime scenes.
12 working spots (1 K9 per attendee)
The seminar will cover:
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Considerations for working with law enforcement
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Search Skills needed for various types of crime scenes
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3 days of practical search skills and scenarios with evening lectures
Dogs need to be 3rd party certified and have a solid TFR on a wide spectrum of human decomposition odor.
Instructors: Detective Sergeant Lindsay Kirkegaard, Detective Aaron Thompson, Detective Ed Christian, Dena Haney, Jo Huxel
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Basic Inland SAR Course - Tuesday-Thursday $0
The BISC is designed as an entry-level SAR management course for federal, state and local SAR responders (e.g., incident commanders, branch directors etc.) who are responsible for planning, coordinating or conducting air and ground search operations in the inland environment. Academic areas of instruction include a Federal SAR Architecture Overview, AFRCC Overview and Mission types, SAR Resources, Introduction to Search Theory, and Mission Coordination.
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Introduction to Canyoning SAR (Wednesday-Thursday) - $250
Take Your SAR Skills Into the Canyon Join us for an exclusive 2-day immersive course designed to bridge the gap between traditional high-angle rescue and the dynamic, aquatic canyon environment. This is not just a classroom session; you will be in the water and on the rope, learning how to adapt your existing rigging and movement techniques to wet, confined, and vertical terrain.
Who Should Attend: This course is built for SAR professionals from ESAR, MRA, and agency teams who possess basic vertical rigging certification and intermediate swimming ability. Please note this is a physically demanding course requiring the fitness to move over uneven terrain with heavy packs.
Participant Prerequisites:
To ensure safety and course flow, candidates must meet the following criteria:
1. Technical Experience: Basic vertical rigging training (certified per their home unit or agency).
2. Physical Ability: Intermediate swimming ability. Proficiency moving on uneven, unstable backcountry terrain. Fitness level required to ruck heavy packs for 5+ miles.
3. Required Equipment: Thermal Protection: Drysuit (preferred) or wetsuit (>5mm) with 5mm neoprene socks., Footwear: Canyon boots or mid-to-high top shoes with sticky rubber soles (sized to accommodate neoprene socks). PPE: Climbing helmet, harness, and PFD (Optional based on water levels).
Technical Gear:
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2 Lanyards (Cowstails or Personal Anchor System/PAS).
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Figure-8 friction device.
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Wide Area Search Tuesday-Thursday $0
The Wide Area Search (WAS) course is designed to provide training for search resources to effectively, plan, manage, and conduct search operations across a spectrum of search response. Participant audience includes any agency that may respond to a major emergency, disaster, or event.
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Wilderness First Aid - Thursday $250
Base Medical’s SAR Wilderness First Aid (WFA) courses are designed to equip rescuers with the skills and confidence to handle medical emergencies in remote environments. Through a blend of hands-on practice and scenario-based learning, WFA participants learn to recognize, assess, and respond to common backcountry injuries and illnesses. This course is specifically tailored for Search and Rescue professionals. In a SAR (Search and Rescue) WFA Course, material is adjusted to account for the fact that students are professional rescuers with a high likelihood of using WFA skills and intentionally arriving to aid someone in need.
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Need to know: Students who enroll in the WFA course will need to complete approximately 8 hours of online material in advance. Please wear clothes that are comfortable, appropriate for the conditions, and that you don't mind getting dirty. All medical supplies will be provided, but students are encouraged to bring a personal day pack, helmet and gloves, and plenty of snacks and water.
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Introduction to SARTopo for Search Planners - Thursday $0
SARTopo is a free (or paid subscription), powerful, web-based mapping program designed for managing Search and Rescue mapping and map-related tasks. It combines a rich set of easy-to- use mapping tools with a variety of SAR management features such as Operational Periods, Assignments, and Clues to use for planning and running SAR missions. SARTopo takes advantage of network and internet connectivity when available to provide access to rich sets of data and allow for seamless sharing of maps across multiple devices. The offline version of SARTopo will be discussed and compared to the online version, but the focus of this course will be learning the tools and features common to both versions. The Washington State SAR Planning Unit and many county volunteer SAR organizations are using SARTopo as a part of their mission management.
This Introduction to SARTopo course is an 8-hour hands on class which will cover the basic tools and SAR management features of SARTopo. It is designed for SAR Planners and those having mapping related tasks on missions. Participants will be creating maps as we go over the main mapping tools and step though a simulated search scenario to highlight the features which are particularly useful for running SAR missions.
Class info
-8 ½ -hour class including bio breaks and 30min lunch.
-The first half of class discusses the benefits of using an online mapping program, starting/saving/sharing a map, base maps and overlays, drawing things, importing/exporting/printing, and covers the main mapping features of SARTopo which are useful for SAR.
-The second half of the class is a simulated search scenario exercise which uses the SAR- specific features of SARTopo (Assignments, Operational Periods, Clues, etc.).
-This is a hands-on course. Students will be utilizing SARTopo and drawing maps throughout the class.
-We will be working with Online SARTopo, but will also show CalTopo Desktop (offline SARTopo) and discuss the differences.
-We will discuss and demonstrate the use of the smartphone application. CalTopo, in conjunction with SARTopo.
-Class is good for those familiar with SARTopo and those new to it.​