This event will be held within Camp Silverado and will be mostly outside.
We are in Amador County California off Hwy 88 –
Google Map search for Camp Silverado Lodge. Camp is on the northeast side of the lake.
NASAR Fundamentals of Tracking
This NASAR program compliments all current NASAR courses and certifications. We believe it will enhance every team member’s ability to respond in any SAR environments. This is a consistent and complete examination of a SAR Tracker nomenclature, tasks expected, acceptable tactics to perform tracking on a search for a missing subject.
Establishing the direction of travel of the lost or missing subject is paramount towards the successful result of the search. There are few resources that can do this with any certainty. A searcher trained in tracking skills and the ability to perform them on a search is one such reliable resource.
Searches for lost people are clue driven and tracking is the skill for the ultimate of clue awareness and can be learned by any member of a land search team.
Fundamentals of Tracking - 20 hours (Friday night 7 PM through Sunday 4 PM).
Lead Instructor Del Morris has been a volunteer in the northern California Search and Rescue community since 1981. Del began teaching SAR craft skills and search and rescue topics soon after joining the Sonoma County Sheriff SAR Team. In 2012, Mr. Morris relocated and joined the Amador County Sheriff's SAR Team where he remains an active member with search management and tracking specialties.
Del has participated in well over 300 searches, including many of the major searches in Northern California over the past 30 years:
* Amy Newman Search, Napa CA.1983. Assigned as Tracker. AHJ Napa PD.
* Ernie White Search, Field Team. AHJ Contra Costa County, CA
* Oakland Firestorm Aftermath, 1991. Debriefing. AHJ Oakland Fire/Alameda County Sheriff.
* Kenny Miller Search 1992. Tracker. AHJ Alpine County CA
* Polly Klass Search 1993. Plans Chief. AHJ Petaluma CA PD, Sonoma County Sheriff and FBI.
During Mr. Morris' tenure while chairing the NASAR Tracking Committee we put together the course material for this NASAR Fundamentals of Search and Rescue Tracking and he has been teaching this course since 2006.
This NASAR Tracking Course will teach you how to track humans while part of a SAR Team and passing the written test you can come away with a level of TRACK AWARE upon completion. We will focus on a cycle of five skills sets; detection, interpretation, recording, tactics and trailing, which are needed by the SAR Tracker in a lost person incident. The course provides information regarding equipment needed, core terminology, tracker responsibilities, tracking tasks to be performed and then outline a 'practicing of tracking skills' path you will need to follow to elevate your tracking abilities This personal practice is essential if you wish to be assigned as a Tracker during the SAR mission. No pre-requisites, however, SARTech II is highly recommended as we will not be covering any of the basic search outdoor skills. The material contained is germane to any land search environment.
Class size is limited to 15 - so register today.
Camping and meals )meals extra) are available (Tents and small RV camping. Large (greater than 24' RVs are not advised). Friends of Camp Silverado a 501(c)3 non-profit Tax EIN 45-4253732 requests a donation of $20 which will go toward Camp development. Visit www.campsilverado.org to learn more. You can donate more if you wish.
Camp is semi-primitive and no potable water. Toilets and Showers (cold) should be up and running. Bring in drinking water.
Preparations for the written test can be accomplished through attendance of NASAR’s Tracking Course and/or reading one of 4 books on the subject of SAR tracking. All are available from the NASAR Bookstore.
1. Fundamentals of Mantracking: The Step-By-Step Method by "Ab" Taylor and Donald Cooper *** RECOMMENDED
2. Foundations for Awareness, Signcutting and Tracking by Robert Speiden
3. Tracking: A Blueprint for Learning How by Jack Kearney
4. Fundamentals of Search and Rescue; Chapter 13 by Jones and Bartlett Publishers
More information can be obtained off of the NASAR website. Participants should read all Exam details.
More details can be found here.
Have questions about NASAR Fundamentals of Tracker Course or wish to become a NASAR Tracking Instructor? Contact Del Morris
Participation is limited to 15 - so register today.
Friends of Camp Silverado a 501(c)3 non-profit Tax EIN 45-4253732 any donation will go toward continued Camp development. You can donate here if you wish. DONATE HERE Camp is semi-primitive and no potable water. Toilets and showers should be up and running. Bring in drinking water.
There is NO reduction in Class fee if you choose not to sleep in Camp.
You have an option to bring guests (max 3/extra charged based on food choices - children under 14 years are free and there is no max on children count just as long as there are accompanied adults) to attend to your campsite needs which can save you some time during meal breaks. Guests CAN NOT participate in Course.
Out-of-Camp sleeping options are:
Out of Camp eating options:
Getting there.
These maps should help. They show you major routes in (zoomed out) and the minor roads into Camp (zoom in). In general from the west you have Hwy 50 to Pollock Pines and pick up Mormon Emigrant Trail (my fav, but may be closed due to snow) to 88 or through Jackson and straight up Hwy 88. You can come in from Nevada or South Lake Tahoe via 89/88 from the north.
What is the schedule?
The Class begins Friday night at 1900 with check-in and lecture. You are welcome to come in the night before to acclimate and experience the terrain. Sunday we are usually done about 1600 and you are welcome to stay an extra night to avoid hwy 50 and 80 Sunday traffic.
Camping? RVs?
Camp has plenty of room. Bathrooms and showers (cold as of this writting) should be up and running. Large RVs, fifth wheels, and trailers are not recommended. Anything longer than 24 feet should be questioned. The road in is a single car width having very few turnouts and the trees are tight. We will not be responsible for you losing pieces of your vehicle(s). RVs can fit easily in the USFS Dispersed Campsite (Martin Meadows) , Plasse’s, the Silver Lake East (USFS), or the Silver Lake West (EID) campgrounds that are close by. You will be welcome to come into Camp earlier and stay later. Adding 1-2 days at either end (or both) is OK.
Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?
There is an expectation that you are an active member of an organized search and rescue team with current affiliation or have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) status with an Agency Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for Search and Rescue in your area of response. However, NASAR does not have this as a requirement. If you are interested in the topic you may register for the class. Explorers and Venture Team members under 18 must be accompanied by their adult team representation as per BSA requirements. Instructors are not to assume this role. These adults can come as support paying a separate non-participation registration.
What can/can't I bring to the course? What should I prepare for? What should I bring?
No restrictions on anything that you are legally allowed to possess on forest service land. Let it be known that we will not be shooting guns. There are the usual hazards – mountain lions, bears, and rattle snakes (all very very rare). There are mosquitos and the sun at this altitude is intense. No poison oak, ticks, or skunks. We are at 7500 feet in elevation, altitude adjustments and dehydration is a concern. YOU MUST BRING DRINKING WATER, All water in Camp is to be considered non-potable and for washing, flushing, and fire suppression only. If you are a SAR Team member - Bring all of your SAR gear (you may need it).
Can I bring a friend, my spouse, my dog, or kids?
Yes. However, they will not be allowed to witness the event and must find a way to entertain themselves. Of course dogs and kids will need an adult to be responsible for them in Camp. There are a lot of other activities that can be done in and around Camp outside of just camping and meal support. Hiking, swimming, canoeing, and fishing to name a few. Register the separate "Guest" for your guests over 14 - under 14 is free. This is a non-course ticket and they cannot participate in the training.
Any Discounts or Certificates?
There is a Certification fee built into registration and a Membership in NASAR will get you the discounted option. A Unit NASAR membership is good for the discount also, check with your Unit leader - your team may be a member. Enter your NASAR Membership number in the notes area, please. Amador County SAR members have additional discounts available with code.
Where can I contact the organizer with any questions? Is there an emergency phone number for Camp?
Del at 1662del@gmail.com or call Camp at 209-258-4576 This Camp phone number is also the emergency number in Camp that you can share with family while you are in Camp. Camp has very sketchy cell coverage.
Is my registration transferrable? Refundable?
Transferable – Yes 100% to another SAR Team member or hold for another class.
Refundable – Yes mostly, If we are more than 7 days of the start of event, refunds will be 100%. Within 7 days expect 50% or less.