May 3, 2025 | Laramie, WY
The Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute and the Wyoming Search and Rescue Council are pleased to announce the 2nd Wyoming Search and Rescue Conference (SARCON). This event will be held on May 3rd, 2025, in Laramie, WY. The SARCON is open to all members of the Wyoming SAR community, including law enforcement officers, SAR commanders and volunteers, and those who work in adjacent spaces.
AGENDA
(Disclaimer: Agenda is subject to change at any time.)
Saturday, May 3: Search and Rescue Conference
Marion H. Rochelle Gateway Center, 222 S. 22nd St, Laramie, WY 82070
8:00-8:30 am – Check-in and breakfast
8:30 am – Welcome remarks (Tim Ciocarlan, Teton County Search and Rescue)
9:00 am – How Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Expansion is Impacting Search and Rescue in Wyoming
This panel discussion will kick off the conference with a roundtable conversation about how the growth of the outdoor recreation and tourism sector impacts statewide SAR efforts.
10:00 am: Networking break
10:30 am: Search and Rescue in Wyoming: Student Research Update
This session will highlight the semester-long research efforts by a University of Wyoming student group.
11:00 am: Mental Health for Search and Rescue Teams
This session, led by Dr. Shaina Smith, will focus on support resources for Search and Rescue volunteers, commanders, and other affiliated agencies.
11:45 am: Break
12:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm: Concurrent Breakout Sessions
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Tools for Stress Resilience in SAR (Griffin Lawrence, Lander Responder Alliance) Learn tools and best practices for stress resilience and trauma mitigation. This session will cover international guidelines, free resources, and team strategies, concluding with next steps for training plans and regional support. |
Tough Stump Technologies: Overcoming Challenges in Force Tracking & UAS Integration (Zeb Jaillet, Tough Stump Technologies; Michael Cavalier, Natrona County SAR; Jimmy Larsen, Tough Stump Technologies; Jarrett Heavenston, Tough Stump Technlogies) Get an overview and demonstration of the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK). Michael Cavalier and Jimmy Larsen will provide opening remarks, followed by Zeb Jaillet’s live demo of the ATAK. Jarret Heavenston and Michael Cavalier will then facilitate a Q&A session. |
2:00 pm: Networking break
2:20 pm: Concurrent Breakout Sessions
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Splinting Improvisation (Peter Blessing, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Wilderness Medicine) This hands-on session will cover splinting techniques for musculoskeletal injuries using limited supplies. Participants will explore creative methods and principles to enhance patient comfort, pain management, and psychological care. Attendees are encouraged to bring extra clothing or random items to experiment with while building innovative splints for real-world scenarios. |
Water Searches Then and Now (John Linn, Tip Top Search and Rescue) This session will explore the evolution of water search techniques in Sublette County and Wyoming, focusing on safety, efficiency, and advancements in search management. Historically, searches involved dragging hooks and human divers, but with the development of underwater cameras and sonar technology, the approach has drastically improved. The introduction of SideScan sonar in the mid-1990s revolutionized search efforts, offering enhanced accuracy and safety by scanning the water’s bottom from the surface. TipTop Search and Rescue’s sonar team now provides professional-grade equipment for water searches statewide. Using sonar, the team creates images based on sonar reflections, analyzing size, shape, and shadow to identify potential targets. This technology has become vital in locating drowning victims and sunken objects with greater precision. |
3:20 pm: Networking break
3:40 pm: Concurrent breakout sessions
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Wyoming State Trackers Capability Briefing (Terry Browder, Wyoming State Trackers Association; Lynn Busskohl, Wyoming State Trackers Association; and Brenna Hutchison, Albany County Search and Rescue) This session will introduce the Wyoming State Tracking Association (WYSTA). The session will cover the purpose of WYSTA, the importance of using certified trackers, and how to effectively utilize the association. A PowerPoint will be presented on a case from Albany County, WY, showcasing how tracking was applied in a missing persons case, the information trackers provide, and the benefits to resource management. Additionally, examples will be shared of how man-tracking has aided law enforcement in criminal cases. The session will conclude with a Q&A. |
Drone Workshop + Demo (Aaron Hutchison) Description TBD |
4:40 pm: Networking break
5:00 pm: Closing remarks
Lodging
There is currently 1 room block available for this event.
The deadline to book a room is Wednesday, April 23.
In April 2024, the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute and the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation convened the first annual Wyoming Search and Rescue Conference in Casper, WY. As part of the 2024 Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit, this event provided a space for Wyoming’s Search and Rescue community to come together and discuss issues, review updates, and network. This event had great attendance and generated momentum for continued conferences.
Wyoming SAR squads are crucial to consider alongside the growth of outdoor recreation in Wyoming. An integral cog in the outdoor recreation machine, Wyoming SAR squads work to keep residents and visitors safe in the outdoors, providing vital medical aid and lifesaving services. As Wyoming industry groups and decision-makers work to increase the size and scope of the outdoor recreation and tourism industry, it is important to consider the shoulders on which the industry’s vitality rests and to support the valuable contributions of county sheriffs, SAR commanders, and SAR squad volunteers.
View the event proceedings here.
