"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and
recognition in event of success."
Ernest Shackleton
We appreciate your interest in supporting El Paso County Search & Rescue. The new member selection process for 2011 is officially closed. If you are interested in becoming a member, please consider preparing for 2012 by following these steps:
Step 1. Visit the team during our team meetings, especially in the late summer and fall seasons. These meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of every month (only the first Wednesday in December) at EPCSAR Rescue Base from 7 to 9 PM. Click Map-it for directions. By attending these meetings, you will learn more about the team and how you can become a part of it. This is a required step to becoming a member.
Step 2. Carefully read the Frequently Asked Questions. Send any additional questions to membership@epcsar.org or bring them to a meeting. We will always do our best to answer your questions.
Step 3. Request an application by sending an email to membership@epcsar.org. You will be sent an application in PDF format that you can print and fill out. Just follow the instructions on the form. The deadline for applications is normally in the late fall for the following year.
Step 1. Visit the team during our team meetings, especially in the late summer and fall seasons. These meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of every month (only the first Wednesday in December) at EPCSAR Rescue Base from 7 to 9 PM. Click Map-it for directions. By attending these meetings, you will learn more about the team and how you can become a part of it. This is a required step to becoming a member.
Step 2. Carefully read the Frequently Asked Questions. Send any additional questions to membership@epcsar.org or bring them to a meeting. We will always do our best to answer your questions.
Step 3. Request an application by sending an email to membership@epcsar.org. You will be sent an application in PDF format that you can print and fill out. Just follow the instructions on the form. The deadline for applications is normally in the late fall for the following year.
You may find the following information useful if you are thinking of joining at a later date:
The members of our team are unpaid volunteers selected from the community. During 2009, EPCSAR's 65 team members contributed over 12,000 hours to the team and the community. In recent years the team has been maintained at a level between 50 and 70 members.
Each new team member candidate must successfully complete the New Member Training course before being accepted as a probationary member. This class meets two nights a week and once on each weekend for 12 weeks. The New Member Training course is very concentrated and completion of every session is a passing requirement.
A non-refundable fee for the New Member Training course will be determined in advance of the start date. The cost for the most recent course was $185. Prospective members should understand that they must supply their own personal gear (backpack, clothing, food, climbing equipment, helmets, etc.). The cost of required personal gear ranges from $1500 to $4,000.
Ongoing training is conducted four times a month (two week-night classroom and two weekend field sessions), additional duties on a Search and Rescue committee is mandatory, and participation in community events is strongly encouraged. All members must maintain minimum participation standards to remain a member in good standing.
If you are currently (or have been, within the past year) a member of a Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) team and are moving to the Colorado Springs area, you may apply for immediate consideration.
Requirements
To submit an application, you must:
If you are accepted by the team, you will need to pass a Sheriff's Office background check. To pass this, you must not:
The members of our team are unpaid volunteers selected from the community. During 2009, EPCSAR's 65 team members contributed over 12,000 hours to the team and the community. In recent years the team has been maintained at a level between 50 and 70 members.
Each new team member candidate must successfully complete the New Member Training course before being accepted as a probationary member. This class meets two nights a week and once on each weekend for 12 weeks. The New Member Training course is very concentrated and completion of every session is a passing requirement.
A non-refundable fee for the New Member Training course will be determined in advance of the start date. The cost for the most recent course was $185. Prospective members should understand that they must supply their own personal gear (backpack, clothing, food, climbing equipment, helmets, etc.). The cost of required personal gear ranges from $1500 to $4,000.
Ongoing training is conducted four times a month (two week-night classroom and two weekend field sessions), additional duties on a Search and Rescue committee is mandatory, and participation in community events is strongly encouraged. All members must maintain minimum participation standards to remain a member in good standing.
If you are currently (or have been, within the past year) a member of a Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) team and are moving to the Colorado Springs area, you may apply for immediate consideration.
RequirementsTo submit an application, you must:
- Be at least age 21 at time of application
- Have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
- Have a Colorado driver's license
- Be a resident in El Paso County
If you are accepted by the team, you will need to pass a Sheriff's Office background check. To pass this, you must not:
- Have been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment in a federal or state penitentiary or of an offense involving dishonesty, unlawful sexual conduct, physical violence, or the unlawful use, sale or possession of a controlled substance.
- Have been convicted of a D.U.I. within the previous four years beginning with the date of conviction to the date of application.