Northeast Wilderness Search and Rescue (NEWSAR)

06/12/2026

https://mailchi.mp/e186a5b0086b/newsar-newsletter-nov-6804743

To ensure you get the most out of the annual training please fill out the attached intake form and forward to [email protected] in advance of the conference.

05/14/2026

https://mailchi.mp/95c3117fb31f/newsar-newsletter-nov-6804544

This year NEWSAR will be featuring the CalTopo search management software. We are not endorsing it as much as experimenting with how well it works. Data from each day’s activities will be fed into CalTopo from Friday morning until the end of the mock search on Saturday.

05/14/2026

2026 Early Annual Training Registration
Receive a 10% discount for registering early.
2026 NEWSAR Annual Training Conference
September, 18-20, 2026
Vermont Police Academy Pittsford, VT

CalTopo Search Management Software

This year NEWSAR will be featuring the CalTopo search management software. We are not endorsing it as much as experimenting with how well it works. Data from each day’s activities will be fed into CalTopo from Friday morning until the end of the mock search on Saturday.

On Friday evening there will be a presentation on CalTopo. On Saturday there will be classes on the software along with tabletop exercises for anyone interested in participating or simply observing. The tabletop exercises will use data collected (search clues) from search activities throughout the weekend up to the mock search.
This information will be reported on debriefing forms and task reports and read into the tabletop exercise, all based on the overall success of the search exercises/scenarios.

The mock search will start Saturday evening after dinner and continue until the last person is found. The mock search portion will be real time missing persons & real time searching of all types based on the collection of clue data beginning Friday morning.
Sunday morning there will be an after action review of the mock search from the night before as well as the CalTopo software.

As always there is a full schedule of listed trainings in addition to CalTopo and search management.

For those interested in CalTopo and search management there is online documentation and training videos on the CalTopo and NEWSAR website (See the links below). If you are interested in participating in the CalTopo training during the conference we encourage you to watch introduction videos about the software and have some basic knowledge of its functionality.

Drone Announcement - OPERATORS WANTED

We are looking for drone operators who would like to participate in our 2026 annual conference during our demo presentation on Saturday and/or during the mock search Saturday evening. Last year we had a single operator deploy for the entire search. This year we would like to have additional drone operators participating during the 3-4 hour search. The search area covers the Pittsford Recreation Park and Vermont Police Academy grounds.
Contact NEWSAR at [email protected], we look forward to having your organization represented at the conference.

Affiliate Partnerships

Please consider supporting our affiliate partners. When you use our affiliate links NEWSAR receives commissions. Everyone buys SAR equipment, why not support the Search and Rescue Community when you do!

05/01/2026

https://mailchi.mp/414bff0daf17/newsar-newsletter-nov-6804327

This year NEWSAR will be featuring the CalTopo search management software. We are not endorsing it as much as experimenting with how well it works. Data from each day’s activities will be feed into CalTopo from Friday morning until the end of the mock search on Saturday.

04/15/2026

2026 NEWSAR Annual Training - Drone Announcement

We are looking for drone operators who would like to participate in our 2026 annual conference during our demo presentation on Saturday and/or during the mock search Saturday evening. Last year we had a single operator deploy for the entire search. This year we would like to have additional drone operators participating during the 3-4 hour search. The search area covers the Pittsford Recreation Park and Vermont Police Academy grounds.
Contact NEWSAR at [email protected], we look forward to having your organization represented at the conference.

04/15/2026

2026 NEWSAR Annual Training – CalTopo Search Management Software

This year NEWSAR will be featuring the CalTopo search management software. We are not endorsing it as much as experimenting with how well it works. Data from each day’s activities will be feed into CalTopo from Friday morning until the end of the mock search on Saturday.

On Friday evening there will be a presentation on CalTopo. On Saturday there will be classes on the software along with tabletop exercises for anyone interested in participating or simply observing. The tabletop exercises will use data collected (search clues) from search activities throughout the weekend up to the mock search.

This information will be reported on debriefing forms and task reports and read into the table top exercise, all based on the overall success of the search exercises/scenarios.

The mock search will start Saturday evening after dinner and continue until the last person is found. The mock search portion will be real time missing persons & real time searching of all types based on the collection of clue data beginning Friday morning.

Sunday morning there will be an after action review of the mock search from the night before as well as the CalTopo software.

As always there is a full schedule of listed trainings in addition to CalTopo and search management.

For those interested in CalTopo and search management there is online documentation and training videos on the CalTopo and NEWSAR website (See the links below). If you are interested in participating in the CalTopo training during the conference we encourage you to watch introduction videos about the software and have some basic knowledge of its functionality.

CalTopo Search Management Software CalTopo Training: All UsersAll Users covers the basics of CalTopo: what it means to build a map and the basic components of the site as well as processes for handling map objects, data, and functions such as importing, exporting, and printing. How to Use CalTopo /....