SAR Fundamentals/Search skills and compass practical/Venue requirements

From PCSAR

> - Do you have a specific location in Beauvais that you plan on using?

We're pretty flexible about location. Anything that works for you would work for us.

What we need is about 2ha of woods (e.g. 20m x 100m) but in any shape or configuration. About 500m of trail of any type or description (e.g. could be game trail, developed trail, dirt trail or roadway in any combination). The 500m could be either one continuous segment or a network of interconnecting trails. Access from parking that doesn't take more than about 15 minutes on foot.

The two locations that occur to me are:

A/ Scotts Point

or

B/ The area west of the Homstead Group Use area. (We would not need to use the group use facilities.)

We're not committed to either of these locations, if you have a better suggestion.

The location would be used as separate adjacent areas "segments". Different search techniques would be practiced in each segment. Some techniques involve calling a person's name or blowing a whistle.

It would not interfere with our activities if there are other people in the area. We would explain to anyone who's curious what we are doing. In fact, part of our training is interfacing with bystanders.

> - How many people do you anticipate participating? (students and instructors/assistants)

We currently have 9 students, with a max class size of 15. Registration closes tomorrow (Friday).

There would be 4 instructors/assistants.

> - How long do you anticipate this will take?

One or two assistants would be figuring out which segment would be used for which search technique in the morning, probably 2-3 hours. Let's say a start time of 09:00. They would plant clues. All clues would be picked up after the exercise. In fact, as part of the exercise, we usually have students remove any additional litter they find in the area.

The exercise would happen from about 12:30 to 17:00. Removal of all clues, any necessary clean up, and the last person out should be by 18:00.

> - Will there be any need for OHV activity?

No.

> - Will there be any shelter building or need for the cutting of vegetation?

No.

> - Do you have any signage indicating that there is a training occurring?

Yes, we have 3 fold-out pathway signs that say "Search and Rescue training in progress".