About the Arkansas Search and Rescue Association
Mission Statement
The mission of ASARA is to act as a professional, educational, and standardization organization which supports search and rescue by promoting, and assisting in the development of resources, training and educational opportunities with the underlying purpose of saving lives.
Purpose
The purpose of the Arkansas Search and Rescue Association (ASARA) is to promote and assist in the development of search capabilities within the State of Arkansas.
The Association is dedicated to the advancement of search and rescue skills, the standardization of procedures, communications and equipment, and the continued improvement of the coordination between federal, state, county, and local paid and volunteer search and rescue agencies and organizations.
Latest Posts
- 2024 ASARA State SAR Conference
Updated April 15, 2024
The Arkansas Search and Rescue Association Board is excited to announce that we will be hosting the 2024 ASARA State Conference June 6-9, 2024 with pre-conference training on Thursday, June 6 and Friday, June 7. The conference will be hosted at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR.
Conference Cost and Information
Conference Cost:
- Non-ASARA Member Teams: $35/day for conference day fee + any course/certification fees (see course details) + book(s) (if required) + meals + lodging
- ASARA Member Teams: $25/day for conference day fee + any course/certification fees (see course details) + book(s) (if required) + meals + lodging (must be listed on team membership roster submitted with yearly application)
- Students: $15/day for conference day fee + any course/certification fees (see course details) + books(s) (if required) + meals +lodging (may need to present valid student ID at check-in)
Big News:
For the 4th year in a row, the Arkansas Search and Rescue Association has received donations from some individuals who are very dedicated supporters of Arkansas’ Emergency Responders. These scholarship donations have been earmarked to pay the NASAR fees for attendees of the National Association of Search and Rescue courses held at our pre-conference training this year. The courses covered by this scholarship donation are:
- NASAR Introduction to Search and Rescue (ISAR)
- NASAR Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
The scholarships will be automatically applied when your invoice is created.
NOTE: The scholarships are for Arkansas residents.
NOTE: This scholarship only applies to the NASAR fees — this is not a substitute for your Conference Day Fee or any additional course fees.
NOTE: This scholarship does not apply to certification fees. If you choose to take the SARTech III certification exam after the ISAR class, you will be responsible for the $30 NASAR testing fee.
Please Note: Class days, cost, and other details are subject to change!
Please Note: Extra items such as books and ASARA merchandise will be available for purchase at the conference for additional fees.
Total cost for the Conference will vary depending on which classes you choose to attend, meal ticket, lodging, and any cost associated with optional extras such as ASARA merchandise purchases.
Registration Deadline is Sunday, May 12 by 23:59.
Late Registrations will be available after May 12 with an additional $20 late registration fee and no guarantee of room availability.
DRAFT SCHEDULE as of April 15, 2024
Pre-Conference Course Information
NASAR Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Course
- 16 hours (2 Days)
- Cost: $135 ($35 conference day fee x2 + $30 NASAR fee + $35 course fee)
- Days: Thursday, June 6 and Friday, June 7
- Lead Instructor: Chris Charles
- Phone:
- E-mail:
- Equipment, Supplies, and Class Materials:
- NASAR Wilderness First Aid Book
- Book is available from NASAR bookstore, Amazon, and other sources
- Pen or pencil
- Notepad
- NASAR Wilderness First Aid Book
- Course Description:
NASAR Introduction to Search and Rescue (ISAR)
- 16 hours (2 Days)
- Cost: $100 ($35 conference day fee x2 + $30 NASAR fee)
- Days: Thursday, June 6 and Friday, June 7
- Lead Instructor: Outdoor Education Services
- Phone:
- E-mail:
- Equipment, Supplies, and Class Materials:
- NASAR Introduction to Search and Rescue (ISAR) Book
- Book is available from NASAR bookstore, Amazon, and other sources
- Pen or pencil
- Notepad
- NASAR Introduction to Search and Rescue (ISAR) Book
- Course Description:
Search Management using CalTopo/SARTopo
- 8 hours
- Cost: $35 ($35 conference day fee)
- Days: Thursday, June 6
- Lead Instructor: Klay Rowbotham
- Phone: 479-970-6542
- E-mail: sar @ klayanderin . com (be sure to remove spaces)
- Equipment, Supplies, and Class Materials:
- Laptop
- CalTopo/SARTopo Account
- Pen or pencil
- Notepad
- Course Description:
Patient Extrication Field Exercise
- 8 hours
- Cost: $35 ($35 conference day fee)
- Days: Thursday, June 6
- Lead Instructor: Robert Shepherd
- Phone: 501-681-4573
- E-mail: shepherdr @ wind stream . net (be sure to remove spaces)
- Minimum attendees: 6
- Maximum attendees: 20
- Equipment, Supplies, and Class Materials:
- Type III PFD
- Eye protection
- Well fitting leather gloves
- Boots
- Long pants
- Tubular webbing
- If you have a harness and climbing helmet or wildland fire helmet, please bring them.
- Course Description:
Initial SAR Response with Remote Search Planning
- 8 hours
- Cost: $35 ($35 conference day fee)
- Days: Friday, June 7
- Lead Instructor: Fred Mullen & Klay Rowbotham
- Phone: 479-209-0818 / 479-970-6542
- E-mail: fred . sar 2020 @ gmail . com / sar @ klayanderin . com (be sure to remove spaces)
- Equipment, Supplies, and Class Materials:
- Lost Person Behavior: A Search and Rescue Guide on Where to Look – for Land, Air and Water by Robert Koester
- Either/or the LPB book or “Lost Person Behavior” mobile app
- Book is available from dbs-sar.com, NASAR bookstore, Amazon, and other sources
- Mobile app is available from Google Play Store or Apple Store
- Either/or the LPB book or “Lost Person Behavior” mobile app
- Laptop
- CalTopo/SARTopo Account
- Pen or pencil
- Notepad
- Recommended: Supplies you would typically have with you when doing search management
- Lost Person Behavior: A Search and Rescue Guide on Where to Look – for Land, Air and Water by Robert Koester
- Course Description:
ATV/UTV SAR Field Exercise
- 8 hours
- Cost: $35 ($35 conference day fee)
- Days: Friday, June 7
- Lead Instructor: Robert Shepherd
- Phone: 501-681-4573
- E-mail: shepherdr @ wind stream . net (be sure to remove spaces)
- Minimum attendees: 6
- Maximum attendees: 20
- Equipment, Supplies, and Class Materials:
- Eye protection
- Well fitting leather gloves
- Boots
- Long pants
- Tubular webbing
- If you have a harness and climbing helmet or wildland fire helmet, please bring them.
- Course Description:
Breakout Session Information
Saturday, June 8:
08:00-08:30
- Opening Ceremony
08:45-17:15 (All Day)
- Map Reading and Navigation – Outdoor Education Services
- Lost Person Behavior –
08:45-10:15
- Drone Search: Myths and Misconceptions – Kyle Cromer
- Case Study (Title Pending) – Caleb Landers
10:30-12:00
- Death and Decomp (Pending Confirmation) – Benton County Coroner
- K-9 Scent Theory – Arkansas Alliance of Bloodhound Search Specialist & Quapaw EM K-9
14:00-15:30
- Civil Air Patrol Briefing (Title Pending) – Civil Air Patrol
- Legal Considerations of Search (Pending Confirmation) –
15:45-17:15
- Helicopter Operations (Pending Confirmation) – Arkansas Army National Guard
- CalTopo Mobile App and Mutual Aid Events – Klay Rowbotham
18:00-20:00
- Saturday Evening Banquet with Guest Speaker and Door Prizes
20:00-21:00
- “SAR Fun Night” – Details to be determined
Sunday, June 9:
08:00 – 11:45 (All Morning)
- Planner to Field Team Leader Interaction – Fred Mullen & Dave Sutter
- Responding to Adventure Bike Subjects (Title Pending) – So Live, So Ride Moto Ranch
08:00 – 9:45
- Field Commo (Title Pending) – Justin Drittler
- Search Intelligence – Michael Waddle
10:00 – 11:45
- Patrol and Confinement (Title Pending) – Justin Drittler
- Edge Evolutions (Title Pending)– Robert Shepherd
Immediately following morning activities
- Lunch & Debrief
Other Conference Features:
- Thursday Evening: TBA
- Friday Evening: Arkansas Search and Rescue Association General Membership Meeting and Election (Note: Must be a member of a current ASARA member team to attend)
- Saturday Evening: Banquet with Guest Speaker and Door Prizes followed by a “SAR Fun Night”
Lodging and Meals
On-campus lodging is available in Nutt Hall Wednesday, June 5 – Saturday, June 8: $30 per Night
Virtual Tour of a Nutt Hall Dorm Room – https://youtu.be/Wu-qpW6mn9s
Attendees will need to provide their own linens.
No alcohol, tobacco, weapons, or pets are allowed.
You may also secure your own lodging off-campus if you prefer.Please Note: Couples that wish to lodge together will need to specify this on their registration form.
Please Note: The fees for meal tickets and lodging are in addition to the conference day fees and any other fees you may have.
Meal Tickets for Chambers Cafeteria are available:
Thursday through Saturday: $30 / day
- Includes Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner for selected days
Sunday: $20
- Includes Breakfast and Boxed Lunch only
Saturday Night Banquet Meal only: $25 (if not purchasing a Meal Ticket for Saturday)
- Includes Saturday night Banquet meal ONLY
- The planned menu for the Banquet dinner is: (subject to change)
- Chicken Parmesan
- Fettucine Alfredo
- Caesar Salad
- Garlic Bread
- Cookies/Brownie
- Iced tea or Water
Please Note: Class days, cost, and other details are subject to change!
Please Note: Extra items such as books and ASARA merchandise will be available for purchase at the conference for additional fees.
Total Cost for the Conference will vary depending on which classes you choose to attend, meal ticket, lodging, and any cost associated with optional extras such as books or ASARA merchandise purchases.
Registration Deadline is Sunday, May 12 by 23:59.
Late Registrations will be available after May 12 with an additional $20 late registration fee and no guarantee of room availability.
On-line Conference Registration Form
If your team enjoys having events such as our State Conference, please consider having your team join ASARA to help support our efforts. Please see the Membership page for information.
Please check back here or follow our Facebook Page for updates.