Northeast Wilderness Search and Rescue (NEWSAR)

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 /....

03/17/2026

Announcement – Early Registration is Open – Announcement
2026 NEWSAR Annual Training Conference
September, 18-20, 2026
Vermont Police Academy Pittsford, VT
Receive a 10% discount for registering before June 1st, 2026.

02/02/2026

JANUARY 2026
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
https://www.newsar.org
It is winter in the northeast, and the fresh snow makes tracks easy to follow. It is also only eight months to NEWSAR annual training at the Vermont Law Enforcement Training Academy in Pittsford, VT September 18th through 20th. This year there is a discount on early registration fees. People who register before June 1st, 2026 will receive a 10% discount on registration as an incentive. Getting an early head count helps us plan the best conference possible. This year’s training will include something new. NEWSAR is using CalTopo to integrate all field activities (and some classroom activities) on Friday and Saturday into Saturday night’s mock search. Map sharing, location sharing, and real time updates will be available to all attendees who want to participate. For those who are interested, there will be links to CalTopo training before the conference as well as classes available during the conference. CalTopo is sponsoring NEWSAR to make this possible. Look for their upcoming training links on our website. If you have questions, please contact us.

2026 Annual Training Registration

Annual Training Registration Open – 10% discount for those registering before June 1st 2026.
Click to Register.
https://www.newsar.org/training-opportunities/2026-annual-training/2026-registration/

Affiliate Partnerships
https://www.newsar.org/resourcedirectory/

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!

Donate to NEWSAR
https://www.newsar.org/donate/

Welcome To Northeast Wilderness Search and Rescue Professional Search and Rescue Volunteers and Law Enforcement Announcement – Early Registration is Open – Announcement2026 NEWSAR Annual Training ConferenceSeptember, 18-20, 2026Vermont Police Academy Pittsford, VTReceive a 10% discount for regis...

10/06/2025

2025 Annual Training – Post Conference Survey & Certificate of Attendance

On behalf of the entire training staff at NEWSAR we would like to thank you for making this year’s conference such a success. Special thanks to the instructors, speakers, and search role players.

As part of our after action review you will be receiving a link to the post conference survey and your certificate of attendance. Check your inbox in the coming days for your username and password credentials.

Please take a moment to respond to the survey and download your certificate.

We look forward to seeing you at future trainings and next year’s conference.

Thank you;

NEWSAR Staff

09/18/2025

2025 Annual Training – Friday Daytime Exercises

For those planning to attend the daytime exercises on Friday 9/19/25 please check-in and be prepared to start deploying into the field at 0900 hours. We will kick off promptly at 9:00am. You are being deployed into the field based on the estimated arrival times you listed on your registration.

Check-in at the pop-up canopy located on Caverly Road just beyond the Pittsford Municipal Building at the corner of Plains Rd and Caverly Rd.

Friday Night Networking - Don’t forget to bring a chair for the Friday night networking session.

See you this weekend.

NEWSAR Staff

09/16/2025

2025 Annual Training – Evening of Networking (Friday Evening)

Following the Introduction to Drones Class on Friday evening, let’s meet behind the K9 House. Meet, greet and get to know others in the search and rescue profession. SAR war stories, Bring your own chair. Drinks, cheese & crackers provided.