Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group Presents: Becoming a Search and Rescue Volunteer

Join members of Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group’s all-volunteer search and rescue team, to learn what it really looks like to answer the call when someone goes missing or needs help in the backcountry. You’ll get an inside look at the many roles that make up a modern SAR team: ground searchers trekking through thick woods and steep terrain, search K9s and their handlers working scent in challenging environments, drone operators scanning vast areas from above, rope and cave specialists tackling our region’s cliffs and underground passages, swift water rescue technicians responding on fast-moving rivers and creeks, and emergency medical providers delivering care in remote settings. Learn what skills and commitment are needed to be a good fit for their 2026 New Member cohort. Ask questions about training, time expectations, certifications, fitness, and how volunteers balance SAR work with everyday life. Come find out how you can build your outdoor skills, work as part of a tight-knit team, and give back to the community by helping keep our local adventures safe. Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group is a Pittsburgh-based, all-volunteer search and rescue team accredited by the Mountain Rescue Association, the Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Council, and the Appalachian Search and Rescue Conference, and is part of the Allegheny County Child Abduction Abduction Response team. They respond to roughly 50 missions a year across Western Pennsylvania and neighboring states.