Nevada County Search and Rescue Welcomes 24 New Academy Graduates
24 volunteers completed the team’s 2026 academy program and joined the active roster.
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2026 Search and Rescue Academy graduates. Credit: Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue.
NEVADA COUNTY — On Sunday, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team announced that 24 students had graduated from its 2026 academy. The academy ran from April 19 through May 17 and combined weekend field work with some weeknight classes.
The basic academy trains new volunteers to serve as Type II searchers. Students attend six evening classroom sessions that cover introduction to search and rescue, incident command systems, search tactics, map and compass navigation, GPS use, radio communications, knot tying, litter loading, helicopter safety, man tracking, and other skills. Participants also complete an eight-mile fitness hike with a 20-pound pack and 1,000 feet of elevation gain in under three hours, plus wilderness first aid, CPR certification, a field day, and a final evaluation. Graduates receive uniforms and are added to the call-out list.
Students train on rescue techniques during the academy. Credit: Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue operates as an all-volunteer, accredited mountain rescue team in partnership with the sheriff’s office. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit group stands ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to locate missing or endangered people in the county’s rugged Sierra Nevada terrain. The team also collaborates with neighboring counties when resources are needed. Members handle wilderness searches, technical rescues, and other emergency operations. In 2025 alone, the team responded to 100 incidents and logged nearly 32,000 volunteer hours.