Brunswick Search and Rescue 2025 News and Training Information
Training Schedule 2025
If interested in attending one of our trainings, please get in touch with either Chief Doug or member John for further information:
Chief Doug @ BSARchief@gmail.com
John (BSAR Secretary) @ BSARgrants@gmail.com
If interested in attending one of our trainings, please get in touch with either Chief Doug or member John for further information:
Chief Doug @ BSARchief@gmail.com
John (BSAR Secretary) @ BSARgrants@gmail.com
June
7 - 0900 to 1300 /. 14 - 0900 to 1300 /. 18 - 1000 to 1300. /. 29 - 1000 to 1400
July
4 - Southport, NC 4th of July Parade. /. 12 - 0900 to 1300 /. 23 - 1000 to 1400 /. 27 - 0900 to 1300
August
9 - 0900 to 1300 /. 20 - 1000 to 1400. /. 31 - 0900 to 1300
September
13 - 0900 to 1300. /. 17 - 1000 to 1400. /. 28 - 0900 to 1300
October
11 - 0900 to 1300. /. 15 - 1000 to 1400. /. 26 - 0900 to 1300
November
1 - 0900 to 1300. /. 5 - 1000 to 1400. / 12 - 1000 to 1400 /. 22 - 0900 to 1200
December
6 - 0900 to 1300 /. 17 - 1000 to 1400 /. 21 - 0900 to 1300
7 - 0900 to 1300 /. 14 - 0900 to 1300 /. 18 - 1000 to 1300. /. 29 - 1000 to 1400
July
4 - Southport, NC 4th of July Parade. /. 12 - 0900 to 1300 /. 23 - 1000 to 1400 /. 27 - 0900 to 1300
August
9 - 0900 to 1300 /. 20 - 1000 to 1400. /. 31 - 0900 to 1300
September
13 - 0900 to 1300. /. 17 - 1000 to 1400. /. 28 - 0900 to 1300
October
11 - 0900 to 1300. /. 15 - 1000 to 1400. /. 26 - 0900 to 1300
November
1 - 0900 to 1300. /. 5 - 1000 to 1400. / 12 - 1000 to 1400 /. 22 - 0900 to 1200
December
6 - 0900 to 1300 /. 17 - 1000 to 1400 /. 21 - 0900 to 1300
June 2025 News
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BSAR Presents to Brunswick Interagency Program (BIP)
Members Deputy Chief Les/K9 Charley, John/K9 Otis, Ken/K9 Markus, Barb/K9 Cider, JJ, Jim, and Wendy of Brunswick Search and Rescue visited Brunswick Community College's Brunswick Interagency Program. They presented to over 70 students, faculty, staff, and the President, Dr. Gene Smith. Each member discussed their role in BSAR, with the members focusing on the Hug A Tree (HAT) program, which involves staying in place if lost. And of course, the group met some of our K9 teams!
The Brunswick Interagency Program (BIP) at Brunswick Community College is a nationally acclaimed initiative dedicated to supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program empowers students to fully integrate into the campus community, achieve their highest potential, gain independence, actively engage in their communities, and successfully transition into the workforce. BIP offers a wide range of comprehensive services, including Adult Basic Education, Employment Resources, the BIP Greenhouse and Gift Shop, and Transportation.
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Members Deputy Chief Les/K9 Charley, John/K9 Otis, Ken/K9 Markus, Barb/K9 Cider, JJ, Jim, and Wendy of Brunswick Search and Rescue visited Brunswick Community College's Brunswick Interagency Program. They presented to over 70 students, faculty, staff, and the President, Dr. Gene Smith. Each member discussed their role in BSAR, with the members focusing on the Hug A Tree (HAT) program, which involves staying in place if lost. And of course, the group met some of our K9 teams!
The Brunswick Interagency Program (BIP) at Brunswick Community College is a nationally acclaimed initiative dedicated to supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program empowers students to fully integrate into the campus community, achieve their highest potential, gain independence, actively engage in their communities, and successfully transition into the workforce. BIP offers a wide range of comprehensive services, including Adult Basic Education, Employment Resources, the BIP Greenhouse and Gift Shop, and Transportation.
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BSAR Accepts Donation of Narcan from Costco
Secretary of Brunswick Search and Rescue, John, accepts a donation of Narcan for our K9s from Costco in Wilmington, NC.
SAR K9s, like other working dogs, have the risk of exposure to potent and potentially lethal opioids during their operations. Narcan acts as an opioid antagonist (blocking the effects of opioids). Narcan can quickly restore normal breathing and consciousness of a K9 experiencing an overdose from exposure. Carrying and knowing how to administer Narcan provides the K9 handler with a potentially life-saving intervention for their canine partners. Thank you Costco for helping us keep our K9s safe!
Thank you Costco!
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Secretary of Brunswick Search and Rescue, John, accepts a donation of Narcan for our K9s from Costco in Wilmington, NC.
SAR K9s, like other working dogs, have the risk of exposure to potent and potentially lethal opioids during their operations. Narcan acts as an opioid antagonist (blocking the effects of opioids). Narcan can quickly restore normal breathing and consciousness of a K9 experiencing an overdose from exposure. Carrying and knowing how to administer Narcan provides the K9 handler with a potentially life-saving intervention for their canine partners. Thank you Costco for helping us keep our K9s safe!
Thank you Costco!
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May 2025 News
BSAR Receives FOCUS Broadband Community Connections Grant
Brunswick Search and Rescue (BSAR) has been awarded a 2025 Community Connections Grant from FOCUS Broadband. The grant provides significant funding for BSAR's training activities. Chief Doug Dawson stated, "We value support from our community partners, especially FOCUS Broadband who has been a long time supporter of BSAR training. This training assures that we will continue to set the standard for all-volunteer SAR teams, providing highly skilled and expertly trained personnel quickly when needed for emergencies where FOCUS Broadband employees, their families, and customers live, work, and play".
A few of BSAR team members and K9's joined Ms. Blair Leach, FOCUS Broadband Public Relations Coordinator for a check presentation.
As a cooperative, FOCUS Broadband is dedicated to helping to improve the communities they serve. Each year, FOCUS Broadband awards $40,000 to the numerous causes and worthwhile organizations that make a positive difference in the lives of local residents through the Community Grant Program. More than $1.25 million in community and education grants have been awarded since the program's inception in 2006. For more information regarding FOCUS Broadband grants program, email grants@focusbroadband.com.
Thank you Focus Broadband!
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Brunswick Search and Rescue (BSAR) has been awarded a 2025 Community Connections Grant from FOCUS Broadband. The grant provides significant funding for BSAR's training activities. Chief Doug Dawson stated, "We value support from our community partners, especially FOCUS Broadband who has been a long time supporter of BSAR training. This training assures that we will continue to set the standard for all-volunteer SAR teams, providing highly skilled and expertly trained personnel quickly when needed for emergencies where FOCUS Broadband employees, their families, and customers live, work, and play".
A few of BSAR team members and K9's joined Ms. Blair Leach, FOCUS Broadband Public Relations Coordinator for a check presentation.
As a cooperative, FOCUS Broadband is dedicated to helping to improve the communities they serve. Each year, FOCUS Broadband awards $40,000 to the numerous causes and worthwhile organizations that make a positive difference in the lives of local residents through the Community Grant Program. More than $1.25 million in community and education grants have been awarded since the program's inception in 2006. For more information regarding FOCUS Broadband grants program, email grants@focusbroadband.com.
Thank you Focus Broadband!
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BSAR Receives BEMC Community Grant
Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation hosted its annual luncheon during which it awarded local nonprofit organizations with BEMC Community Grants. One of the recipients this year was BSAR's program "Lost But Found - The Happy Ending to Hide-n-Seek Gone Wrong". The funds will be used to support BSAR's program that teaches children 9 -12 years old how to plan for a safe outing but what to do should they become lost in the woods. The program, called "Hug-A-Tree" (HAT), emphasizes that they stay in place if lost and provides things to use in an emergency such as a garage bag with holes poked through for head and arms to stay dry and warm, signaling mirror, a whistle, and trading cards for some of the K9's they get to meet.
BSAR Deputy Chief Les Tubb attended the award ceremony and accepted the grant for Brunswick Search and Rescue.
Brunswick Electric has been providing grants to community groups and non-profit organizations that make a difference in the lives of their members since 2003. This year, 58 local organizations received a total of $86,500., bringing the amount of grants awarded since the program's inception to $910,750.
Thank you Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation!
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Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation hosted its annual luncheon during which it awarded local nonprofit organizations with BEMC Community Grants. One of the recipients this year was BSAR's program "Lost But Found - The Happy Ending to Hide-n-Seek Gone Wrong". The funds will be used to support BSAR's program that teaches children 9 -12 years old how to plan for a safe outing but what to do should they become lost in the woods. The program, called "Hug-A-Tree" (HAT), emphasizes that they stay in place if lost and provides things to use in an emergency such as a garage bag with holes poked through for head and arms to stay dry and warm, signaling mirror, a whistle, and trading cards for some of the K9's they get to meet.
BSAR Deputy Chief Les Tubb attended the award ceremony and accepted the grant for Brunswick Search and Rescue.
Brunswick Electric has been providing grants to community groups and non-profit organizations that make a difference in the lives of their members since 2003. This year, 58 local organizations received a total of $86,500., bringing the amount of grants awarded since the program's inception to $910,750.
Thank you Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation!
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Thank You, St. James Service Club
At its award luncheon on Wednesday, May 14, the St. James Service Club (SJSC) awarded a 2025 grant to Brunswick Search and Rescue (BSAR) for the purchase of three hand-held GPS units. According to Chief Doug Dawson, "During a search and rescue mission, personnel must be tracked by GPS to ensure that each search sector is adequately covered and so that searchers can be quickly dispatched to another area if the search focus shifts due to new information received. These funds provide critical GPS equipment to complete the cache of instruments used in every training and callout in which BSAR participates. We at BSAR are grateful for SJSC's continuing support of our mission..."Reuniting the lost and missing with their families'".
Chief Doug Dawson accepted the grant check from Darlene Germano.
St. James Service Club is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization with a current membership of more than 400 members actively engaged in fundraising and volunteering. They have been in existence since 1997 and incorporated since 1999. In that time, they have donated over $2.4 milion in funds and gifts-in-kind. For additional information, see their website at www. sjserviceclub.org or email president@sjservice.org.
Thank you St. James Service Club!
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At its award luncheon on Wednesday, May 14, the St. James Service Club (SJSC) awarded a 2025 grant to Brunswick Search and Rescue (BSAR) for the purchase of three hand-held GPS units. According to Chief Doug Dawson, "During a search and rescue mission, personnel must be tracked by GPS to ensure that each search sector is adequately covered and so that searchers can be quickly dispatched to another area if the search focus shifts due to new information received. These funds provide critical GPS equipment to complete the cache of instruments used in every training and callout in which BSAR participates. We at BSAR are grateful for SJSC's continuing support of our mission..."Reuniting the lost and missing with their families'".
Chief Doug Dawson accepted the grant check from Darlene Germano.
St. James Service Club is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization with a current membership of more than 400 members actively engaged in fundraising and volunteering. They have been in existence since 1997 and incorporated since 1999. In that time, they have donated over $2.4 milion in funds and gifts-in-kind. For additional information, see their website at www. sjserviceclub.org or email president@sjservice.org.
Thank you St. James Service Club!
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BSAR Awarded an AKC Reunite Search and Rescue Grant
Brunswick Search and Rescue has been named the recipient of an AKC Reunite Search and Rescue Training Grant. AKC Reunite has been a valued partner in BSAR's K9 training program for several years. The funds will be spent for advanced specialty search and rescue training of some of BSAR's search K9s.
AKC Reunite Search and Rescue Grant program has provided over 12 million dollars in disaster preparedness and relief causes that impact pets and for training K9 search and rescue teams. Over 10 million pets participate in the AKC Reunite identification microchip program and more than 600,000 lost pets have been reunited with their owners.
Thank you AKC Reunite!
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Brunswick Search and Rescue has been named the recipient of an AKC Reunite Search and Rescue Training Grant. AKC Reunite has been a valued partner in BSAR's K9 training program for several years. The funds will be spent for advanced specialty search and rescue training of some of BSAR's search K9s.
AKC Reunite Search and Rescue Grant program has provided over 12 million dollars in disaster preparedness and relief causes that impact pets and for training K9 search and rescue teams. Over 10 million pets participate in the AKC Reunite identification microchip program and more than 600,000 lost pets have been reunited with their owners.
Thank you AKC Reunite!
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BSAR Reads to Sneads Ferry Presbyterian Church Preschool Children
K9 Lucy (handler Marci) and K9 Champ (handler Brian) visited the preschool children at Sneads Ferry Presbyterian Church, and read the book "When You Wander, A Search-and-Rescue Dog Story", donated to BSAR by GFWC of Holden Beach. This story gently teaches children what to do if they lose their way, and reassures them that a search-and-rescue dog can find them wherever they are. Once a child is found, the dog will bring people to make sure that everyone gets home safe and sound! The children also loved meeting K9 Lucy and K9 Champ! |
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BSAR Holds SARTOPO Table Top Class
Training isn't always outside - sometimes your skills are challenged inside! Chief Doug facilitated a SARTOPO Table Top exercise for BSAR members. The class was held at Brunswick Community College in Bolivia, NC. This type of training is critical to test and refine an organization's incident response plan. It allows team members to practice their roles, clarify responsibilities, improve communication skills, and identify potential gaps in their plans before a real search situation occurs.
Training isn't always outside - sometimes your skills are challenged inside! Chief Doug facilitated a SARTOPO Table Top exercise for BSAR members. The class was held at Brunswick Community College in Bolivia, NC. This type of training is critical to test and refine an organization's incident response plan. It allows team members to practice their roles, clarify responsibilities, improve communication skills, and identify potential gaps in their plans before a real search situation occurs.
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October 2024
Members attend the Old Dominion K9 Seminar, Holden Beach Women's Club donates books, and incredible training at Gallberry Farms.
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October ended with an incredible training opportunity at Gallberry Farms. BSAR team member Laura/K9 Allons-y planned this training at a horse farm in Hope Mills. This training included opportunities to work land and water HRD, trailing, and wilderness live find. The day ended with a historic cemetery search on the property. Chief Doug became Chef Doug, grilling hamburgers and hotdogs for participants. Training in different terrains and areas is essential in keeping our handlers and K9s ready for the challenges of different conditions we face in deployments.
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Members Dorothy/K9 Ollie, Marci/K9 Lucy, Brian/K9 Champ attended the Old Dominion K9 Seminar. Dorothy and Ollie focused on trailing exercises, while Marci, Lucy, Brian, and Champ worked on water human remains exercises. Dorothy also experienced running a bloodhound on a trail! Attendees braved the intermittent pouring rain, taking advantage of training in a possible real-life situation. Training in all weather conditions is essential and prepares handlers and K9s to be deployment-ready.
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(Left picture) Holden Beach Women's Club donated copies of the book "When You Wander: A Search-and-Rescue Dog Story. The story teaches children what to do if they lose their way, and a search-and-rescue dog will find them and bring people to them. The books will be used in BSAR presentations to children at libraries and camps.
(Bottom left and center) BSAR Deputy Chief Les and K9 Charley spent time reading the book to children at an Oak Island library. Charley was a hit and the children enjoyed the story and meeting a real life search-and-rescue K9! |
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September 2024
Navigation class and Hug-A-Tree presentations to Girl Scouts Love State Parks event
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The first week of September was busy for BSAR, with two successful searches. We capped the week off with navigation skills training. Chief Doug presented and led a map exercise. Keeping our navigation skills strong is essential for efficiency and effectiveness in searches. BSAR members Marci/K9 Lucy, John/K9 Otis, Laura/K9 Mira, Brian/K9 Champ, Wendy, and O'Brian attended two Girl Scouts Love State Parks events, presenting the Hug-A-Tree program and informational table. As always, our K9s were a hit, and important information was shared regarding what to do if you get lost in the woods.
August 2024
BSAR Completes It's Summer Hug A Tree (HAT) Program
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This summer, Brunswick Search and Rescue presented the Hug A Tree and Survive Program to children participating in summer camps in Onslow County Park and Rec, Pender County's Parks and Rec in Hampstead, and at Shallotte Library, and Brunswick County Cooperative 4-H. The Hug A Tree program was started in San Diego, California after a nine-year-old boy died in the local mountains after becoming separated from his family while in the woods. Searchers came together and developed this program. The program is designed to teach children how not to get lost, how to stay comfortable if they become lost, and how to be spotted and found. BSAR treasurer Marci is passionate about bringing this program to the community and is planning on expanding presentations to 4-H clubs, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Library groups. Each presentation includes a demonstration finding a lost person by one of our K9 Wilderness Area Search teams and/or Trailing K9 teams. At the end of the program, the children and staff get to interact with our K9's - always a favorite part of the program!
BSAR 25th Anniversary Special Edition Book
Brunswick Search and Rescue celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a Special Edition book that chronicles the 25 year history since its formation. Christy Judah, M.Ed, founder of BSAR created this book that follows BSAR's journey of locating lost and missing persons, and educational programs that taught children throughout southeastern North Carolina to stay safe in the woods. From four wheelers to drones, certified K9 teams active in water, wilderness, and human remain searches, ground searchers, disaster response, and prevention programs, BSAR has served North and South Carolina as well as surrounding states. We are thankful for the humans and K9's who have been part of our incredible team over the past 25 years, and honor them in this 25th Anniversary Special Edition book. This book is available on Amazon.
BSAR HRD Handlers and K9's Successfully Complete Certification/Recertification
On a beautiful August day, three BSAR K9 teams tested for recertification, and three BSAR K9 teams tested for first time certification for Human Remains Detection. The test was held at Carver's Creek State Park in Spring Lake, North Carolina and the teams worked two separate areas depending on first certification or recertification. Each K9 team described their search strategy using wind direction and terrain, K9's trained final response and communicated any change in strategy during the test. Handlers demonstrated that their hard work and dedication in training with their K9 resulted in efficient and effective strategies and finding all sources with no false indications. Congratulations to Herb/K9 Mesha (first certification), Bobbie Jo/K9 Mira (first certification), Marcia/K9 Meka (first certification), Herb/K9 Lilly (recertification), Laura Jane/K9 Allons-y (recertification), Marcia/K9 Myla Joy (recertification).
July 2024 |
BSAR K9 Myla Joy UNC Volunteer
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Some of our SAR K9's have other jobs. Myla Joy, BSAR certified Wilderness Live Find and Human Remains Detection (handler Marcia) joined UNC Health Rockingham as a volunteer therapy dog. Myla Joy is certified with Therapy Dogs International and will spend time with residents at UNC Rockingham Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center.
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Fourth of July Parade
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BSAR team member Wendy coordinated BSAR's participation in the 2024 Southport North Carolina 4th of July Parade. This event has become a yearly tradition, and members and K9's look forward to riding our trailered boat and walking the parade route. BSAR members JJ, Jim, Barb/K9 Cider, Keith/K9 Nitro, Will (who pulled our boat with his truck) and Paul along with some of our members spouses and family joined Wendy in the parade on the beautiful July day.