Support for Search and Rescue Annual Trainings

Search and Rescue Rangers encounter some of the toughest situations daily in Zion National Park. With more than 500 calls each year, our SAR Rangers are put to the test, responding to calls as simple as a sprained ankle, heat stroke, or life threating climbing falls. Ensuring that Rangers have the right training and practice to address the distress calls, including those regarding swift water rescue, is crucial to the safety of visitors to Zion National Park. 

Seach and Rescue Annual Training will allow for annual trainings not only for Zion National Park Rangers, but also neighboring park staff, volunteers, and departments to ensure that they have the skills and training needed to respond to calls throughout the region. By participating in training together in the park, crews learn hands-on skills that can help save lives inside of Zion National Park. By training and practicing together in the park, participants build the technique and communication practice that allows for better response during high stress situations together.  

Support of the first responders in our park extends outside of just annual training. This past year through donor support, we have been able to expand our efforts to support mental health and resiliency through additional training for rangers. This includes post-response debriefing, and family liaison training to help mitigate some of the stress of the many calls our rangers and volunteers respond to.  

Zion Forever Project and the Zion Search and Rescue team and volunteers would like to share thanks to the Sun-Blaney Family for starting the Isabel’s Light Employee Wellness Fund which helps support the mental health and resiliency of our staff and rangers. We are truly grateful for this support as it helps ensure the mental wellbeing of our staff post emergency events every day.