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Announcing the 2025 Search & Rescue Awards

Now in its sixth year, the 2025 SAR Awards introduced three grant tiers—$25K, $10K, and $5K—to better meet the evolving needs of the Search and Rescue community. More than 180 SAR teams applied, requesting support based on their financial needs to acquire critical equipment, fund operational projects, and complete advanced training.

$110,000

Awarded for Training & Equipment

8

Winning Teams from U.S. & Canada

2025 Grant Recipients

Recipients listed alphabetically. Expand to learn more about each team's mission and grant award use. 

Boone County Water Rescue Association (Kentucky) - $5,000
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Boone County Water Rescue Association is a volunteer organization dedicated to water and boating safety education, training for water-based search and recovery operations, and support for hazardous material containment around bodies of water. The team assists with locating and recovering drowning victims, rescuing individuals trapped in vehicles, downed aircraft, and watercraft, and provides training to other organizations in related disciplines. Serving Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties in Kentucky, as well as the Cincinnati area, the team is made up of 48 active members.

$5,000 Award Use:  The award will replace three faulty communication systems used during dive operations, ensuring clear, reliable communication between divers and the crew, crucial for safety in high-risk water rescues.

Chaffee County Search and Rescue - North (Colorado) - $5,000
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Chaffee County Search and Rescue - North (CCSAR-N) is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization operating under the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office. The team provides search and rescue services and outdoor safety education at no cost to the public. Operating primarily in Chaffee County, Colorado, with occasional mutual aid to surrounding areas, the team consists of 50 active members. They specialize in land search, high-angle rescue, swiftwater rescue, winter rescue (including avalanche), mechanized search (using 4x4s, ATVs, dirt bikes, Ebikes, and snowmobiles), and drone search. The team is certified as a medical entity and holds Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) certification.

$5,000 Award Use:  The award will fund the purchase of a communications console to improve mission efficiency. This upgrade will ensure two radio operators can manage multiple communication channels during missions, ensuring clearer and more effective operations.

Columbia Valley Search and Rescue (British Columbia) - $5,000
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Columbia Valley Search and Rescue (CVSAR) provides trained ground search and rescue services, emergency disaster response, public safety, and community education across a 10,000 square km area in the East Kootenays of British Columbia. Their operational coverage spans from Canal Flats in the south to Bugaboo Provincial Park in the north, extending east to the Alberta border and west to the Purcell Mountain Range. The team consists of 36 active members and 9 non-operational members who support various roles within the organization.

$5,000 Award Use:  Funds will help advance their communication project to improve radio coverage in remote areas. This includes testing a fixed repeater at a mountain-top location, ensuring safer and more reliable communication for SAR teams in areas with no cell coverage.

Deschutes County Search and Rescue (Oregon) - $25,000
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Deschutes County Search and Rescue provides professional, high-quality rescue services to residents and visitors throughout Central Oregon and beyond. With 118 active members, the unit supports local and regional missions, including mutual aid to neighboring counties. Deschutes County SAR is the only unit east of the Cascades offering a full range of specialized teams, including Mountain Rescue, Swiftwater, Ski, Snowmobile/ATV, Medical, Dive, Air Operations, and more.

$25,000 Award Use:  After responding to four complex avalanche incidents over the past two years, Deschutes County SAR has identified the need for more advanced avalanche training. They will use the award to train seven members through advanced avalanche courses, ensuring faster, safer responses to future incidents in an area where avalanche frequency is increasing.

El Dorado County Search and Rescue Tahoe Team (California) - $10,000
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The El Dorado Search and Rescue (EDSAR) Tahoe Team is a dedicated group of 40 professionally trained volunteer responders operating under the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and supported by the nonprofit El Dorado Search and Rescue Council (ESARC). Serving over 450,000 acres of alpine and backcountry terrain in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Tahoe Team is one of the busiest backcountry rescue units in the nation. Available 24/7, they respond to emergencies involving hikers, skiers, off-roaders, and campers, as well as natural disasters like storms, floods, and wildfires. EDSAR’s mission is simple: to save lives and reduce human suffering—“So Others May Live.”$10,000 Award Use: The Tahoe Team will use their grant to fund ongoing avalanche education, allowing them to train 18 members annually in Avalanche Level 1 and Companion Rescue courses. This ensures the team remains ready for winter rescues and avalanche terrain navigation.

$10,000 Award Use:  Funds will be used to purchase updated PPE and climbing gear and improve communication during vertical rescues. The team will invest in reliable, streamlined communication tools, inspired by their recent success using personal Rocky Talkies in the field.

Golden and District Search and Rescue (British Columbia/Alberta) - $10,000
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Golden and District Search and Rescue (GADSAR) is a volunteer-based organization supporting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other authorities in locating and evacuating lost or injured individuals. With 45 active members, the team is committed to maintaining a high level of training and equipment to ensure safe and effective operations. Their primary response area spans approximately 1,200 square kilometers—from Yoho National Park in the east to Glacier National Park in the west, north to Kinbasket Lake, and south to Spillimacheen—but they also provide mutual aid beyond this region when requested.

$10,000 Award Use:  GADSAR will launch a drone program to improve search and rescue efforts in avalanche and swiftwater incidents. The funds will cover the purchase of a DJI Mavic 3 drone and provide training for safe, efficient drone operation.

Linville-Central Rescue Squad (North Carolina) - $25,000
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The Linville-Central Rescue Squad is a volunteer-based, state-certified emergency response organization serving Avery County, North Carolina, and providing mutual aid throughout the southeastern U.S. With 98 active members—58 of whom serve on the Mountain Rescue/SAR team—the squad delivers professional, compassionate aid in medical and traumatic emergencies at no cost to those in need. In addition to emergency response, the squad is committed to public safety through education, prevention, and collaboration with local and regional emergency services.

$25,000 Award Use:  To support their newly accredited Mountain Search and Rescue (MSAR) Team, the squad will use the award funds to purchase essential PPE and technical gear, replacing expired equipment and ensuring all volunteers are properly outfitted for local and regional missions.

Pennington County Search and Rescue (South Dakota) - $25,000
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Pennington County Search and Rescue is a non-profit, all-volunteer search and rescue team made up of 24 active members dedicated to saving lives across more than 3,000 square miles of western South Dakota. Their coverage area includes Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, Badlands National Park, and thousands of rock climbing routes. Available 24/7, 365 days a year, the team provides emergency assistance at no cost to residents, visitors, and surrounding communities. They also offer extensive mutual aid support to neighboring counties and the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

$25,000 Award Use:  Funds will be used to purchase updated PPE and climbing gear and improve communication during vertical rescues. The team will invest in reliable, streamlined communication tools, inspired by their recent success using personal Rocky Talkies in the field.

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Supporting Partners

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The Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization committed to saving lives through search and rescue (SAR) operations in mountainous and difficult terrain. Established in 1959, the MRA sets rigorous training and certification standards for its member teams to ensure professional-level rescue capabilities. It also promotes collaboration, education, and safety in mountain environments across the United States.

Mountain Rescue Association

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The American Alpine Club (AAC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting climbers and advancing the climbing community through education, advocacy, conservation, and community-building. Founded in 1902, the AAC provides resources such as grants, guidebooks, rescue coverage, and access to climbing lodges. It also champions environmental stewardship and works to protect access to climbing areas.

American Alpine Club

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The National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing professional, standardized training and education in search and rescue (SAR) operations. Founded in 1972, NASAR supports both volunteer and professional responders through certifications, courses, and best practices designed to enhance field readiness. It advocates for effective, safe, and ethical SAR missions.

National Association for Search and Rescue

Supporting Partners

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Outdoor Safety Pledge & SAR Award History

Since day one, we’ve pledged $2 from every radio sold to advancing outdoor safety. That pledge goes beyond just selling reliable communication gear—it’s our way of reinvesting in the community that inspires us. As of the 2025 Awards, Rocky Talkie has contributed over $260,000 to 27 teams across the United States and Canada. 

These funds directly support underfunded volunteer Search and Rescue (SAR) teams through our flagship initiative, the Rocky Talkie Search and Rescue Awards, as well as other safety education efforts.The SAR Awards celebrate the incredible, often unsung efforts of volunteer responders who risk their own safety to help others. But they’re also part of a larger promise—to elevate outdoor safety awareness, fund critical resources, and foster a culture where pushing limits doesn’t mean compromising safety.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PLEDGE

Stay Updated 

Are you a member of or know a SAR team who should apply next year? Join our email list to receive updates regarding the Rocky Talkie Search and Rescue Award.

Stay Updated 

Are you a member of or know a SAR team who should apply next year? Join our email list to receive updates regarding the Rocky Talkie Search and Rescue Award.

Stories From Previous Grant Recipients

Stories From Previous Grant Recipients

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I support my local Search and Rescue team?

There are multiple ways to support your local SAR team:
- Donate directly to your local SAR team
- Join or support fundraisers like raffles or community events
- Volunteer (if eligible and trained)
- Practice responsible recreation to reduce preventable rescues

Who can apply to the Rocky Talkie Search and Rescue Awards?

The SAR Award is open to any SAR team that is registered in the United States or Canada as a non-profit, or partners with a non-profit organization that can accept donations or grants on their behalf, ie: "Friends of the ABC SAR Team".

When do applications open for next year?

Applications for our 2026 SAR Award will open in early 2026. Please sign up for emails or check back for more information on application timeline.

Can I nominate a team for the Rocky Talkie SAR Awards?

If you know a SAR team who should apply for a SAR Award, we definitely encourage you to share our website with them so they can submit their application.

How is the SAR Award funded?

The Search & Rescue Award is funded through Rocky Talkie's Outdoor Safety Pledge of $2 per every radio sold back to safety and accident prevention. 

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