Education
Junior Searchers
We launched in 2024 our hands-on initiative designed to introduce young people to search and rescue. Through fun, age-appropriate activities, participants learn essential skills like map reading, teamwork, personal safety, and situational awareness. Junior Searchers learn how search K9s work and their role in finding missing people. The program builds confidence, responsibility, and a spirit of community service in the next generation of rescuers.
Community Outreach
As part of our 360 degree approach to search, our team engages in community outreach through educational presentations, safety demonstrations, and interactive events with local schools and groups. These efforts help raise awareness about wilderness safety, emergency preparedness, and the vital role volunteer K9 SAR teams play in bringing home the missing.
Search Training
Members of Uwharrie Search Dogs participate in continuous training to keep their skills sharp and ready for real-world missions. This includes regular exercises in land navigation both with GPS and without, first aid, communication, and search planning. K9 handlers also work those tools along with search K9s in various environments and scenarios to ensure both K9 and handler are physically and mentally prepared for any emergency.