Overview: The Wilderness Rescue Team (WRT) is an all-volunteer, non-profit corporation that has been serving the people of Maine for more than 40 years. As a search and rescue team, WRT provides a critical set of skills to assist in wilderness rescue and is available 24/7 to respond. The team trains in multiple search and rescue functions such as ground search, lost person behavior, basic life support skills, backcountry rescue, and high angle rescue, as well as providing preventative search and rescue programs for groups and members of the public. WRT is a member of the Maine Association for Search and Rescue (MASAR) and is affiliated with Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency to provide wilderness search and rescue services to the Cumberland County.
Mission: Our mission is to provide search, technical rescue, and medical services in wilderness areas.
Training: All members of WRT work towards and become certified as a Search Team Member through MASAR. Team members can also become certified as a Technical Specialist or in Wilderness First Aid. WRT members train year round with monthly meetings/skills training once a month. During the summer, members travel to Baxter State Park to train and serve as the on-duty SAR team for the park. Winter training sessions are also conducted at Mount Katahdin, focusing on winter weather skills.
Key Responsibilities:
• Emergency Response: Rapidly deploying to locate and assist individuals in distress in wilderness areas.
• Training and Exercise: Regularly conducting training sessions and exercises to ensure team readiness and proficiency.
• Public Education: Offering workshops and outreach programs to educate the community and other partners on wilderness safety, preparedness, and WRTs mission.
• Collaboration: Partnering with local agencies, parks, and other organizations to enhance rescue operations and community safety.
Get Involved: We are always excited to meet new people who share in our passion and are eager to give back to their communities. No prior experience is needed!
Contact Us: For more information about the Wilderness Rescue Team, volunteer opportunities, or to support our efforts, please visit our website (https://wildernessrescue.org/) or our Facebook page.
