Hawk Mountain Search And Rescue School

Date:

July 11, 2026 - July 19, 2026

Location:

Kempton, PA

Min. Age:

Season:

Summer

Cost:

$525.00 to $625.00

About the Activity:
Hawk Mountain Ranger School has a proud history of providing outstanding SAR and emergency services training. The school is conducted outdoors in the mountains of Pennsylvania under mission field conditions and is very physically demanding. Curriculum includes but not limited to: navigation, search techniques & equipment, communication skills, woodsmanship, campsite selection & equipment, first aid, patient evacuation, specialized equipment, health & nutrition, and survival skills. In addition to the practical skills, leadership and character development also are emphasized. All participants must be Physical Category 1 (in accordance with CAPP 60-50) There are multiple courses available at the 2026 Hawk Mountain Ranger School: Basic Course Course Description: During this first-year course, cadet and senior students will gain hands-on experience in navigation, team mobility, search operations, crash site procedures, and survival skills. These skills will be evaluated during a three-day mission featuring real-world scenarios and opportunities to perform realistic rescues on Hawk Mountain away from base camp. Students will train through Ranger 3rd Class and progress into Ranger 2nd Class skills. Ground Team Member Level 3 and Level 2 qualifications will also be assessed, and students will receive training required to complete their MRO rating. This program prepares participants to become highly capable and dependable assets to any CAP ground team. Target Graduation Qualifications Ground Team Member 3 Ranger Third Class Advanced Course Course Description: Cadets attending the Advanced Course will build on the skills learned during the Basic Course and further enhance their capabilities in advanced rescue techniques, land search theory, air-to-ground coordination, and advanced navigation. They will also develop the leadership skills necessary to begin Ground Team Leader training. Cadets will have the opportunity to rappel from the 60+ foot tower. These skills will be evaluated during a three-day mission featuring realistic, real-world scenarios and hands-on rescue operations on Hawk Mountain, away from base camp. Students will train through Ranger 1st Class and Ground Team Member Level 1. Target Graduation Qualifications Ground Team Member 1 Ranger First Class Field Medic Course (This is considered a STAFF position) Course Description: This second-year course is designed for cadets interested in becoming Ranger Team Medics. Students will receive instruction in wilderness medical care, preventive care for team members, field sanitation and hygiene, trauma management, mass casualty triage, and patient transport in the field. The course is academically challenging, combining both the Cadet Advanced Course SAR curriculum and Field Medic training. Skills learned will be evaluated during a three-day mission featuring real-world scenarios and opportunities to perform realistic rescues on Hawk Mountain, away from base camp. Students will also be integrated into other squadrons as Medic Support Staff. Upon successful completion, students will be certified as Wilderness First Responders and HMRS Field Medics, and will have the opportunity to join Ranger Staff as Field Medics. Target Graduation Qualifications Attendance at the school does not guarantee successful completion. Students will be instructed in all subjects required for completion. Passing a written test and skills performance evaluation is required in order to complete this course. Communication Operations Course - Basic Course Description: Students will gain hands-on experience with UHF, VHF, and HF radios, mission base and field operations, remote communications relay stations, and communications equipment setup and operation. The course culminates in a three-day exercise involving extensive hiking with full equipment. Students will serve as Mission Radio Operators (MROs), either supporting a squadron during the Field Training Exercise (FTX) or assigned to the field base camp as support staff. Upon successful completion of the Basic Course, students will be certified as Mission Radio Operators and will have acquired valuable mission skills. These skills will be evaluated during the three-day mission, which features real-world scenarios and opportunities to perform realistic rescues on Hawk Mountain, away from base camp. Pre-course assignments issued by HMRS to be completed prior to school. Target Graduation Qualifications Mission Radio Operator Ranger Third Class Communication Operations Course - Advanced Course Description: Students will learn to effectively plan and manage the communications network during search and rescue missions. They will also be tasked with setting up and operating the Remote Communications Station during the Field Training Exercise (FTX) and will practice their newly acquired skills during a three-day search simulation, spending several days away from base camp in support of the school’s FTX. Skills will be evaluated during the three-day mission, which includes real-world scenarios and opportunities to conduct realistic rescues on Hawk Mountain, away from base camp. Upon successful completion of the course, advanced students will be certified as Communications Unit Leaders (CUL). Pre-course assignments issued by HMRS to be completed prior to school. Target Graduation Qualifications Communications Unit Leader Ranger Third Class Ranger Staff Training Course Description: The Ranger Staff Training Program is designed for highly motivated cadets who aspire to join the Hawk Mountain Ranger School staff. Students will gain on-the-job experience as probationary staff while learning effective teaching techniques, safety procedures for staffing NCSAs, in-depth Ranger and Ground Team skills, proper evaluation methods, and foundational leadership concepts. They will also develop the ability to mentor and instruct other students effectively. Skills will be evaluated during a three-day mission featuring real-world scenarios and opportunities to conduct realistic rescues on Hawk Mountain, away from base camp. Students will be integrated into other squadrons as Staff Trainees. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will become probationary staff members of the Hawk Mountain Ranger School. Target Graduation Qualifications Ranger Second Class and Probationary Staff (Cadet only) Attendance at the school does not guarantee successful completion. Students will be instructed in all subjects required for completion. Passing a written test and skills performance evaluation is required in order to complete this course Team Commanders Course Course Description: The Ranger Team Commanders Course is a mentally and physically demanding program that teaches cadet and senior members essential team leadership skills in a field environment. Students will develop confidence in themselves, their team, and their equipment through multiple in-depth training scenarios. Designed to challenge leaders beyond their comfort zone, the course includes field exercises and on-rappel training from the 60+ foot tower. Advanced navigation, search theory, SAR techniques, and mission team leadership are emphasized throughout the program. Academics are taught at the Advanced Ranger level and cover Ground Team Leader responsibilities as well as Ranger Team Commander knowledge. Students learn how to apply these skills to become effective Ranger Team Commanders and Ground Team Leaders. Skills will be evaluated during missions featuring real-world scenarios and opportunities to perform realistic rescues on Hawk Mountain, away from base camp. The course requires participants to be highly self-motivated and free of physical limitations. Students will be assessed on Ranger 1st Class skills, select Advanced Ranger skills, and will be initially evaluated or reevaluated on current Ground Team Leader and Ground Team Level 1 tasks. Target Graduation Qualifications Ground Team Leader Advanced Ranger Contact for Activity: HawkMountain@cap.gov Activity Facebook Group for Participants, Parents, and Alumni: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15JLYurrKS/

About the Activity:

Hawk Mountain Ranger School has a proud history of providing outstanding SAR and emergency services training. The school is conducted outdoors in the mountains of Pennsylvania under mission field conditions and is very physically demanding. Curriculum includes but not limited to: navigation, search techniques & equipment, communication skills, woodsmanship, campsite selection & equipment, first aid, patient evacuation, specialized equipment, health & nutrition, and survival skills. In addition to the practical skills, leadership and character development also are emphasized.

All participants must be Physical Category 1 (in accordance with CAPP 60-50)

There are multiple courses available at the 2026 Hawk Mountain Ranger School:

Basic Course

Course Description:

During this first-year course, cadet and senior students will gain hands-on experience in navigation, team mobility, search operations, crash site procedures, and survival skills. These skills will be evaluated during a three-day mission featuring real-world scenarios and opportunities to perform realistic rescues on Hawk Mountain away from base camp. Students will train through Ranger 3rd Class and progress into Ranger 2nd Class skills. Ground Team Member Level 3 and Level 2 qualifications will also be assessed, and students will receive training required to complete their MRO rating. This program prepares participants to become highly capable and dependable assets to any CAP ground team.