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WLSAR Training programme

Currently, registrations are requested via the member's listserve up to 8 weeks prior to an event. To register, reply to the Wellington Land SAR training co-ordinators.

However, by the end of May 2006, members should be able to register through this website.

If members identify training needs which have not been catered for in the current training schedule, then this should be discussed with the Wellington Land SAR training co-ordinator .

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Track and Clue Awareness

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TCA Courses

WLSAR offers a number of different TCA courses as part of its training programme. These include TCA 1 and TCA 2 courses provided by SARINZ, and other tracking courses using WLSAR's own training resources.

Links to articles and information about Track and Clue Awareness

A quick introduction to Tracking

Track and Clue awareness is an essential skill for WLSAR team members. All team members must become TCA trained. Refresher courses should be taken at least once every two years.

A definition of tracking: There are many definitions. This is one used by a former WLSAR Police SAR team member and instructor, Chris Hurring:

    "The art of being able to locate, identify and pursue sign, and from intelligent interpretations and deductions, gain reasonably accurate information about the target subject, with a view to locating that subject, or to establish when and where they have travelled."

Types of tracking:
  1. Visual tracking
  2. Scent tracking
Because humans do not have well-developed olfactory glands (the glands that give us our sense of smell), WLSAR TCA courses focus on some basic visual tracking concepts. Scent tracking is the province of dog teams. On occasion, these two types of tracking can compliment each other nicely.

Tracking concepts

Tracking is useful because it can:
  • Result in the discovery of relevant evidence (clues), and
  • Assist in determining a direction of travel, and
  • Help reduce a search area.
Tracking relies on clues. Time is the enemy of tracking. Tracking works because lost subjects generate lots of clues. Even an absence of clues is useful (ie the subject probably has not been in that area.)

Things to expect on a WLSAR TCA course:
  • WLSAR will provide teams with a TCA kit (acetate, pens, painted ice cream sticks, and a tracking stick)
  • Team members will provide their own torches, a good attitude, patience, and appropriate out door gear.
  • Short WLSAR courses will include a 'tuning in' process, some theory, supervised practical application of the theory, and exercises to reinforce what has just been taught. Ultimately, team members will learn by doing.

Site Map This page last modified December 7, 2007